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Ellis County

Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office

In short

Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office issues 6 permits we publish for Ellis County, last verified 2026-10-26. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Fire Code Commercial Construction Permit (new building, tenant finish-out, change of occupancy)only if it applies to youEllis County Fire Marshal's OfficePer 1,000 sq ft of structure: commercial project, mixed use $250; single-use building over 100,000 sq ft $200; single-use building under 100,000 sq ft $150; building tenant finish-out $200 (minimum $100); change of occupancy charged as tenant finish-out at $200; change of ownership only $100 per business.Construction must start within 180 days of the date the permit is issued or the permit is void; two six-month extensions may be obtained on written request (Fire Code section 4.5)2026-10-26
Certificate of Compliance Before Occupancy (initial fire inspection, unincorporated Ellis County)Ellis County Fire Marshal's OfficeSet in Ellis County Fire Code Exhibit B, Table I; contact the Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office for the current amount.one-time, before the business occupies the building2026-10-26
Annual Fire Inspection, Commercial and Public Buildings (unincorporated Ellis County)Ellis County Fire Marshal's OfficeBy building size: 1-6,000 sq ft $75; 6,001-12,000 sq ft $100; 12,001-25,000 sq ft $150; 25,001-50,000 sq ft $200; 50,001-100,000 sq ft $250; 100,001-250,000 sq ft $300; over 250,000 sq ft $300 plus $100 per 10,000 sq ft over 250,000. Re-inspection of an existing building: 3rd re-inspection $150, 4th and later $200. No-show or failure to cancel $50.annual2026-10-26
Fire Operational Permit, Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to youEllis County Fire Marshal's Office$150 per year (IFC section 105.5.34 operational permit)one calendar year (Fire Code Exhibit B, Operational Permits table, note 1)2026-10-26
Fire Operational Permit, Repair Garage and Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facility (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to youEllis County Fire Marshal's Office$150 per year (IFC section 105.5.47 operational permit)one calendar year (Fire Code Exhibit B, Operational Permits table, note 1)2026-10-26
Fire Construction Permit, Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems - Fixed Systems (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to youEllis County Fire Marshal's Office$200 per Fixed Systems installation (Fire Code Exhibit B, Table I)per installation; work must start within 180 days of issue (Fire Code section 4.5)2026-10-26

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Fire Code Commercial Construction Permit (new building, tenant finish-out, change of occupancy)

A business that builds, substantially improves, finishes out or changes the occupancy of a commercial building in unincorporated Ellis County needs a construction permit from the Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office before work starts. Section 4.1 of the Ellis County Fire Code states: "No person shall perform or authorize Construction or Substantial Improvement within the unincorporated areas of Ellis County without first securing a permit under this Code." Section 1.1 applies the code to public buildings, commercial establishments and multi-family dwellings with four or more units, and section 2.8 names restaurants, daycare facilities, department stores, shopping centers, doctors' offices, general offices and laundries among public buildings and commercial establishments. Construction permit applications must be submitted with a stamped and signed set of engineered plans. Per the Fire Code's Exhibit B, Table I (the fee schedule adopted with the order revised August 18, 2026 and effective October 1, 2026), and the Fire Marshal's construction fee sheet, which lists the same figures, the fee is charged per 1,000 square feet of structure: $250 for a mixed-use commercial project, $200 for a single-use building over 100,000 square feet, $150 for a single-use building under 100,000 square feet, and $200 for a building tenant finish-out (minimum $100); a change of occupancy is charged as tenant finish-out at $200 per 1,000 square feet, and a change of ownership only is $100 per business. Section 4.6.2 states that the fee schedule "includes plan reviews and the issuance of a building permit and final certificate of compliance", and fees are paid when plans are submitted for review. The Department of Development's Regulations page states that, prior to construction, all commercial developments require review and approval from Development, Engineering and the Fire Marshal's Office. Contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Certificate of Compliance Before Occupancy (initial fire inspection, unincorporated Ellis County)

A business moving into a commercial building in unincorporated Ellis County needs a Certificate of Compliance from the Fire Marshal's Office before it opens. The Fire Marshal's New Occupancy Information Sheet states: "As of August 18, 2026, Ellis County has adopted the 2024 International Fire Code for all unincorporated areas of Ellis County. Prior to occupying a building, please fill out this information sheet to receive a Certificate of Compliance for the business. You are NOT allowed to conduct business until an initial fire inspection has been conducted." The sheet asks for the business name, property address, building size, a description of the proposed work, owner details, and whether the business handles hazardous materials. Section 5.1(e) of the Ellis County Fire Code says that under Local Government Code section 233.064 "a building may not be occupied until the county issues a certificate of compliance", and section 5.2 says a building may not be occupied until a final, conditional or partial certificate is issued after a final occupancy inspection. The certificate fee is listed in Exhibit B, Table I of the Fire Code; contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555, for the current amount before applying. The Department of Development's FAQ says that for a commercial certificate of occupancy, contact the Fire Marshal's Office. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Annual Fire Inspection, Commercial and Public Buildings (unincorporated Ellis County)

