Fort Worth vs. Dallas Building Permits: A Side-by-Side Comparison for DFW Contractors
If you build across the DFW metroplex, you already know that Fort Worth and Dallas handle permits differently. The cities share a metro area but not a permitting philosophy. Here is a head-to-head comparison of everything that matters — portals, review times, fees, expedited options, exemptions, inspections, and certificates of occupancy.
Online Portals
Dallas:The city launched DallasNow in May 2025, replacing the older Posse/ProjectDox system. DallasNow handles applications, plan uploads, fee payments, and status tracking in a single portal. The transition was rocky — early adopters reported slow load times and confusing navigation — but the system has stabilized.
Fort Worth: Fort Worth opened its online permitting portal to customers in 2013, with a full online transition completed in 2020. The interface is dated but functional, and most contractors are familiar with the workflow. Applications, status checks, and inspection scheduling all happen through the same system.
The practical difference: Fort Worth's system is battle-tested and predictable. Dallas's system is newer and more modern but still working through growing pains.
Review Timelines
| Project Type | Fort Worth | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (new SFR) | ~12 business days | ~8 business days (2024 avg) |
| Commercial (new build) | ~32 business days | 12–20+ business days |
| Tenant finish-out | ~15–20 business days | ~10–15 business days |
Dallas has been consistently faster on residential reviews, averaging about 8 business days in 2024. Fort Worth residential reviews average around 12 business days. On commercial projects, the gap widens — Fort Worth commercial reviews can stretch to 32 business days, while Dallas typically completes commercial reviews in 12–20 business days, though complex projects can take longer.
Both cities are subject to HB 14's 45-day statutory deadline for certain permit types, which provides a backstop if reviews stall.
Fees
| Fee Category | Fort Worth | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Residential permit (2,500 sq ft SFR) | $800–$1,400 | $1,300–$1,800 |
| Plan review fee | Separate fee ($277+ for plans requiring circulation) | 65% surcharge on top of permit fee |
| Commercial permit ($1M valuation) | $4,500–$6,000 | $8,250–$10,725 (incl. plan review) |
| Certificate of Occupancy | Included | $375 separate fee |
Fort Worth is generally cheaper across the board. Dallas adds a 65% plan review surcharge on top of the base permit fee, while Fort Worth charges a separate but lower plan review fee. Fort Worth also includes the Certificate of Occupancy in the permit fee, while Dallas charges $375 separately. For a $1M commercial project, total fees in Fort Worth are typically several thousand dollars less than in Dallas.
Expedited Review Options
Fort Worth — X-Team:Fort Worth's expedited review program is called X-Team. The application fee is $200, plus approximately $1,000 per hour of review time. X-Team assigns a dedicated review team to your project and provides significantly faster turnaround — often days instead of weeks.
Dallas — Q-Team:Dallas's expedited review program is called Q-Team. The application fee ranges from $500 to $1,250 based on project square footage, plus approximately $1,000 per hour of review time. Like Fort Worth's X-Team, Q-Team provides priority review by a dedicated team.
Both programs are priced similarly on an hourly basis. The main difference is that Dallas's application fee is higher for complex projects. For a detailed breakdown of expedited options across all Texas cities, see our fee comparison guide.
Exemptions
Fort Worth is notably stricter on exemptions than Dallas:
- Sheds: Fort Worth requires a permit for ALL sheds regardless of size. Dallas exempts sheds under 200 sq ft.
- Decks: Fort Worth requires a permit for any deck over 6 inches above grade. Dallas uses the standard 30-inch threshold.
- Fences: Fort Worth exempts fences 6 ft and under. Dallas exempts fences under 4 ft in front yards and under 6 ft in side/rear yards.
If you work on both sides of the metroplex, Fort Worth's stricter exemption thresholds are the most common source of compliance surprises. A shed or deck that is permit-free in Dallas may require a full application in Fort Worth.
Inspection Process
Both cities use an online inspection scheduling system. Fort Worth and Dallas both offer next-business-day inspections when scheduled before the cutoff time (typically early afternoon). Both cities assign inspectors by geographic zone.
The main practical difference is inspector consistency. Fort Worth's smaller volume means you are more likely to get the same inspector across multiple visits. Dallas's higher volume means you may see different inspectors at each stage, which occasionally leads to inconsistent interpretations of code requirements.
Certificate of Occupancy
Fort Worth: The CO is included in the original permit fee. Once all final inspections pass, the CO is issued without an additional application or fee.
Dallas: The CO requires a separate $375 fee and a separate application after final inspections pass. The CO process in Dallas can add a few days to the project closeout timeline, especially if the application has any documentation gaps.
Track Your DFW Permits in One Place
If you work across both cities, TrackingPermitsmonitors your Fort Worth and Dallas permits in a single dashboard. Every status change, every reviewer comment, and every inspection result from both cities appears in one morning digest — so you do not have to log into two different portals to stay current.
One dashboard for all your DFW permits
TrackingPermits monitors Fort Worth and Dallas permits daily — plus Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and more. One email, every morning.
Start free 14-day trial