Addition Permit
$0.29 per square foot, no less than $120
Plus a 25% processing fee due at time of permit submittal, no less than $30 
  
Additions to single-family dwellings must comply with current City codes and ordinances.

Effective September 1, 2009:  All new houses, remodels and additions must comply with the Proportionality Ordinance which states:  for every two (2) bedrooms a house must have one (1) full bathroom (including a toilet, sink, shower and / or bathtub) and one (1) living area a minimum 120 square feet (this means the room would have to be a minimum 10 feet by 12 feet to meet this requirement).  The living area does not include bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, unfinished garages or basements.  Pursuant to the Ordinance a three (3) bedroom house would require one (1) bathroom and one (1) living area; for a four (4) or five (5) bedroom house two (2) bathrooms and two (2) living areas would be required.
 
Code Requirements
When adding bedrooms you are required to install smoke detectors in each sleeping room and at a centrally located area within the corridor or area giving access to the sleeping area(s).  Each smoke detector must be hard wired and provide a battery backup. 
 
Windows in bedrooms must met specific height, width and openable space requirements.  We recommend that you install a minimum window size of 3'0" x 5'0".  Depending on the size of the room, you may be required to install a larger window for natural light requirements.  For additions other than bedrooms, you are required to provide 8% natural light in the room.  This may be accomplished by installing French doors, sliding glass doors, windows and / or skylights.
 
Electrical plugs are required six feet (6') from each door or cased opening and every twelve feet (12') of wall space thereafter.  This means that on either side of every door or cased opening in the room you should be able to find an electrical plug within six feet (6').  Then you should be able to find a plug every twelve feet (12') of continuous wall space.  This requirement does not apply to the windows as they are not considered a cased opening.
 
Plan submittal requirements:
One (1) property survey or scaled drawing (1"=20' minimum).
On the scaled drawing draw the shape of the lot, the shape of the existing house on the lot.  On the survey or scaled drawing show the location of the new addition, the distance from the new addition to all property lines (rear and both side property lines), please show the location and size of other structures on the lot (i.e. swimming pools, retaining walls, accessory buildings, carports, detached garage, etc.) and the locations of electric, gas and sewer service lines, and indicate if the electric line is overhead or underground.
 
Break out (on a separate sheet of paper) the new rooms and all the existing rooms in the house that are common (or next to) the new addition.  Show the types and size of each room.  Show the size (width and height) and location of windows and doors in each room.  Provide an elevation and indicate the ceiling and overall height of the addition (an elevation is a drawing of the exterior of the house, with details such as exterior materials, roof pitch, etc.), the exterior materials (brick, siding, stone), notate any plumbing or mechanical (air conditioning) work (NOTE:  electrical is required).  And, finally, note if the construction, mechanical, electrical and / or plumbing work will be done by the homeowner or licensed contractors registered with the City. 
 
Break out (on a separate sheet of paper) the type of foundation for the addition (slab, pier & beam, or post tension).  The drawing should show depth of foundation, grade beam placement, depth of grade beam, pier locations, etc.  Or, for post tension, you should provide an engineers letter (which should contain the specifications for the foundation).

 
All Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical contractors are required to hold state licenses and be registered with the City.
 
The State of Texas does make provisions for homeowners to act as their own contractor(s) and complete their own electrical, plumbing and mechanical work.  However, you must own the home, live in the home, and homestead the home (check www.dcad.org to see if you have a homestead exemption on file with Dallas Central Appraisal District).  This information will be verified by city staff at time of permit submittal.