The Inspection Services Department issues permits for all new construction and remodeling projects. Before building permits can be issued for plumbing, electrical and mechanical work, the contractor must be registered with our office. Contractors must show proof of their state licensing for mechanical, plumbing, electrical and irrigation work. To create an account, register your company, and apply for permits you will need to use the Citizen Self Service Portal.
Contractors must also submit a certificate of insurance listing the City of Waco as the certificate holder. Minimum coverage is $300,000. Please note that there is no registration fee for contractors. If you have any questions regarding any of this information, please feel free to contact our office at (254) 750-5612.
Inspection Procedures & Schedules
All inspections must be requested online or called in by 3 p.m. the day before the inspection is needed. Contractors must be registered and use the Citizen Self Service Portal to schedule inspections. This service is available to contractors and applicants 24/7 and allows for a range of features such as requesting permits online, paying permit fees, and receiving real-time inspection results.
The inspectors make out their routes the following morning and should be able to give an approximate time of inspection by 8:45 a.m. that morning, if needed. In case of emergencies, Inspection Services will work with a contractor/owner so not to leave a customer without gas or electrical service. Licensed trades such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical contractors are required to call in their own inspections, as they are the permit holder.
If a contractor/owner needs to speak with an inspector, they are normally in the office between 8 and 9 a.m. and from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Inspectors can be contacted via email for comments or office staff can transfer calls to the inspector’s voicemail for a return call. For inspection results: log in to your account, select the applicable active project, open the inspection, and select checklist to review the inspector’s comments.
Part of inspection services, new construction is what is required for the City's building, plumbing, electrical, gas and mechanical codes, through plan review and construction inspections (also repairs and alterations to structures). This includes new residential, commercial and industrial land uses.
Inspection staff processes all construction drawings for permit issuance, writes building , plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilating and air conditioning permits, issues mobile home park licenses, and electrical licenses to local industry. Staff also provides technical assistance to builders, architects, engineers and developers. To accommodate the review and inspection of new construction projects, there are three phases that every project must pass: plan review, permit issuance and inspections.
2018 International Code Amendments Adopted(PDF, 400KB)
Bonding & Insurance
Please contact our office for copies of the following bond forms:
- Plumber's Bond
- Electrician's Bond
- Gas Appliance Bond (Mechanical Contractors)
- Electrical Sign Contractor's Bond
- Landscape Irrigator Bond
Certificates of insurance are also acceptable in lieu of the bonds. Certificates must be made to the City of Waco, minimum coverage of $300,000. The bond with the original signatures must be sent back to our office for approval prior to any permits being issued.