In DFW the permit rule depends on the city: nearly all permit work in the public right-of-way (the driveway approach, sidewalk, curb), some permit every piece of flatwork including patios, and counties permit development outside city limits without inspecting buildings. HOAs add an architectural review step with appeal rights under Texas Property Code §209.00505.
Updated November 10, 2026 · Metroplex Concrete & Stone
The bid should say who handles each.
The approach between your driveway and the street sits on public property, and cities control what goes there. Dallas requires a paving permit for the drive approach, sidewalk and curb and gutter, issued only to a bonded paving contractor, with a dimensioned site plan showing thickness, material and reinforcement. Fort Worth runs approaches outside new subdivisions through a 7-to-10-business-day site plan review and publishes the full approach spec.
Source: City of Dallas, paving permit checklist (drive approach, sidewalk, curb and gutter)
Sachse is an example: a permit is required for all types of flatwork, including driveways, patios and sidewalks, with a site plan listing thickness, rebar size and spacing and concrete PSI, a pre-pour inspection, no flatwork within 1 foot of a property line except required driveways, and a cap on paving as a share of lot coverage. Other cities only permit the approach. Check yours before you accept a bid that says no permit is needed.
Source: City of Sachse, residential flatwork permits
Outside city limits the county is the authority, and most DFW counties issue a development permit for new construction, grading or paving without inspecting the building. Tarrant County and Parker County state plainly that they do not issue building permits; Hunt County requires a development permit before any development and does no building inspections; Rockwall County uses a construction notice with third-party inspections for a new house. The county pages on this site list each one with its source.
Source: Parker County, Permitting
Most newer DFW subdivisions require architectural approval before flatwork. Texas Property Code §209.00505 (for associations with more than 40 lots) says a denial must be in writing, describe the basis in reasonable detail, list any required changes and tell you that you may request a hearing before the board within 30 days; the board must hold it within 30 days of your request and may affirm, modify or reverse the decision. So an HOA no is a conversation, not a wall.
Source: Texas Property Code §209.00505, architectural review authority
The contractor, in almost every case. In Dallas the paving permit can only be issued to a bonded paving contractor, so the homeowner cannot pull it anyway. Where the city allows an owner permit, letting the contractor pull it keeps the inspection and the responsibility with the crew that did the work. The bid should say which permits are included and their fees.
Source: City of Dallas, paving permit checklist (drive approach, sidewalk, curb and gutter)
Unpermitted work in the right-of-way can be ordered removed, and unpermitted flatwork can show up at resale when a buyer's inspector asks for the records. The permit is cheap next to either.
Ask the city whether the approach needs a permit (yes, nearly always), whether the driveway, patio or walk on your lot needs one (depends), whether a pre-pour inspection is required, and what the city's approach spec is. Ask the HOA for the architectural application and the turnaround time. Put all of it on the bid.
In some cities yes (Sachse, for example), in others no. Ask your city's permit desk.
It can deny the application, but under §209.00505 it must say why in writing and give you a hearing.
Most DFW counties do not inspect buildings. The bid and the contractor's photos are your record.
Tell us the job and where it is. One independent, insured North Texas contractor will look at it and send a written quote with thickness, steel, base, joints, finish, permits and dates on it.
Residential and commercial, in all eleven DFW counties. No price on this site, because the lot decides the price.
One vetted, insured North Texas contractor will call or text within one business day to set a time to look at it. You get a written quote with the full spec.