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, and on whether a flat patio slab needs a permit at all on slab and approach permits.
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.