Short answer: in most Denton County towns that publish a rule, a foundation repair needs a permit. It also needs a plan sealed by a Texas licensed engineer, and some towns want the engineer's report again at the end. Texas doesn't license foundation repair companies, so the permit and the seal are the main checks on the work. Rules and fees differ by town. A few small towns don't publish theirs, so ask before work starts.

Why Permits Matter So Much in Texas

There's no state license for foundation repair companies in Texas. A 2013 bill, H.B. 613, would have created one. Its bill analysis records supporters' argument that the lack of state standards let "unqualified and unscrupulous people" do foundation repairs. It didn't make it out of the House.

That leaves two checks: the city's permit and the engineer. Texas law exempts a lot of home repair from engineering licensing, under the Engineering Practice Act. But the exemption stops at engineering design for a house slab on expansive soil. The one exception is work that meets the local residential code.

Much of the ground around Denton reads high for shrink and swell. The towns that publish a rule ask for a sealed engineer's plan. The same act lets a public official accept a plan only if an engineer prepared it. The engineer's seal is the proof. So when a city asks for a sealed plan, it's asking for a licensed engineer to put their name to the repair.

Town-by-Town Rules

Here's what each town publishes, as read in October 2026. Where a town doesn't publish a rule, we say so; it doesn't mean no permit is needed.

  • Denton: "All foundation repairs require a permit." The city wants a repair letter and plan signed and sealed by a Texas registered engineer. Plans go in online through eTRAKiT, or on paper at the Development Services Center, 401 N Elm Street. The engineer's final sealed report goes into eTRAKiT before the final inspection. The fee is on the city's fee schedule.
  • Flower Mound: a homeowner must get a permit from Building Inspections. The work must be designed by a State-licensed engineer. For questions, the town lists 972-874-6355.
  • Frisco: an online residential building permit application, under "Other Home Improvements," with a stamped engineer letter and stamped pier drawings. The engineer sends an inspection report when the work is done. The fee is $75, on the schedule effective October 1, 2026. Some subdivisions also need HOA approval.
  • The Colony: a permit is required, with plans stamped and sealed by a licensed engineer. The fee is $75 on the city's 2026-27 schedule.
  • Highland Village: the foundation company must be registered with the city and apply for the permit. It must submit an original engineering design. The city's advice: make sure you see the permit before the work starts.
  • Pilot Point: engineered plans that show where the piers go, sealed by a Texas licensed engineer. Every repair needs a sealed inspection letter and a final engineer's letter, plus an HOA letter if one applies.
  • Lewisville: foundation repair is on the city's list of building permits, handled through MGO Connect. The city's 2024 fee schedule listed $50. We couldn't confirm from its pages whether it asks for an engineer's letter.
  • Trophy Club: the town's general rule calls for a building permit whenever you alter, repair or replace a building. Ask the Permit Department, at 682-237-2917, about engineer requirements.
  • Little Elm: permits and contractor registration go through the town's online MyGov system. Its published packet covers new homes, not repairs, so ask Development Services.
  • Corinth, Krum, Sanger and Roanoke: we couldn't find a published rule for foundation repair. Ask the city before work starts.

Lantana, Savannah and Paloma Creek South

These places aren't cities, so there's no city permit office. Denton County's Development Services Department says any development in unincorporated Denton County needs a Development Permit. It defines development broadly, including buildings, grading and excavation. Whether that covers a repair to an existing house, the county's page doesn't say. Call Development Services at 940-349-2990.

What an Engineer's Repair Plan Should Include

The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers lists what repair documents should contain. A good plan covers:

  1. The site address, and the engineer's and firm's names and contact details.
  2. The purpose of the repair and its limits.
  3. Any soil information the engineer used, and where it came from.
  4. A plan view of the foundation, with details showing how to build the repair.
  5. The materials and methods, and any observation or testing the work needs.
  6. The existing floor elevations, and a floor survey after the work.

After the repair, the guidelines say the engineer, if hired to do so, should provide a letter of substantial completion. Several towns build that step into the permit. Denton wants the final sealed report before its last inspection. Frisco wants an inspection report at completion, and Pilot Point a final engineer's letter.

It's fair to ask for a copy of every one of these. The floor readings in particular are the baseline any future survey will be compared with.

Two Other Permits That Can Come Up

Plumbing. If the problem turns out to be a leak under the slab, that's a separate job. Texas requires a licensed plumber for plumbing work, except when you do it yourself in your own home. Flower Mound requires a permit for water and sewer line repairs. The contractor must be licensed by the state and registered with the town.

The lake easement. Around Lewisville Lake, the Corps of Engineers holds a flowage easement on private land below the 537-foot contour. New structures there need the District Engineer's approval. Around Grapevine Lake, the line is 572 feet, and any structure or work inside it needs the Corps' written permission. A deed can leave either easement out. If your lot backs onto a lake, check your deed before planning work near the back of the lot.

What Permits Usually Cost

The permit itself is a small part of a repair. Where towns publish a fee, it's in the tens of dollars. Frisco and The Colony list $75, and Lewisville's 2024 schedule listed $50.

Two repair companies publish averages for a whole repair around Dallas and Denton, and both land near $11,000. One says its average includes the city permit. Our cost guide explains what else goes into a quote.

Permit Questions

Who usually pulls the permit?

In Highland Village, the foundation company does, and it must be registered with the city. Elsewhere, ask who will apply. Either way, you can ask to see the permit before work starts.

What if a company says no permit is needed?

Ask which rule it's relying on, and check with the town yourself. The towns around Denton that publish a rule all require one.

Do I need an engineer even for a small repair?

In the towns that publish an engineer rule, yes. Denton says all foundation repairs need a permit with an engineer's sealed plan. Our engineer or repair company guide covers how the engineer fits in.

See every common question

Sources

  1. Denton: the city's foundation repair page.
  2. Flower Mound: the town's residential permit guidelines.
  3. Frisco: residential alteration requirements and the permit fee schedule.
  4. The Colony: "Do I Need a Permit?" and the master fee schedule.
  5. Highland Village: the city's foundation repair FAQ.
  6. Pilot Point: the city's foundation repair page.
  7. Lewisville: the city's building permits page.
  8. Trophy Club and Little Elm: each town's permit pages.
  9. Denton County: the Development Services page.
  10. Texas Occupations Code §1001.056 and §1001.402 (Engineering Practice Act).
  11. H.B. 613, 83rd Texas Legislature, bill analysis and history.
  12. Residential foundation guidelines, Version 3, Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
  13. Texas Occupations Code §1301.351 and §1301.051 (plumbing licensing).
  14. Lewisville Lake and Grapevine Lake real estate pages, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.