City of Austin expired permits: extend or reactivate a building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit
- City of Austin, Texas
- Building permits
- Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits
- Rules as of Nov. 2026
Quick answer
- Which form
- Request for Extension, Withdrawal, or Reactivation (PDF) plus the Modify an Existing Permit web form, or do it inside AB+C if your account is assigned to the permit [2]
- Due when
- Permits expire 180 days after activation if the City has not performed an on-site inspection [1]. Request an extension while the permit is still Active; one extension per permit [2]
- Costs what
- Extension in AB+C: no fee. Extension by web form and reactivation: fee issued after you submit [2]. FY26-27 schedule line “Contractors Expired Permits”: $53.56 residential each, $82.56 commercial per discipline [5][6]
- Who can ask
- Owner or the assigned contractor (extension); owner, general contractor or the trade contractor listed (reactivation) [2]
If you hold a City of Austin building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit and the work is not finished, the date to watch is the permit’s expiration date. The City gives you two routes: extend a permit that is still Active, or reactivate one that has already expired. This guide puts the City’s own rules in one place: which route you need, which form, when, and what it costs.
How long a City of Austin permit lasts: the 180-day rule
The City’s permit-activation page says: “Permits will expire 180 days after activation if the City has not performed an on-site inspection (Pass or Fail).” [1] The same page points you to the Modify a Permit page to extend a permit before it expires. The City says the status should change to Active once permit fees are paid. [1]
Extend or reactivate: which one do you need?
The deciding fact is the permit’s status. Extension is for permits in an “Active” status; reactivation is for expired ones. [2]
| Extend an Active permit | #114 Continuance of Work inspection | Reactivate an expired permit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use when | Permit is still Active and work will run past the expiration date | Structural or other conditions do not allow inspections within the 180 days | Permit has already expired |
| Who can ask | Property owner, or the contractor assigned to the permit | Not stated on the City page | Property owner, general contractor or trade contractor listed on the permit |
| Limit | One request per permit | Inspector decides if progress was made; if yes, expiration extends 180 days | In-person service only for first-time reactivations, one project per day |
| Where | AB+C portal if your account is assigned to the permit; otherwise the Modify an Existing Permit web form with the PDF application | Schedule a #114 Continuance of Work inspection | AB+C portal if your account is assigned to the permit; otherwise the web form with the PDF application |
| PDF section to mark “Yes” | Section C, plus a stated reason and signature | n/a | Section E |
| Fee | None through AB+C; through the web form a fee is issued after submission | Not stated on the City page | A fee is issued after submission |
How to request an extension of an Active permit
- Check the permit is still Active. Look it up in the AB+C public permit search [9].
- If your AB+C account is assigned to the permit, extend it in the portal. The City says fees are not required to request an extension through the AB+C Portal. Portal steps are in the AB+C Manual [8] (search the manual for “extension”).
- If your account is not assigned, fill out the Request for Extension, Withdrawal, or Reactivation Application (PDF) [3], mark “Yes” in Section C, state the reason and sign it. Then open the Modify an Existing Permit web form [4], choose “Reactivate, Withdraw, or Extend” and upload the PDF with the permit number. A fee is issued after you submit.
- Submit once. You get an automatic confirmation email with the approximate wait time; the City asks you not to resubmit, as that creates delays.
How to reactivate an expired permit
- Confirm who may ask. The property owner, general contractor or trade contractor listed on the permit can request reactivation. [2]
- Portal route: if the assigned contractor’s AB+C account is linked to the permit, reactivate it there (see the AB+C Manual [8], search “reactivate”).
- Web form route: complete the PDF application [3] and mark “Yes” in Section E. It must be signed by the permit holder or property owner as listed in the county appraisal district’s registry; if the property is not under an individual’s name, a certificate of formation is required to verify ownership. Upload it with the permit number on the Modify an Existing Permit web form [4].
- Pay the invoice. Fees for reactivation are issued after the submission. [2]
In-person service is available for first-time reactivations, one project per day, and the City asks for proof of ownership if the property is not under an individual’s name. [2]
What it costs
The City does not print one reactivation or extension price on its Modify a Permit page. It says a fee is issued after you submit a web-form extension or a reactivation, and that extension through the AB+C portal needs no fee. [2] The closest line on the current fee schedules is “Contractors Expired Permits”:
| Schedule | Line as printed | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building plan review & permit fees [5] | Contractors Expired Permits - Building, Electrical, Mechanical or Plumbing (each) | $53.56 |
| Commercial building plan review & permit fees [6] | Contractors Expired Permits (per discipline) - Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing or Sign Permits | $82.56 |
The schedules do not use the word “reactivation” for these permit types, so these are the nearest published figures, not a confirmed reactivation price. The invoice you receive is the real number. For questions about fees the City points to chat or an appointment with Building and Trade Contractor Services. [2] Paying by card in the AB+C portal adds a 2.35% service fee ($2.00 minimum); eCheck/ACH has none. [7]
Two things that surprise people
- The owner carries it. “The property owner is responsible for any expired permits on the property even if they did not own the property at the time the permit was issued.” [2]
- It can block new work. The City notes an expired permit may need to be resolved before issuing any new permits. [2]
Find your own permit’s expiration date
Search the permit number in the AB+C public permit search [9] and read its status and expiration date. Write the date down with a few weeks of margin: an extension has to be requested while the permit is still Active, and each permit gets one.
Sources
- Activating a Permit (Austin Development Services) — 180-day rule, “Important Tips”
- Modify a Permit (Austin Development Services) — extension, reactivation, who may ask, fees issued after submission
- Request for Extension, Withdrawal, or Reactivation Application (PDF) — the form named on the Modify a Permit page
- Modify an Existing Permit web form — choose “Reactivate, Withdraw, or Extend”
- Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit Fees, FY 2026-27 (PDF) — effective 10/01/2026, “Contractors Expired Permits” line
- Commercial Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit Fees, FY 2026-27 (PDF) — effective 10/01/2026, “Contractors Expired Permits” line
- Austin Development Services fee schedules index — FY26-27 schedules; payment options and card service fee
- AB+C Manual — portal steps for extension and reactivation
- AB+C public permit search — look up a permit and its status