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Hiring a contractor in Frisco, TX

In Frisco, a general, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, pool or fence contractor must register with Building Inspections before the City will issue a permit, and the “R-Number” they get expires the same day as their general liability insurance1. Several everyday jobs, such as replacing a water heater, a heating or cooling system, or a roof with the same material, have “Self Service” permits that are issued right away2. Work that starts without a permit, unless it is an emergency, is charged double the permit fee3. Below are the City's rules for permits, sprinklers and yards, and the City numbers to call.

Which Frisco home jobs need a permit?

  • For some home jobs, Frisco has "Self Service" permits that are issued right away. They cover replacing a heating or cooling system, a roof with the same material, a water heater, doors and windows, and small electrical and plumbing jobs.2 Frisco Plans & Permits →
  • In Frisco, you need a permit to build any fence. You do not need one to repair or replace a small part of a fence: up to 2 sections or 16 feet. Back and side yard fences can be up to 8 feet tall. Fences in front of the house can be 4 feet tall.4 Frisco Plans & Permits →
  • If work starts in Frisco without a permit and it is not an emergency, the City charges double the permit fee. On the same fee list, a re-roof permit is $150.00 and a fence permit is $75.00. The list also says a job may have other fees on top of these.3
  • Codes are books of building rules. Since March 1, 2026, Frisco has used the 2024 International Residential Code (for houses), Mechanical Code (for heating and cooling) and Plumbing Code. Since February 16, 2024, electrical work has followed the 2023 National Electrical Code. Frisco made its own changes to each of these four.5
  • In Frisco, construction waste dumpsters must be scheduled through the City. Each dumpster needs a $1,000 deposit. Each haul is $357.95 plus a disposal cost per ton, and tax is extra. A dumpster holding roofing, dirt, ceramic tile or carpet can reach its weight limit when only 1/4 to 1/2 full.6

Which contractors need a Frisco R-Number, and how do you check a state license?

  • Trades that must register with Frisco Building Inspections before the City will issue a permit include general, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, pool and fence contractors. Fence work includes retaining walls and screening walls. A registered contractor gets an "R-Number." It expires the same day as the contractor's general liability insurance. Irrigation contractors register with Frisco Public Works instead.1
  • If you hold your own Frisco permit with no contractor on it, you ask for inspections by email at binspectionvm@friscotexas.gov. Send it before 4 p.m. to be scheduled for the next business day. Later requests go to the second business day. Put the permit number, the address and the type of inspection in the body of the email. Attachments are not accepted.7
  • Electricians and air-conditioning contractors are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, whose free search shows active licenses by name, license number, city, county or ZIP code.8 Search active licenses on TDLR's free lookup →
  • The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners publishes free lists of licensed plumbers and updates them every day.9 Look up a plumber on the state board's free lists →

What does Frisco require for sprinklers and yards?

  • From November 1 to March 31, Frisco does not allow automatic sprinkler watering of lawn grass. You may hand water with a hose that has a shut-off nozzle, or use drip lines or bubblers for trees and plants. Keep it to 2 hours a day or less, and only when the weather shows watering is needed. No watering during rain or when it is below 40°F.10
  • Frisco gives residents free sprinkler system checkups. A licensed irrigator from the City shows you how to find and fix small broken or crooked sprinkler heads and adjust your controller. Book one in the myFRISCO app or call 972-292-5800.11 Free sprinkler checkup →
  • In Frisco, some backflow devices must be tested when they are put in and then every year by a licensed backflow tester. A backflow device stops water in the drinking water pipes from flowing the wrong way. A lawn sprinkler system can have one. The City charges a $40 backflow test fee for each device, collected through the company that keeps the City's backflow records. This fee is on top of whatever the tester charges.12
  • In Frisco, grass and other ground plants cannot be taller than 12 inches. Tree limbs and shrubs must not block drivers' view, and alleys and sidewalks must be kept clear of hanging limbs and branches. Owners and residents must care for their yards, easements and alleys.13 Report a code violation →

Which Frisco phone numbers should you keep handy?

