DrawPermit

Lubbock County · Texas

Lubbock site plans and permits.

Lubbock wants a permit for a shed over 200 sq ft, every carport, most pools and a fence over 7 ft, and a carport site plan must show the property lines and the distance to each one.

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Building code
2021 International Residential Code, adopted March 26, 2024 and enforced since June 3, 2024.
Decks
Decks aren't on Lubbock's list of permit-exempt work. The city publishes no separate size or height rule for decks.
Sheds
A one-story detached shed or playhouse of 200 sq ft or less is exempt, though zoning still applies and any wiring or plumbing needs its own permit. A bigger one needs a permit, a plan review and a contractor registered with the city.
Fences
Fences up to 7 ft need no building permit. Near the street, nothing can be over 2½ ft at the front lot line or over 4½ ft at the depth of the front yard.
Patio covers
Patio covers aren't on Lubbock's list of permit-exempt work. Small window awnings (54 inches or less, no extra support) are exempt.
Carports
Every carport needs a permit with a site plan, post footing details and an electrical plan if it has lights. Setbacks and materials vary by subdivision, so the city asks you to check with Planning first.
Pools
A pool or spa needs a permit if it's over 24 inches deep, has a circulation system or isn't drained daily. The barrier must be at least 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the pool.
Owner-drawn plans
Lubbock asks for sealed plans only where Texas law requires a design professional. A homeowner can pull a permit for their own homestead and do the work with family. Plans are submitted online and must be dimensioned.
Engineer
An engineer's seal is needed where state law requires one or when the building official asks. The city publishes no list of small projects that always need one.
Setbacks
The front setback is 25 ft and nothing may be built in it. Front- and rear-loaded garages need at least 20 ft. Eaves can reach 2 ft into a required yard. We couldn't read the side and rear setbacks for sheds.
Fees
The city code sets accessory buildings at $0.10 per sq ft with a $30 minimum, and small residential projects pay no plan review fee. Work started without a permit pays double. The current fee schedule wasn't readable, so amounts may have changed.
Where to apply
Citizen Self Service portal (City of Lubbock Building Safety)

What Lubbock asks the site plan to show.

  • Property lines
  • The new structure's dimensions
  • The distance from the structure to each property line
  • The address or legal description
  • Dimensioned drawings, uploaded online
  • A flood elevation certificate if the lot is in a FEMA flood zone

Your DrawPermit site plan draws the lot lines, north arrow, scale, structures, setbacks, distances to each line and impervious cover. Add utility lines, meters and trees by hand if your city asks for them.

Worth knowing.

  • The city's online code still names the 2015 IRC, while its own pages say the 2021 IRC is in force.
  • The city FAQ says every fence needs a permit, while the code exempts fences up to 7 ft. Ask before you build.
  • Alleys and easements are public right-of-way, and work there needs its own permit.
  • Lubbock Power & Light asks you to call before you dig so buried lines get marked.

Guides that cover Lubbock.

More Texas cities.

Checked against the city's own pages on November 4, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with Lubbock before you submit.