Commercial premises in unincorporated Ellis County are inspected by the Fire Marshal's Office every year. The Fire Marshal's New Occupancy Information Sheet states that "an annual fire inspection will be required in all commercial establishments, public buildings, and multifamily residential dwellings every year by the Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office" and that "The fee for the inspection is based on the square feet and type of Business/Occupancy." Per Exhibit B of the Ellis County Fire Code (revised August 18, 2026, effective October 1, 2026) and the Fire Marshal's inspection fee sheet, which lists the same figures, the annual inspection fee for a commercial or public building is $75 for 1-6,000 square feet, $100 for 6,001-12,000, $150 for 12,001-25,000, $200 for 25,001-50,000, $250 for 50,001-100,000, $300 for 100,001-250,000, and over 250,000 square feet $300 plus $100 for each 10,000 square feet over 250,000. Re-inspection of an existing building is $150 for the third re-inspection and $200 for the fourth and each later one, and the no-show or failure-to-cancel fee is $50. The Fire Code's note says the inspection standard for the unincorporated areas is based on the Ellis County Fire Code and Local Government Code section 352.016. Contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Fire Operational Permit, Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle (unincorporated Ellis County)

A mobile food preparation vehicle operating in unincorporated Ellis County needs an annual operational permit from the Fire Marshal's Office. Exhibit B of the Ellis County Fire Code (revised August 18, 2026, effective October 1, 2026) lists "105.5.34 Mobile food preparation vehicles" among the annual operational permits at $150, and the Fire Marshal's construction and operational fee sheet lists the same $150. Note 1 to the table states: "The prescribed period for all Operational Permits is one calendar year unless otherwise specified." Section 4.5 of the Fire Code sets the order of steps: "Mobile Food Venders must have their Texas Department of State Health Services license before they apply for an operational permit with the Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office." The state license comes first and is a separate state requirement. Texas H.B. 2844 (89th Legislature) provides that a mobile food vendor "shall comply with all state and local laws in the jurisdiction in which the mobile food vendor operates, including all fire codes, location restrictions, and zoning codes." Issued permits must be kept on the premises and be available for inspection (section 4.1). Contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Fire Operational Permit, Repair Garage and Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facility (unincorporated Ellis County)

An auto repair garage or a motor fuel-dispensing facility in unincorporated Ellis County needs an annual operational permit from the Fire Marshal's Office. Exhibit B of the Ellis County Fire Code (revised August 18, 2026, effective October 1, 2026) lists "105.5.47 Repair Garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities" among the annual operational permits at $150, and the Fire Marshal's construction and operational fee sheet lists the same $150. Note 1 to the table states: "The prescribed period for all Operational Permits is one calendar year unless otherwise specified." Section 4.1 describes an operational permit as one that allows the applicant to conduct an operation or a business for which a permit is required by section 105.5 of the 2024 International Fire Code, and requires issued permits to be kept on the premises at all times. This permit is separate from the annual fire inspection of the building. Contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Fire Construction Permit, Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems - Fixed Systems (unincorporated Ellis County)

A business in unincorporated Ellis County that installs or modifies a fixed automatic fire-extinguishing system needs a construction permit from the Fire Marshal's Office. Exhibit B, Table I of the Ellis County Fire Code (revised August 18, 2026, effective October 1, 2026) lists "Automatic Fire-extinguishing Systems" with the unit "Fixed Systems" at $200, and the Fire Marshal's construction fee sheet lists the same $200. It applies only where such a system is installed or modified; sprinkler systems are priced separately by number of heads on the same table. Section 4.1 describes a construction permit as one that allows the applicant to install or modify systems and equipment for which a permit is required by section 105.6 of the 2024 International Fire Code, and states that all construction permit applications must be submitted with a stamped and signed set of engineered plans. Contact the Fire Marshal's Office, 972-825-5555. The Ellis County Fire Code applies in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County only (section 1.2); a business inside a city's limits deals with that city instead.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Ellis County
Phone
972-825-5555

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Construction building application feesEllis County Fire Marshal's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  2. Ellis County Fire Code (Adopted November 26, 2012; Revised August 18, 2026; Effective October 1, 2026)Ellis County Commissioners' Court / Ellis County Fire Marshal's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  3. H.B. 2844, 89th Legislature, enrolled text (statewide mobile food vendor licensing, effective July 1, 2026)Texas Legislature Online · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-29
  4. Inspection feesEllis County Fire Marshal's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  5. Links & FAQsEllis County Department of Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  6. New Occupancy Information SheetEllis County Fire Marshal's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  7. RegulationsEllis County Department of Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26

Other offices serving Ellis County

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