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Permit Report » Permits by City » San Antonio

San Antonio Building Permit Search & History Reports

The City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) manages all building permits within San Antonio city limits. San Antonio is the 7th-largest city in the US and the second-largest in Texas, with a fast-growing residential market driven by military, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. DSD issues residential, commercial, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. San Antonio's unique considerations include foundation repair permits (expansive clay soils are common), historic district overlays for the King William, Lavaca, and Monte Vista neighborhoods, and flood zone requirements along the San Antonio River and its tributaries. Bexar County permits (unincorporated county areas) are separate from City of San Antonio permits.

Live data direct from City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) · Results in seconds

Records available

What's included in a San Antonio permit search.

DSD-issued building permits via ArcGIS open data: residential remodels, additions, new construction, commercial upfits, mechanical, electrical, plumbing. Includes permit number, work type, declared valuation, contractor, and status. Live ArcGIS lookup available.

Source: City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) https://www.sanantonio.gov/DSD/Permits

  • Permit type and scope of work Full description of the work covered by each permit
  • Issue date, final date, current status Track open vs. finaled vs. expired permits
  • Contractor name & license Where recorded — required for TX permits
  • Original PDF document (Premium tier) Certified copy from City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD)
Coverage limits

What this search does not include.

Bexar County unincorporated areas (separate jurisdiction); suburban cities (Universal City, Schertz, New Braunfels — each has its own building department); permits still in active plan review.

  • Outside San Antonio, TX jurisdiction Adjacent counties and municipalities use separate systems
  • Pending / in-review permits Not yet issued — not in the public records database
  • Unpermitted work Not in the records — flagged via history gaps, not direct data
  • Voided / expired (cleared) records San Antonio may clear old records from public view after a retention period
Common questions

Frequently asked about San Antonio permits.

How far back do San Antonio DSD records go?
DSD permit records via open data cover recent years. Older records may require a public records request to DSD at plans-records@sanantonio.gov.
Does DSD cover the historic King William and Monte Vista districts?
Yes — DSD issues building permits in all San Antonio historic districts. However, work in a designated historic district also requires approval from the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) before DSD issues the building permit.
Can unpermitted additions be detected in San Antonio?
Yes — cross-reference DSD permit history with the Bexar County Appraisal District (BCAD) property records. Foundation work, room additions, and garage conversions are the most common unpermitted patterns in San Antonio.
What is unique about San Antonio foundation permits?
San Antonio's expansive clay soils (known as 'black cotton soil') make foundation issues common. Foundation repair and leveling permits are required and tracked by DSD — permit history can reveal past structural issues.
Can I get the actual permit PDF?
DSD issues digital permit documents. Our Premium tier retrieves available permit documents directly from DSD records for San Antonio properties.

Get permit data for San Antonio, TX.

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