The short answer
A standard renovation of a 1,500-square-foot Austin house runs about $49,200 to $123,000, and a gut remodel $73,800 to $184,500. Texas does not license general contractors, so check the licensed trades and read the contract before you sign. The city's plan review path depends on whether you are remodeling inside the walls or adding on.
What a remodel costs in Austin
The ranges below start from national remodeling data and apply the Texas construction cost factor of 0.82 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. That table has no separate Austin entry. They cover labor, materials and the general contractor's markup for a typical single-family home.
| Job | Austin (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic update, 1,500 sq ft home | $18,450–$49,200 | $22,500–$60,000 |
| Standard renovation, 1,500 sq ft home | $49,200–$123,000 | $60,000–$150,000 |
| Gut renovation, 1,500 sq ft home | $73,800–$184,500 | $90,000–$225,000 |
| Kitchen remodel, mid-range, 150 sq ft | $18,450–$30,750 | $22,500–$37,500 |
| Full bathroom remodel, mid-range | $7,400–$22,950 | $9,000–$28,000 |
| Bedroom or living room refresh | $1,250–$8,200 | $1,500–$10,000 |
| Basement or attic finish | $16,400–$61,500 | $20,000–$75,000 |
| Exterior update | $4,900–$16,400 | $6,000–$20,000 |
| Roof replacement, 2,000 sq ft, asphalt | $5,750–$11,500 | $7,000–$14,000 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Austin prices use the Texas statewide construction cost factor of 0.82 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors, which have no separate Austin entry. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
Use the cost estimator for a figure based on your ZIP code and scope. National averages by room are in our home remodeling cost guide.
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Additions and conversions
The price table covers whole-house scopes. Additions and conversions are quoted per square foot, and the city's plan review treats them differently from an interior remodel. Austin Development Services routes new construction and additions through one web form and interior remodels through another, so the drawings and the review path depend on which one you are doing.
What the general contractor's share pays for
A general contractor runs a project that involves several trades. An Austin kitchen and bath remodel might need demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, cabinets and paint. That is eight trades on one small job. The GC hires and sequences those trades, buys materials, pulls permits, meets inspectors and fixes what goes wrong between trades. On a $100,000 remodel, that coordination is a real line in the budget. Hiring each trade yourself does not remove it, because someone still has to sequence the work.
What a general contractor does, and what Texas licenses
Texas does not license general contractors. The City of Austin says it plainly on its homeowner permit page: in Texas, anyone can be a general contractor, and a state license is not required. So the title on a truck tells you nothing about whether the company is licensed. What you can check are the trades the state does regulate:
- Plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. The board issues Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master and Plumbing Inspector licenses, and you can search public records through the TSBPE license search.
- Electricians are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. An electrical contractor must employ a licensed Master Electrician, carry at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate liability insurance, and hold a license that renews every year.
- Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors are also licensed by TDLR. ACR companies must employ a licensed ACR contractor at each permanent location, and Class A contractors carry at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate coverage.
A remodeling contractor who runs the whole job will subcontract the plumbing, electrical and HVAC work. Ask for those subcontractors by name before you sign, then look each one up. TDLR takes complaints against its licensees, and so does the plumbing board.
The homeowner as general contractor
Austin lets an unlicensed homeowner do electrical, mechanical or plumbing work under a Homestead Permit, but the conditions are narrow. You need a homestead exemption filed with the county appraisal district, the work cannot touch the main electric service or involve reclaiming refrigerant in a ducted system, and you cannot have pulled a homestead permit for another residence in the prior 12 months. The permit cannot be transferred, and it can be revoked if anyone other than the person who obtained it does the work.
If you act as your own general contractor on a building permit, you take on requesting and activating the permit, paying for it, scheduling every inspection including the final, getting the certificate of occupancy, and managing the child trade permits. On a real remodel, that work takes several hours each week.
Do you need a permit?
For almost any remodel inside the City of Austin, you need a permit. A building permit is required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, relocate or demolish any building or structure within the city's zoning jurisdiction. The city keeps a short list of work exempt from building permits.
Residential projects are reviewed against Chapter 25-2 of the Land Development Code, the 2024 International Residential Code and Chapter 25-12 Technical Codes with local amendments. New construction and additions go through the New Construction or Addition Web Form; interior remodels use the Interior Remodel Web Form. Applications run through the Austin Build + Connect portal.
Fees and payment
Austin's fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-27 took effect on October 1, 2026, and residential plan review and permit fees have their own schedule. Paying by credit card through the portal adds a 2.35% service fee with a $2.00 minimum. Paying online from a checking account avoids that fee, though a $30 ACH return fee applies for insufficient funds. In-person credit card payments are limited to amounts under $10,000.
Inspections and deadlines
Once a permit is active, it expires on the 181st day if no inspection has been scheduled or received. A passing inspection extends the expiration date 180 days. A canceled or failed inspection does not. Austin also requires a third-party framing checklist for residential construction, and it maintains a list of approved third-party home performance testing contractors for energy code compliance.
The other cities in the metro
Each city runs its own building department, with its own forms and timelines.
| City | Where permits go | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Austin Build + Connect portal | 2024 IRC; separate web forms for additions and interior remodels |
| Round Rock | Permit Portal | About 30 business days for plan review; no expedited review; strict one-permit system |
| Cedar Park | MGO Connect portal | Contractors must register with the city; registration is free |
| Pflugerville | CityWorks PLL portal | 2021 ICC codes and 2020 NEC; residential inspections only noon to 4 pm |
| Leander | Development Hub | Paperless permitting; apply, upload plans, pay and schedule online |
| Westlake | City of West Lake Hills Building and Development | 4010 Bee Cave Road; 512-327-3628 |
Round Rock requires structural modifications such as wall removal to have an engineered design, and strongly recommends an asbestos survey if walls come out of a home built before 1980. Its building permit fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Under the one-permit system, the general contractor and every subcontractor must be added to the application and accept their assignment in the portal before the permit issues. After two failed inspections of the same type, a $75 re-inspection fee applies to each additional one.
Cedar Park adopted the 2021 International Residential Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, the 2021 International Plumbing Code and the 2021 International Mechanical Code, with local amendments in Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 of the city code.
Pflugerville requires a residential energy compliance certificate with residential projects and publishes a list of common inspection failures. Leander does not need general contractor and subcontractor information at submittal, but it must be on file before the permit issues.
Unincorporated Travis and Williamson County
Outside city limits, Travis County Development Services handles the permit. Any development in the county requires a permit, and the county's renovation permit covers remodeling an existing home without increasing square footage. Applications go through MyPermitNow.org and need the legal description from TCAD, a site plan, a floor plan and an estimated cost of construction. If the property is in the floodplain, a line item cost estimate on contractor letterhead is required, and the county does not allow increasing the square footage of nonconforming structures in the floodplain. The permit desk is at 700 Lavaca, Suite 540, and can be reached at (512) 854-4215, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Williamson County is different. It has no zoning, cannot issue a certificate of occupancy, and has not adopted residential building code standards for unincorporated areas. A building permit there mainly verifies whether the property is in a floodplain. If the property is inside a city or its ETJ, that city's rules apply instead.
Additions, ADUs and what the lot allows
ADUs in Austin
An accessory dwelling unit can be built on property zoned SF-1, SF-2 or SF-3 with a minimum lot area of 5,750 square feet. Zoning no longer sets a minimum distance between units, but the International Residential Code space requirement still applies, along with the fire separation rules in R302.1(1). Each unit needs its own address before you submit, and you have to check deed restrictions yourself. An ADU built after October 1, 2015 cannot be used as a short-term rental for more than 30 days in a calendar year.
The applicant needs an AB+C portal account. Plan review fees are invoiced after intake verifies the documents, and permit fees are set once the application is approved. The certificate of occupancy is issued after the final building inspection passes.
Zoning relief
If your addition pushes past a site development rule, the Board of Adjustment hears variance requests on zoning site development regulations, off-street parking and sign rules, and hears appeals of administrative actions under Chapter 25-2. A variance takes longer than a plan that fits, so check the numbers before you pay for drawings. Our guide to permit drawings covers what a submittal set needs, and designing an addition walks through the design side.
Demolition and hazardous materials
A demolition permit is required for all total demolitions and for partial demolitions that remove more than half of the exterior walls. Austin also requires plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits to address utility termination and refrigerant removal, and a Demolition Compliance Affidavit declaring removal of hazardous materials. If your remodel is really a teardown, budget for that paperwork.
Climate and site risks that show up in the budget
Central Texas heat, expansive clay soils and flash flooding all change what a remodel costs. Clay soil movement is the reason foundation repair is a routine line item on older Austin houses. Have an engineer look before you add a second story or a heavy addition. Hail and high wind drive roofing decisions. The price table lists a 2,000-square-foot asphalt roof replacement at $5,750 to $11,500 in Austin.
