What permits do you need to open a retail store in Abilene?

Fire State Licensing Inspection

$30 up to 5,000 sq ft, $50 from 5,001 to 12,000, $100 from 12,001 to 24,000 and $200 above 24,000. This is the fire inspection required for state licensing of nursing homes, foster homes, ICF/MR homes, hospitals and daycare — so a childcare operator needs this alongside the health district's $100 daycare inspection, and the two are charged by different departments on different bases.

Commercial Roofing Permit

$200 per roof structure — a flat fee, not a percentage of the work, so Abilene is far cheaper than Grand Prairie's 1% of value on a large commercial reroof. Towers and satellite dishes are $250 and a commercial swimming pool $250.

Fire Operational Permit

A flat $50, whichever operation it covers — and the list is long enough that most commercial operators will find themselves on it: amusement buildings, battery systems, carnivals and fairs, combustible dust-producing operations, combustible fibres, compressed gases, cryogenic fluids, cutting and welding, dry cleaning plants, exhibits and trade shows, explosives and fireworks, flammable and combustible liquids, hazardous materials, high-piled storage, industrial ovens, liquid or gas fuelled vehicles inside assembly buildings, LP-gas, lumber yards and woodworking plants, open burning, places of assembly where alcohol is consumed, pyrotechnics, repair garages and service stations, spraying and dipping operations, tents and temporary membrane structures, and waste handling or wrecking yards. A restaurant with a bar, a body shop and a self-storage yard all land here at the same $50.

Shared with other businesses in Abilene

• Commercial Demolition Permit — City of Abilene Building Inspections, $200–$500 single or multiple storey, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
• Commercial Mechanical Permit — City of Abilene Building Inspections, $75–$85 by system type and size, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, auto repair shops, fitness studios and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Grading Permit — City of Abilene Building Inspections, $250 per permit, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Itinerant Business Permit — City of Abilene Planning, $100 per permit, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for food trucks and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Board of Adjustment Application — City of Abilene Planning, $400 per application, one-time, per application. Also required for restaurants, auto repair shops, fitness studios and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Commercial Alarm Permit — City of Abilene Building Inspections, $50 per year, one year. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, salons and barbers, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
• Food Establishment Permit — Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, Environmental Health, $75–$350 per year, by inspection frequency, one year, on a calendar-year cycle. Also required for coffee shops and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Fire Construction Permit — Abilene Fire Department, $50 per permit, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for restaurants, auto repair shops and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Temporary Food Permit — Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, Environmental Health, $52 per event, per event. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks and restaurants; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Swimming Pool, Spa and Interactive Water Feature Permit — Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, Environmental Health, $240 per permit, annual. Also required for fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
• Plat Application — City of Abilene Planning, $350 for the first 4 lots, plus $15 per lot thereafter, capped at $2,500, one-time, per application. Also required for restaurants and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.