Build-out and occupancy permits in Austin
Plan review, building and occupancy approvals for the space.
Certificate of Occupancy
City of Austin Development ServicesAustin
Needed when the space's use changes or after construction; it may include a site plan exemption and building plan review. For a food business it comes through Austin Public Health's pre-opening inspection.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- Change-of-use reviews now take about two weeks (three review disciplines since October 2025).
Building permit for a tenant finish-out
City of Austin Development ServicesAustin
Apply with the city's commercial building permit web form (not AB+C) to build, alter or convert the space, with plans for commercial plan review.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Commercial plan review for a remodel up to 25,000 sq ft takes 10 business days; small projects, such as a finish-out under 10,000 sq ft, take 5 business days.
Food establishment plan review
City of Austin Development Services, with Austin Public HealthAustin
For new construction or a remodel: inside the City of Austin, apply online through Development Services; in unincorporated Travis County, through Austin Public Health's My Health Department portal.
- Fee
- $312
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- Inside the City of Austin, the food plan review is submitted with the commercial building application, whose review takes 10 business days for a remodel up to 25,000 sq ft (5 for small projects).
Guides for each business in Austin
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your business in Austin
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders