Permits, Inspections & Consulting

In all cities incorporated in Texas we all go through the same regulations when it comes to code and permits. There are many unincorporated areas that do not require a permit for work, it's always best to check you local municipality before starting large projects.

Most places in the DFW area require permits for large jobs

This includes:

• Water Heater Replacements
• Sewer Repairs
• Sewer Replacements
• Tunnel jobs
• Repipes
• Remodels
• Reroutes
• Gas Lines
• Locked Gas Meters

Water Heater Permit & Code Compliance

Depending on the size, location, fuel type; different codes are required

Gas Water Heaters

Natural gas water heaters are typically located in garages in the Midlothian, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Waxahachie, Cedar Hill, and Arlington area.

Garage water heaters require-

• Ignition source to be 18 inches off floor
• Expansion Tank
• Sediment trap on control valve of water heater
• Code approved gas flex
• Drain pan, either piped to exterior of home or below 3" garage lip
• T&P line discharging to exterior of home, and piped with heat rated material
• Water lines piped with code approved flex lines, or direct piped with metallic only. No direct pex connection.
• Insulation on exposed piped up to 6 inches away from venting
• Venting should be piped with double wall venting from ceiling through roof and penetrate roof with correct termination

Different things may be required depending on city, or location of water heater

Electric Water Heaters

Electric water heaters are typically located in garages, or laundry rooms in the Midlothian, Mansfield, Waxahachie, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Arlington area

Electric water heaters require

• Ignition source 18 inches off of ground
• Drain pan piped to exterior or below 3" lip of garage
• T&P piped to exterior of home and piped with heat rated material
• Code approved water connections
• Ball valve for isolation
• Electrical disconnect if breaker box is not in the same room

Different things may be required depending on city, or location of water heater

See our Water Heater Page to learn more

Sewer Repairs, Replacements, and Tunneling

Sewer Repairs

In Midlothian, Mansfield, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Waxahachie, and Arlington will each have their own requirement on how much pipe being replaced would require a permit. Some cities it's over 5 ft. Others its over 10 ft. Always best to check with your city before moving forward. Also if your plumber hasn't given you this information before the repair, you may want to ask them about it.

Sewer Replacements

If you are completely replacing your sewer, which in the plumbing world, starts at the point when the drain pipe trastions from under your foundation to outside your foundation, a permit is most definitely required.

Process for sewer replacements:

• 811 Called to locate utilities
• Permit pulled through local municipality
• Excavation from home to where sewer line connects to either city sewer or septic system
• Replacement of old piping
• Proper grade usually 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot
• Test tee installed just before city connection
• Proper cleanout set up no less than 3 ft from foundation of home.
• Cleanouts installed every at least every 50ft.
• Testing of system with test ball which involves filling entire replaced line with water
• Inspection scheduled and system on test for inspector
• If pass move on to backfilling trench
• If fail, make proper adjustments and reschdule inspection

Tunneling

Tunneling will always require a permit

Tunneling process:

• Permit pulled through municipality
• Excavation of tunnel, usually starting near cleanouts
• Replacement of affected drain
• Testing of system
• Inspection schduled and system on test for inspector
• Piers added at each exposed structural beam
• Engineer letter may or not be required
• If pass, backfilling of tunnel
• If fail, make adjustments and reschedule inspection

Please see our tunneling and sewer systems page

Remodels

Remodels in your home will require a permit if your floor plan is changing.

If you're moving a shower, tub, sink, toilet, doorways, lighting, a/c vents, or gas lines, permits are required

Typical routine for remodel permits:

• General Contractor, or Homeowner is required for pulling permits
• If actual physical floor plan is moving, plans will need to be submitted to city and approved
• If plumbing is moving, a master plumber with required insurance needs to be added to contractor list, or pull their own permit depending on city
• If electrical is moving, a master electrician will have to be added or pull their own permit
• If HVAC is moving, a master in their field will need to be added or pull their own permit
• Inspections are scheduled in phases, which will depend on municipality



Gas System Permits

Gas for exterior addition

Any time you add gas to an exterior addition, a permit is required

Process:

• 811 is called to locate utilities
• Permit is pulled
• Excavation is performed
• Gas line installed
• Tracer wire installed
• Pressure test performed on sytem
• Inspection scheduled with system on test
• If pass, backfill excavation
• If fail, make adjustments and reschedule inspection

Gas Meter Locked By Atmos or Other Gas Company

If your gas meter has been removed by your gas company, or a lock has been installed, that usually means you have a leak on the system. There is a process to get your gas back on when this happens.

The process:

• Gas test performed to verify there is a leak
• If test shows a leak, leak detection is then necessary
• After leak is found a permit is pulled through your municipality
• After leak is repaired, system is put back on a pressure test and inspection is scheduled
• If fail, make adjustments and reschdule inspection
• If pass, city will contact gas company to release meter
• Atmos will need to be contacted by homeowner to schedule gas company to turn gas back on

'Unfortunately, when this happens, it is a multi day project which means, if your hot water is supplied with a gas system, you will not have hot water through this process.



Learn more about our gas services