  • If a water line breaks and you do not know how to shut off the water at your main cut-off, call Frisco Public Works right away at 972-292-5800. If that line is busy, call 972-292-6010. Help is available 24/7.14
  • In August 2016, Frisco suspended its rule that people asking for money or handing out sales flyers must get a City permit. They must still have a valid photo ID and, if it applies, a state sales tax certificate. You never have to open the door. Call 972-292-6010, the police non-emergency line, with solicitation complaints.15
  • Frisco's Development Services Department says it will never ask for payment outside its own software system. If a payment request looks wrong, call the department at (972) 292-5301.16

Who owns Frisco's homes, and how old are they?

  • Most Frisco homes are lived in by their owners: 50,878 of 77,208 occupied homes, about 66%. The other 26,330 are rented.17
  • About half of the homes in Frisco were built in 2009 or earlier.18

What to ask a Frisco contractor before work starts

  1. “What is your Frisco R-Number, and when does your liability insurance end?” In Frisco, the R-Number expires the same day as the contractor's general liability insurance. If they are an electrician or an air-conditioning contractor, look up their state license yourself on the free TDLR search. If they are a plumber, look them up on the state plumbing board's free lists.1,8,9
  2. “Is this a Self Service permit, and whose name goes on it?” Replacing a water heater, a heating or cooling system, a roof with the same material, or doors and windows is on the City's list. If no contractor is on the permit, you ask the City for the inspections yourself, by email. If work starts without a permit and it is not an emergency, the City charges double the permit fee.2,7,3
  3. “Who books the dumpster?” Construction dumpsters in Frisco must be scheduled through the City, with a $1,000 deposit for each one, and a load of roofing, dirt, tile or carpet can reach its weight limit when only 1/4 to 1/2 full.6

Published by CrewButton (Econ Labs, LLC, Addison, Texas). Drafted with AI (Claude) from the sources below. Facts were checked against their sources by AI, and the page was approved by CrewButton's founder on . First published . Updated . Last reviewed .

Sources

  1. Contractor Registration Information. City of Frisco, Building Inspections. Read 2026-10-30.
  2. Apply for Residential Permits. City of Frisco, Development Services. Read 2026-10-30.
  3. City of Frisco, Texas Permit, Inspection and Miscellaneous Consolidated Fee Schedule (PDF). City of Frisco, Development Services (2026-10-01). Read 2026-11-02.
  4. Frequently Asked Questions: Building Inspections. City of Frisco, Building Inspections. Read 2026-10-30.
  5. Adopted Codes. City of Frisco, Building Inspections. Read 2026-10-30.
  6. Construction Waste Services Application Form (PDF). City of Frisco, Environmental Services. Read 2026-10-30.
  7. Residential Inspections Checklists. City of Frisco, Building Inspections. Read 2026-11-02.
  8. TDLR Active License Search. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Read 2026-11-02.
  9. Free Licensee Lists. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Read 2026-11-02.
  10. Watering Schedule. City of Frisco, Public Works (Water Resources). Read 2026-10-30.
  11. Free Sprinkler System Checkups. City of Frisco, Public Works (Water Resources). Read 2026-10-30.
  12. Backflow. City of Frisco, Public Works (Water Operations). Read 2026-11-02.
  13. Common Violations. City of Frisco, Code Enforcement. Read 2026-10-30.
  14. Cold Weather Tips. City of Frisco, Public Works. Read 2026-10-30.
  15. Solicitation Permits. City of Frisco, Police Department Records Division. Read 2026-10-30.
  16. Building Inspections Division. City of Frisco, Building Inspections. Read 2026-10-30.
  17. American Community Survey 2020–2024 (5-year), table B25003: Tenure, Frisco city, Texas. U.S. Census Bureau. Read 2026-10-30.
  18. American Community Survey 2020–2024 (5-year), table B25035: Median Year Structure Built, Frisco city, Texas. U.S. Census Bureau. Read 2026-10-30.

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