How long does a building permit take in Austin?

Permits for new residential buildings that add at least one housing unit (permit classes for single-family, secondary apartment, two-family, three-to-four and five-plus family). Window: issued Oct 20, 2025 to Oct 19, 2026.

Typical wait (median)56 days

Middle half of permits27–130days

Slowest one in ten wait at least336days

Permits measured2,340issued in the window

By project type

Project type	Median days	Middle half	Slowest tenth	Permits
All new housing permits	56	27–130	336	2,340
New single-family homes	50	25–98	223	2,045
Two-unit homes and secondary apartments	127	66–300	361	167
Apartment buildings (3+ units)	468	299–1,183	1,183	128

New single-family homes in Austin · Two-unit homes and secondary apartments

Is it getting faster?

Median days from application to issue, by month issued (Nov 2024 to Sep 2026). Months with fewer than 25 permits are left out. Hover a bar for its value.

By ZIP code

ZIP	Median days	Middle half	Slowest tenth	Permits
78748	14	13–44	140	35
78652	15	15–19	47	62
78617	20	14–25	49	121
78747	21	14–39	78	220
78653	35	21–54	90	107
78746	36	28–161	251	33
78754	36	27–52	61	124
78758	41	27–54	1,184	29
78744	42	24–71	284	414
78724	48	26–75	239	40
78745	59	42–176	275	179
78757	67	46–98	174	101
78731	82	48–122	204	59
78723	86	44–124	473	79
78751	89	66–160	260	29
78704	91	68–171	287	140
78702	93	66–145	316	124
78722	111	78–180	206	32
78703	112	78–206	300	65
78736	118	118–993	993	25
78752	179	64–204	433	33
78741	300	123–362	375	37
78721	358	146–361	364	75
78730	1,183	56–1,183	1,183	32

ZIP codes with at least 25 permits in the window, fastest first.

Source: City of Austin Development Services, Issued Construction Permits (3syk-w9eu). 27 permits with impossible or extreme gaps were excluded. How we calculate this.

Planning a project? Contractor quote matching is coming soon. Permit Clock is independent and lists no contractors yet.