The short answer
| Rule | Fort Worth | Mansfield | Keller | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit for foundation repair | yes | Yes, listed in the fee schedule | General rule: repairs need a permit | yes (since November 1, 2011) |
| Engineer’s documents | Engineered Foundation Plans + Engineered Structural Letter | General application: foundations by a Texas licensed PE | Listed for alterations; repair not named | Not stated on city pages |
| Published fee | Not found | $150 + $100 plan review | Based on construction value and square footage | $150.00 + plan review fee |
| Who applies | Registered contractor or homestead permit | Ask the city | Contractor, or owner on a homestead | Contractor registered as a business |
“Not found” and “not stated” mean we couldn’t find it on the city’s published pages, not that there’s no rule. Confirm with the city’s building office before work starts.
Fort Worth
The city’s Residential Permitting page is direct: all foundation repairs or new foundations for residential structures require building permits, and building plans prepared by an engineer. Its checklist for residential remodels, revised in May 2026, lists two items under foundation repair: Engineered Foundation Plans + Engineered Structural Letter.
In practice that means:
- The contractor inspects and proposes a pier plan.
- A licensed engineer prepares the foundation plans and writes the structural letter.
- The contractor, as a registered building contractor, applies for the permit with those documents.
- The work is done and inspected by the city.
- You keep copies of the plans, letter, permit and inspection results.
If plumbing under the house is repaired or moved during the job, that’s a separate permit. Fort Worth says changing, moving or repairing plumbing requires a plumbing permit, and Texas law limits the work to licensed plumbers.
Mansfield
Mansfield’s master fee schedule, effective October 2024, lists foundation repair at $150 with a non-refundable plan review fee of $100. The city’s general residential permit application states that foundations of any type must be prepared by a Texas licensed PE. That form isn’t written specifically for repairs, so ask the city what it wants with a repair application. More on Mansfield’s ground and housing is on the Mansfield page.
Keller
Keller’s building inspections FAQ says a permit is required to construct, alter or repair a building or structure. It doesn’t name foundation repair, and it doesn’t list a flat fee: fees are based on construction value and square footage. For new construction or additions and alterations, the FAQ lists engineered foundation plans with engineer's letters among the submittals. Even an owner doing their own work on a homestead still needs a building permit, the FAQ adds. See the Keller page for the local soil.
Arlington
Arlington has required building permits for structural repairs to foundations since November 1, 2011. Its fee schedule, effective September 2025, lists foundation repair at $150.00, with a non-refundable plan review fee charged at submittal. A contractor must be registered as a business to obtain permits, and the city’s FAQ says homeowners may choose to pay a contractor based upon approval of city inspections. The Arlington page has more.
Why the engineer’s documents matter to you
Texas doesn’t license foundation repair contractors. The analysis of a bill to have the state regulate them found no state regulation of foundation repair contractors (2011), and the bill was not enacted. In Fort Worth, the engineer’s plans and letter, and the city’s inspections, are the licensed checks on a repair.
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers calls the engineer who seals the repair documents the engineer of record, with approval authority over changes. If the contractor wants to change the pier count or locations mid-job, that engineer should sign off.
Why permits matter when you sell
Texas sellers must give buyers a written disclosure notice, and the standard form asks about the Foundation/Slab(s) and about any Previous Structural or Roof Repair. A repair with a permit, an engineer’s letter and after-repair readings is easy to explain. One without them invites questions, price cuts, or a buyer’s engineer. The selling guide covers the rest.
Before you sign
- Ask who pulls the permit, and get the permit number so you can check its status with the city.
- Ask who prepares the engineer’s documents, and whether they’re in the price.
- Ask whether a plumbing permit and a licensed plumber will be needed.
- Ask for copies of everything when the work passes inspection.
Want a contractor to look at it? Call to schedule an inspection.