Floodplain rules matter in Travis County, where a nonconforming structure in the floodplain cannot grow. The county's Flood Risk Viewer incorporates Atlas 14 studies, and Pflugerville publishes an interactive floodplain map. Check the map before you buy a lot or plan an addition.
The Texas Department of Insurance says insurers cannot decline or not renew a home policy based on the age of the house or its roof, and it has pushed companies to discount premiums for storm and wildfire resistance. If your remodel includes roof or window upgrades, ask your insurer what documentation it wants.
Contracts and payments
Texas does not set a down payment cap the way California does, so the contract is your main protection. Put these in writing before work starts:
- A scope that names what is included and what is not, room by room.
- A payment schedule tied to completed stages, not to dates.
- Who pulls each permit, and whether permit fees are in the contract price.
- The names and license numbers of the plumbing, electrical and HVAC subcontractors.
- A written change order process with prices before work is done.
- A start date and a substantial completion date.
Our guide to paying a contractor walks through milestone schedules and lien waivers. GOLDGCP homeowners pay their pro directly, stage by stage, and each milestone is paid only after that stage is approved.
How to check a remodeling contractor before you hire
- Ask which trades the company self-performs. In Texas the company itself has no state license, so the answer tells you what to verify.
- Look up the plumbing subcontractor on the TSBPE public license search.
- Look up the electrical and ACR subcontractors with TDLR, and confirm the insurance minimums are met.
- Check the business name on the contract against the name on the permit application.
- Ask for three local references from projects like yours and call them.
- Confirm the company is registered with the city where you live. Round Rock and Cedar Park both require contractor registration before a permit issues.
Every contractor in the GOLDGCP network passes our six-step vetting: state license verification, an insurance check, a business and public-records check, a portfolio review, client reference calls, and onboarding with a quality score.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP matches homeowners with vetted remodeling contractors across the Austin metro, including:
- Austin
- Round Rock
- Cedar Park
- Georgetown
- Pflugerville
- Leander
- Westlake
Enter your ZIP code to see local prices and contractors who serve your street.
How GOLDGCP works
- Describe your project online, by phone or on WhatsApp. You see prices for your ZIP code before anyone visits.
- We match you with up to 3 vetted, licensed pros. For projects that need drawings, our in-house architects can prepare the plans for your city's plan review.
- You compare written bids and choose one.
- You pay in milestones, and you pay each one only after you approve that stage. You can follow the schedule, photos and payments in the client portal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general contractor charge in Austin?
Most general contractors build their fee into the project price instead of billing it separately. A standard renovation of a 1,500-square-foot Austin house runs about $49,200 to $123,000 in total, and a gut remodel $73,800 to $184,500, using the Texas construction cost factor of 0.82.
Does Texas require a license for a general contractor?
No. The City of Austin states that in Texas anyone can be a general contractor and no state license is required. Plumbers, electricians and air conditioning contractors are licensed, so check those trades with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and TDLR before you hire.
Do I need a permit to remodel my house in Austin?
Yes for almost any remodel. A building permit is required to alter, enlarge, repair or convert any building within the city's zoning jurisdiction. Interior remodels use the Interior Remodel Web Form, and additions use the New Construction or Addition Web Form, both through the Austin Build + Connect portal.
How long does plan review take in Round Rock?
Round Rock says plan review takes about 30 business days from the date the application is received and accepted. Expedited review is not available. The general contractor and every subcontractor must be added to the application and accept their assignment in the Permit Portal before the permit issues.
Can I build an ADU on my lot in Austin?
If the property is zoned SF-1, SF-2 or SF-3 and the lot is at least 5,750 square feet, an ADU is allowed under the city's rules. You need a unique address for the unit, an AB+C portal account, and a check of any deed restrictions. Fire separation rules in R302.1(1) still apply.
What happens if my Austin permit expires?
An active permit expires on the 181st day if no inspection has been scheduled or received. A passing inspection extends the expiration date 180 days. A canceled or failed inspection does not extend it, so keep the inspection schedule moving.
Do I need a different permit outside Austin city limits?
Yes. In unincorporated Travis County, any development requires a permit through MyPermitNow.org, and floodplain properties need a line item cost estimate on contractor letterhead. In unincorporated Williamson County there is no residential building code and no zoning, and a permit mainly verifies floodplain status.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). Where that table has no entry for a metro, we use the nearest listed location or the state value. For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the cost estimator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov
- City of Austin Development Services · Homeowner's Permit
- City of Austin Development Services · Additional Dwelling Units
- City of Round Rock
- City of Austin Development Services · Fees
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Austin; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.