Austin Development Services Dept
Austin, TX
Avg Review
30d
Rejection Rate
50%
Skill Files
8
Status
Medium
Ventilation — Type I Hood (Austin/IMC)
2021 IMC §507 w/ Austin amendments / NFPA 96Type I hood per 2021 IMC §507 with Austin local amendments. Exhaust rate per IMC Table 507.2.1. Makeup air required. Austin Energy green building requirements may affect HVAC design — verify Austin Energy Green Building provisions. Austin requires separate mechanical permit for Type I hoods in some cases.
Examiner Note: Austin Dev Services may require Austin Energy Green Building compliance for commercial kitchen HVAC. Verify applicability before design. Makeup air should be conditioned for Texas heat.
Common rejection: Austin Energy Green Building provisions not addressed; makeup air not conditioned for Texas climate
Correction: Verify Austin Energy Green Building requirements applicability. Specify conditioned makeup air for Texas climate. Show hood system and duct routing on M-1 per 2021 IMC §507.
Fire — Suppression & Austin Fire Marshal
NFPA 96 / 2021 IBC §903 / Austin Fire CodeUL 300 system required. Automatic sprinkler per IBC 903.2.1.3. Austin Fire Marshal reviews fire plans. K-class extinguisher within 30 feet. Fire alarm with monitoring. Suppression interlock. Austin Fire may have additional local requirements for commercial cooking operations.
Examiner Note: Austin Fire Marshal review is concurrent with building permit. Submit fire plans with building permit application to Austin Dev Services.
Common rejection: Fire plans not included with building permit submission; suppression interlock not documented
Correction: Include fire protection plans with Austin Dev Services building permit submission. Document suppression interlock sequence on FP-1. Show K-class extinguisher locations within 30 feet of cooking.
Plumbing — Grease Interceptor (Austin Water/TCEQ)
2021 UPC §1014 / Austin Water Utility FOG / TCEQGrease interceptor per UPC §1014. Austin Water Utility FOG program requires minimum 1,000 gallon external interceptor. TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) also regulates grease trap waste disposal. Austin Water reviews separately from building permit. Quarterly maintenance records required. 3-compartment sink, handwash, backflow prevention.
Examiner Note: Austin Water Utility FOG review is separate from Dev Services building permit. Submit FOG application to Austin Water before plumbing permit. TCEQ grease trap waste hauler must be identified.
Common rejection: Austin Water FOG application not submitted; TCEQ-compliant waste hauler not identified in plans
Correction: Submit FOG application to Austin Water Utility before plumbing permit. Size interceptor minimum 1,000 gallons. Identify TCEQ-compliant waste hauler. Show interceptor on site plan with pumping access.
Electrical — Kitchen Power (2020 NEC/Austin)
2020 NEC / Austin Energy / Austin AmendmentsAustin adopted 2020 NEC with local amendments. Minimum 200A service per bay. GFCI within 6 feet of water. Dedicated circuits. Emergency disconnect. Panel schedule required. Austin Energy coordination for service upgrades. Surge protection per NEC 230.67. Austin Energy green building may require energy-efficient equipment.
Examiner Note: Austin Energy reviews electrical service separately — coordinate early (allow 4-6 weeks). Austin Energy Green Building may mandate energy-efficient lighting and equipment.
Common rejection: Austin Energy coordination not initiated; Green Building energy provisions not addressed; panel schedule missing
Correction: Coordinate with Austin Energy for service upgrade (allow 4-6 weeks). Address Green Building energy requirements. Provide panel schedule on E-1 with surge protection per NEC 230.67.
Health — Austin Public Health / TDSHS
Austin/Travis County Health / TFER 25 TAC §228 / TDSHSAustin/Travis County Health Authority reviews food facility plans per Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER). Handwash within 25 feet. 3-compartment sink. FRP/SS behind cooking. Sealed floors, coved base. Pest control. Austin-specific: water conservation measures may be required (drought-prone area). Adequate cold storage.
Examiner Note: Austin/Travis County Health reviews food plans separately from Dev Services. Austin may require water-efficient fixtures and low-flow faucets per water conservation code.
Common rejection: Health plan review not submitted; water conservation fixtures not specified per Austin code
Correction: Submit food facility plans to Austin/Travis County Health. Specify water-efficient fixtures per Austin Water Conservation Code. Show handwash within 25 feet, finish schedule, and pest control on A-1.
Structural — Austin Wind & Floor Loads
2021 IBC §1607 / ASCE 7 / Austin AmendmentsFloor live load 150 PSF. Wind design per ASCE 7 (115 mph for Austin area). Low seismic (SDC A/B). TX PE stamp required. Equipment anchorage for rooftop units. Austin amendments may apply to structural provisions.
Examiner Note: Austin Dev Services structural review is standard 2021 IBC. TX PE stamp required on all structural drawings.
Common rejection: TX PE stamp missing; rooftop equipment anchorage not detailed
Correction: Provide TX PE-stamped structural calculations. Include wind load for rooftop equipment per ASCE 7 (115 mph). Show equipment anchorage on S-1.
ADA — Austin Accessibility (TAS/TDLR)
2021 IBC Ch 11 / TAS / TDLR / 2010 ADATexas Accessibility Standards (TAS) apply. TDLR project registration required before permit submission. Accessible route 36-inch minimum. Accessible restroom. Accessible parking per TAS. Signage with Braille. Path-of-travel upgrades for renovations.
Examiner Note: Austin Dev Services requires TDLR registration number on permit application. Complete TDLR registration before submitting to Austin.
Common rejection: TDLR registration not completed; registration number not on permit application
Correction: Complete TDLR project registration and include registration number on Austin permit application. Show accessible route, parking, and restroom per TAS on A-1. Include Braille signage.
Egress — Austin Exit Requirements
2021 IBC §1006 / §1017 / Austin Amendments2021 IBC egress with Austin amendments. Two exits when occupant load exceeds 49. Travel distance: 250 feet (unsprinklered), 300 feet (sprinklered). Exit signs per IBC 1013 on emergency power. Panic hardware for 50+ occupants. Occupant load calculation required on plans.
Examiner Note: Austin Dev Services follows standard 2021 IBC egress. Ensure occupant load calculation is clearly shown.
Common rejection: Occupant load calculation not on plans; exit signs not connected to emergency power
Correction: Add occupant load calculation per IBC 1004.5 on A-1. Show exit signs on emergency power on RCP. Dimension travel distance on egress plan.