HB993 - Relating to the time for processing a municipal building permit application.

      By: Toth H.B. No. 993       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the time for processing a municipal building permit   application.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 214.904, Local Government Code, is   amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections   (e) and (f) to read as follows:          (b)  Not later than the 45th day after the date an   application for a permit is submitted, the municipality must:                (1)  grant or deny the permit;                (2)  provide written notice to the applicant stating   the reasons why the municipality has been unable to grant or deny   the permit application in the time required by this subsection ; or                (3)   for a commercial building permit only, reach a   written agreement with the applicant providing for a deadline for   granting or denying the permit.          (d)  If a municipality fails to comply with this section   [ grant or deny a permit application in the time required by   Subsection (c) or by an agreement under Subsection (b)(3) ], the   municipality:                (1)  may not collect any permit fees associated with   the application; and                (2)  shall refund to the applicant any permit fees   associated with the application that have been collected.           (e)  A municipality may not:                 (1)     deny a permit solely because the municipality is   unable to comply with this section; or                 (2)     require an applicant to waive the requirements of   this section.           (f)     In this section, "commercial" has the meaning assigned   by Section 214.211.          SECTION 2.  Section 214.904, Local Government Code, as   amended by this Act, applies only to a municipal building permit   application that is submitted on or after the effective date of this   Act.  An application submitted before the effective date of this Act   is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was   submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.