Building Permits

In the areas of Bexar County that are outside of a municipality's limits, the Bexar County Fire Marshal Office (210-335-0300) determines when building permits are required for structures or areas that are not for a "single-family dwelling." use (Visit Fire Marshal Permits & Applications website).  A single-family dwelling is defined as a single structure consisting of 3 or less residential dwelling units. The building permit covers all of the following: site clearing, constructing, renovating or changing occupancy of a building.

PERMIT VERIFICATION (PV)

When a Building Permit is required by the Fire Marshal Office, a Permit Verification Form with supporting information is required to be completed by the applicant before submitting the form to Public Works.  The Permit Verification Form is the first two pages of the Fire Marshal’s Building Permit form and is used to confirm that all the required Public Works and Environmental Services permits as well as on-site drainage has been evaluated for impacts to existing drainage infrastructure, exterior lighting within five miles of a Military Installation complies with the Military Lighting Court Order and subdivision platting (if required) have been obtained/, completed, or in process.  A signed Permit Verification Form is one of the requirements to obtain a Building Permit from the Fire Marshal Office.

For a more detailed explanation of the process, read the Permit Verification Guidelines.

Summary

  • You may submit a building permit application to the Fire Marshal before Public Works signs the Permit Verification Form (pages one and two of the Fire Marshal's Building Permit Application).  
  • The building permit will not be issued until the Fire Marshal Office receives a signed Permit Verification Form from Public Works and the Fire Marshal Office has completed their review.
  • For the Permit Verification Form review, provide the following documents:
    • Project Narrative detailing work to be performed and addressing Supplemental Permit Information noted on the Permit Verification Form (e.g., explanation why permits or other items listed on the form were not obtained, drainage report, copies of issued permits, subdivision plat requirements; lighting photometric plan with supporting documents);
    • Site Plan showing the location of the building(s) associated to a building permit (stamped by City of San Antonio (COSA) Storm Water if within COSA Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ);  and
    • CPS Address Verification Letter.
  • Obtain permits (Tree, Irrigation, Signage, etc.) from the City within whose ETJ your property lies within.
  • As noted above, within the COSA ETJ, you will also need get a stamp on the Permit Verification Form and the Site Plan from the COSA Storm Water Review Staff located on the second floor of the Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center located at 1901 South Alamo Street.
  • It is recommended for you to submit a Site Development Permit (Storm Water Permit) and/or Floodplain Development Permit at least 45 days before submitting the Permit Verification Form to Bexar County Public Works Development Services Department located at 1948 Probandt St. to avoid delays waiting for an approved Storm Water permit before the Permit Verification Form can be signed.  Please note that any of the Bexar County permits listed on page 2 of the Permit Verification Guidelines may be obtained before submitting the Permit Verification Form.  The fee and estimated review time for each permit is provided on page 2 of the Guidelines.
  • Bexar County Public Works will verify all required Bexar County permits have been submitted for review or have been issued depending on the permit being requested.   If a subdivision plat is required, at least one review of the proposed plat must be completed by staff to ensure there is no conflict between the proposed construction and any easements that may be required on the plat. There is no fee associated with the review and processing of the Permit Verification Form.
  • Public Works will e-mail the signed Building Permit Authorization to the Bexar County Fire Marshal when all criteria has been met.