What do these permits involve in Laredo?

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New Business Registration

Laredo Code section 18-23, the City's posted Ordinance 2024-O-107 and the City's 2026 Business Application form each give a different fee for this application (the fee line sets out what each says), so no amount is shown. The process itself is consistent across them: under section 18-22 every new business must be reviewed and approved by the building development services department's zoning, building and right-of-way divisions, by the environmental engineer, by the planning department's historic preservation division, by the health department and by the fire department for fire code compliance, and only after all of them have signed off does a certificate of occupancy issue. The Building Development Services Permit Applications page says the Business Application is for move-in-ready locations only and is not for construction, alterations or remodelling, which go through a building permit.

On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit — Non-Residential

Laredo Code section 31-81(a) sets the on-site sewage facility application fee at $400.00 for any system other than a single-family dwelling ($200.00), payable to the City through the Health Department on application, non-refundable, with the application expiring a year after filing. Section 15-90 adds $10.00 for each permit to the credit of the TCEQ water resources management account. The Health Department's Permits and Fees page lists $400.00 payable to the City at application and $10.00 payable by check only to TCEQ for all non-residential systems. A business connected to the city sewer has no septic permit.

Sign Permit

Laredo Code section 28-22 requires a permit or written authorization from the building official before any sign other than an exempt one is erected, altered or refaced, including temporary signs and feather banners, and the official decides within fifteen business days. A sign permit is issued only to a person licensed and insured in the city (section 28-22(c)), so the installer, not the business, normally applies. Fees are from section 28-50 (Ord. No. 2017-O-044); the Building Development Services Permit Applications page repeats the $30 freestanding and $20 attached review fees and the $0.55 per square foot permit fee and says an active registration is required.

Commercial Building Permit and Plan Review

Laredo Code section 7-27 makes it unlawful to construct or alter any building without a permit from Building Development Services, and section 7-21 requires the contractor doing the work to hold a City registration. The valuation fee and plan-checking fees are from section 7-2 as last codified (Ord. No. 2025-O-149). Ordinance 2026-O-188, on the 21 September 2026 council agenda and posted in the City's Municode ordinance bank, amends other parts of section 7-2 and restates the commercial valuation table with the same figures. The Building Development Services Permit Applications page says projects needing two or more simultaneous department reviews go through the Avolve electronic plan review system, that an active general contractor registration is required for permit issuance, and that the Business Application is not used for construction or remodelling. Separate mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits are pulled by the licensed trades.

Fire Inspection (new business and certificate of occupancy)

Laredo Code section 18-22 requires the Fire Department to review every new business for fire code compliance before a certificate of occupancy issues, and the Building Development Services Permit Applications page says every certificate of occupancy and letter of completion requires a building final inspection and a fire inspection. Amounts are from section 12-81 Exhibit A (last amended by Ord. No. 2024-O-211), read together with section 12-82, which charges them only when a business does not pass on the first visit. The City's 2026 Business Application form shows the Fire Department inspection fee as to be determined under Ordinance 2007-O-036. The Fire Department Permits Office is at 1413 Houston Street.

Alarm System Permit (Non-Residential)

Under Laredo Code section 21-79(a), operating an alarm system without a permit from the tax department is an offence. Section 21-81 sets the non-residential permit at $60.00 a year, non-refundable and valid twelve months, with renewals billed automatically thirty days before expiry; outstanding false-alarm fees must be paid before a permit is issued or renewed. Under section 21-82, the first three false burglary alarms in a permit year carry no charge, the fourth and fifth are $50.00 each, the sixth and seventh $75.00 each and the eighth and later $100.00 each. The Alarm Enforcement Division's FAQ gives the same $60.00 non-residential fee and registration at alarms.cityoflaredo.com. A business without a monitored alarm has no alarm permit.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
New Business Registration	City of Laredo Building Development Services Department	Three City of Laredo documents state different amounts for this application, so no single figure is given. Laredo Code section 18-23 (Ord. No. 2012-O-154), as codified on Municode through Ord. No. 2026-O-92, reads $50.00, and $50.00 for a change of name. Ordinance 2024-O-107, posted on the City's website, rewrites section 18-23 as $100.00 for a business under 2,000 square feet or $200.00 for one over 2,001 square feet, $50.00 for a change of name, $200.00 for a temporary certificate of occupancy and $20.00 for each copy of a certificate. The Building Development Services Business Application form (updated 01/2026) and the department's Permit Applications page list a $200.00 Building Inspection Division fee and a $150.00 technology fee, citing Ordinance 2024-O-127, with the Fire Department inspection fee shown as to be determined.	not stated in the codified schedule	2026-08-25
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit — Non-Residentialonly if it applies to you	City of Laredo Public Health Department	$400 per application, plus $10.00 to TCEQ	application expires 1 year from filing (section 31-81(b))	2026-10-09
Sign Permitonly if it applies to you	City of Laredo Building Development Services Department	Under Laredo Code section 28-50, a review fee per application of $20.00 (general, attached or banner), $30.00 (freestanding), $50.00 (animated) or $10.00 (reface), plus a permit fee of $0.55 per square foot (general) or $0.75 per square foot (animated sign or electronic message display), or a flat $30.00 to reface. Feather banners are $20.00 per location a year, and a special-event sign fee is $75.00 per event, per location.	per application; the validity period is not stated in City Code § 28-50	2026-10-09
Commercial Building Permit and Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you	City of Laredo Building Development Services Department	By total valuation under Laredo Code section 7-2 (IBC section 109.2 as amended): $1,000.00 and less, no fee unless an inspection is required, then $50.00 per inspection; $1,001.00 to $50,000.00, $50.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $4.00 for each additional thousand or fraction; $50,001.00 to $100,000.00, $260.00 for the first $50,000.00 plus $3.00 per additional thousand; $100,001.00 to $500,000.00, $360.00 for the first $100,000.00 plus $2.00 per additional thousand; $500,001.00 to $1,000,000.00, $1,160.00 for the first $500,000.00 plus $1.00 per additional thousand; over $1,000,000.00, $1,660.00 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $0.50 per additional thousand. A plan-checking fee of one-half of the building permit fee is paid when plans are submitted; a new workflow instance is $200.00, $300.00 or $400.00 by original valuation; the third resubmittal is $200.00 and the fourth $300.00; expedited review is $1,250.00.	per project; the validity period is not stated in City Code § 7-2	2026-10-09
Fire Inspection (new business and certificate of occupancy)	City of Laredo Fire Department, Permits Office	Under Laredo Code section 12-82, businesses that receive a satisfactory evaluation on the primary visit are not required to pay fire inspection fees; the fees are imposed on businesses that need a secondary or further inspection. Where a fee applies, section 12-81 Exhibit A lists: fire inspection $75.00; assembly occupancies $75.00 (under 300 occupant load), $125.00 (300 to 500) or $175.00 (over 500); daycare or similar $50.00 (licensed for up to 12 children) or $75.00 (over 12); beer and wine permit inspection $125.00. Exhibit A and section 12-82 set different charges for repeat visits, so no repeat-visit figure is shown.	per inspection visit (City Code § 12-82)	2026-10-09
Alarm System Permit (Non-Residential)only if it applies to you	City of Laredo Alarm Enforcement Division	$60 per year	12 months (section 21-81(b))	2026-10-09

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