Permits for Driveways, Patios and Slabs in Dallas
In Dallas, construction work in the public right-of-way needs a permit from Public Works, and only a registered contractor, or a homeowner doing the work alone on the house they live in, can obtain the construction permits a job needs. Each suburb on this site runs its own permit desk, so the rules for Plano, Frisco, Richardson and Arlington are listed below.
Reviewed by: Patrik Lorentzson, Editor, Dallas Trusted Concrete · Last reviewed
General information only, not advice for your project. Dallas Trusted Concrete does not advise on, design or manage projects; the contractor you choose does.
When does Dallas require a right-of-way permit?
Dallas Public Works requires a permit for any construction work within the public right-of-way, and for work outside it that will cut, break or otherwise damage the right-of-way. If the job closes a traffic lane or blocks a sidewalk or alley, a traffic control permit with a traffic control plan is also required. Both are applied for through the city's Right-of-Way Permit Management System.
Who can pull the permit in Dallas?
A registered contractor, or a homeowner doing the work alone on the house they live in. A contractor in a registered class, including concrete/asphalt/paving and foundation contractors, may not obtain a permit for that work without a valid city registration. The exception is the homeowner: a homeowner's registration covers work on an existing structure done by the owner who lives there, without paid help. The permit requirements themselves still apply. The hiring guide explains how to check a registration.
Which inspections does a slab get?
Two, both before the concrete goes in. The city code calls for a footing and foundation inspection once excavations are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place, and a concrete slab inspection after the in-slab steel and building service equipment are in, before the concrete is placed. More on slab work on the slabs and foundations page.
What do Dallas permits cost?
Most residential slab permits come to an estimated $107–$300+. Planning and Development publishes its fees in a permit fee schedule on the city's website. For residential permit questions the department's number is 214-948-4480. Budget figures for a typical driveway are in the cost guide.
How do the suburbs handle concrete permits?
Each suburb runs its own permit desk, with its own rules:
- Plano: a drive approach needs a permit, a pre-pour driveway inspection and a final inspection, and front-yard pavement is capped at 55% of the area in front of the house. Details on the Plano page.
- Frisco: work in the right-of-way needs a free Right-of-Way contractor registration and a ROW permit with no permit fee (Frisco).
- Richardson: a building permit for any new, widened or replaced driveway, a pre-pour inspection and a concrete bond when the work reaches the right-of-way (Richardson).
- Arlington: an uncovered patio 30 inches or less above grade needs no building permit, within setback and drainage limits (Arlington).
Sources
- City of Dallas Public Works: Right-of-Way Management, September 17, 2026
- Dallas City Code Chapter 52, Subchapter 11: registration of contractors, September 17, 2026
- City of Dallas Planning and Development: permit fees, September 17, 2026
- City of Dallas Planning and Development: residential permits, September 17, 2026
- City of Plano Building Inspections: Drive Approach Permit Requirements (PDF), September 17, 2026
- City of Frisco: right-of-way permits, September 17, 2026
- City of Richardson Building Inspection: driveway permits, September 17, 2026
- City of Arlington: work exempt from permitting, September 17, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Does the contractor or the homeowner apply?
In Dallas, an unregistered contractor can't obtain the permit, so a registered contractor normally applies. If someone asks you to apply as the owner while they do the work, read the warning signs in the hiring guide.
Is a permit needed to resurface a patio?
Check with the city before work starts. Rules differ between Dallas and each suburb, and the city's permit desk is the source that counts.
Planning a driveway, patio or slab?
Send one request and we pass it to our vetted local concrete pro in the Dallas area.