Residential New Duplex

A duplex is a single building divided into two homes that share a common wall, although the layout of each unit can differ. Every new duplex built in Fredville, whatever its size, needs a permit approved by the Building Inspections Division.

New homes must meet the 2021 editions of the International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation and Residential Codes, along with the 2023 National Electrical Code, as modified by the local amendments recommended by the regional council of governments.

Step 1: Gather What You Need

Your submittal for a new duplex permit should include:

  • The project address and its legal description
  • Contact details for the owner, contractor and architect, as applicable
  • Total square footage and the area of work
  • Architectural plans
  • Electrical, mechanical and plumbing plans
  • An energy compliance report prepared with the federal REScheck energy-code compliance tool
  • Foundation plans and a foundation letter, both signed and sealed by an engineer
  • Erosion control plans that follow the city's erosion control standard details
  • Where the brick ledge will be located
  • Door and window schedules listing sizes, locations, U-values and solar heat gain coefficients
  • Elevations identifying the exterior wall finish, with brick calculations
  • Your brick choice, including the manufacturer and color
  • The color or shade of the roof shingles
  • A wall section for interior partitions
  • A slab location letter, using the slab verification form from Building Inspections
  • A shear wall design signed and sealed by an engineer, or wall bracing that follows Chapter 6 of the IRC
  • A site plan or survey drawn to scale (contents listed below)

What the site plan or survey must show

  • Property lines, with the lot's width and depth
  • Every utility, maintenance and drainage easement
  • Front, side and rear building lines
  • Dimensions of the building
  • Any new street curb work proposed
  • The 100-year floodplain, if it touches the lot, and the minimum finished floor elevation
  • Size and placement of existing and planned sidewalks, the driveway and the drive approach
  • Each adjoining street or alley, with its surface type
  • Locations of sidewalks and storm inlets

Step 2: Submit Your Application Online

Submit your application through the city's online permit portal. If this is your first time using the portal, you will need a working email address to register, and setting up the account takes only about five minutes.

After You Apply

Most applications are reviewed within 5 to 10 business days. If reviewers ask you for corrections or more information, approval may take longer.

Help by Phone or in Person

Need a hand with the online application? Staff can help over the phone or at the counter.

  • Phone: (555) 010-2235
  • Office: Building Inspections Division, City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive, Fredville, TX 75999
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fees

  • Both the application and the fee payment are handled in the online permit portal.
  • To estimate what a new duplex permit will cost, see building permit fees.

Inspections

How inspections work for new residential construction:

  • Every inspection is carried out under the 2021 International Residential Code.
  • The permit holder or their agent is responsible for letting Building Inspections know once work is ready, for requesting each inspection through the online permit portal, and for giving inspectors access to the work.
  • To keep projects moving, inspection types are bundled by construction stage. Request them as laid out in the city's inspection requirements document.

Energy Code Inspections

Fredville requires an independent third-party inspector to confirm that the home meets the energy provisions of the 2021 IRC and IECC (see Section R109.2 of the 2021 code).

  • Third-party agencies must be approved by the city and document their qualifications or certifications.
  • Results are submitted through an accepted method, such as REScheck, a HERS rating or Energy Star.
  • Complete the forms in the inspection requirements document for each of these inspections:
    • Third-party energy framing
    • Energy compliance insulation
    • Third-party energy final

Water Meter Installation

Meters have to be installed according to the Water Utilities water meter installation requirements. For questions, call (555) 010-2984, the line for new meter sets.

Culvert Installation

Owners and their contractors are responsible for following the city's culvert installation requirements. The Engineering Division can help at (555) 010-1365.

Required Documents

  • Form board survey: due before the foundation is poured
  • Energy compliance forms: turned in as described in the inspection requirements
  • Precise final grade survey (a sample is available): due before the building final
  • Elevation certificate showing the finished floor elevation, for lots within 200 feet of a floodplain: due before the building final
  • Termite verification form

Special Inspection Documents

Beyond the standard inspections, your project may need an engineer's conformance letter or approved lab reports for work such as pier installation, concrete, fabricated components, steel construction and other special cases. Upload these under the "Miscellaneous Other Docs" inspection type and add a note saying which document you are sending.

Closing Out the Project

A permit can be closed only after every final document, inspection and related permit has been approved. Related permits, each handled under its own requirements, can include:

  • Fence
  • Irrigation
  • Retaining wall

Once your documents are in, your final inspections have passed and any related permits are finished, you can ask for a Certificate of Completion.

Note: As set out in the Fredville Unified Development Code, the city does not issue a Certificate of Occupancy for single-family homes. The references on this page are general information only and do not replace any other local, state or federal requirement.

At a glance

Fee
$0.50 per square foot of living area, $750 minimum
Who needs it
The property owner, or the licensed contractor the owner hires, before work starts
How to apply
Apply and pay in the online permit portal.
Application
Sample application for this permit
Turnaround
5 to 10 business days
Questions
(555) 010-2235, [email protected]

Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.