The Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents is the two-page list that the City of Dallas Planning & Development Department prints for applicants who need a permit for commercial finish-out, remodel or renovation work. It is one of the Dallas permit documents that sets out what the application packet must contain, from energy and green building paperwork to site plans and building plans. On this page you can fill out the checklist online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the City of Dallas at the official link below.
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What is Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents – Dallas, TX?
The Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents is the City of Dallas Planning & Development Department checklist that lists the documents, plans and statements a commercial finish-out, remodel or renovation permit application must include.
The form has two pages with nine numbered items. Page 1 ("1 of 2") covers the Dallas Energy Conservation Code and Green Building Ordinance, the asbestos survey, Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) proof, the permit application and processing information sheet, a fee worksheet for certain housing and lodging projects, the information sheets and the site plan. Page 2 ("2 of 2"), titled "Application and Required Documents", covers the building plans and compliance with the EPA lead renovation rule, 40 CFR, Part 745.
It is a checklist, not the permit application itself: item 4 separately calls for a completed permit application and a commercial permit processing information sheet. The form adds that the Building Official may require additional information before a permit is issued (Ordinance no. 26029), and that staff cannot accept incomplete applications or illegible construction documents.
The printed revision date is 4/24/2025, and the footer carries the code 25-001.
Who needs to file Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents – Dallas, TX?
Applicants who are preparing a permit application for commercial building finish-out, remodel or renovation work in Dallas use this checklist to confirm the packet is complete before it goes to the department.
Several items apply only under conditions the form states:
- A first-time Tenant Finish Out needs a Commercial Green Building Program Plan Review Compliance Affidavit & Checklist and an Energy Code Compliance Path form with the permit application.
- Projects that involve an asbestos survey need it only "if needed", for the area being renovated or demolished.
- Projects for a hotel or motel, multifamily housing, college dormitory, or fraternity or sorority house that produce a net increase in dwelling units, sleeping rooms or guest rooms need the fee worksheet.
- A change in building use requires a site plan of the entire property.
Design professionals who prepare the plans, and Registered Accessibility Specialists, Registered Third-Party providers and others named on the form, supply parts of the packet. The form does not say who may sign or file for the owner; ask the department at (214) 948-4480.
When to file Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents – Dallas, TX
Use the checklist when you assemble the packet for a commercial finish-out, remodel or renovation permit application, because the form says staff cannot accept incomplete applications or illegible construction documents. It prints no separate due date.
Some items have their own timing:
- For a first-time Tenant Finish Out, the green building affidavit and checklist and the Energy Code Compliance Path form go in with the permit application.
- For all permits, an Energy Code Compliance Certificate must be provided before final inspection.
- When an asbestos survey is needed, the permit cannot be issued before notification that the survey is being conducted.
The Building Official may ask for additional information before issuing the permit.
Documents you need
- Commercial Green Building Program Plan Review Compliance Affidavit & Checklist from a Registered Third-Party Green Building Provider: for a first-time Tenant Finish Out, submitted with the permit application.
- Energy Code Compliance Path form from a Registered Third-Party Energy Code Provider: for a first-time Tenant Finish Out, submitted with the permit application.
- Energy Code Compliance Certificate: required for all permits, provided before final inspection.
- Asbestos survey conducted under the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules and the NESHAP for the area being renovated or demolished: only if needed; the permit cannot be issued before notification that the survey is being conducted.
- Proof that plans and specifications were submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS), by a Registered Accessibility Specialist.
- Completed permit application and commercial permit processing information sheet.
- Fee worksheet: only for a hotel or motel, multifamily housing, college dormitory, or fraternity or sorority house project with a net increase in dwelling units, sleeping rooms or guest rooms.
- Copy of information sheets: scope of work; total square feet of buildings by occupancy or use; occupancy type if known; number of dwelling units or guest rooms; fire sprinkler status and intentions; parking requirements calculations; TXDOT approval if applicable.
- Copy of a site plan drawn to scale showing exits to the exterior of buildings, or key plans showing exits; for a change in building use, a site plan of the entire property with all property lines and parking spaces.
- Legible, fully dimensioned building plans drawn to a standard scale with design professional seals and signatures where required, including a floor key plan, floor plans of the tenant space, and additional architectural plans.
- Foundation plans and other engineered structural plans, if applicable; mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans.
- Floor plans of equipment and plumbing fixtures including floor drains, finish schedules, and menus and cut sheets of equipment: each only if needed or available, as the form states.
How to fill out Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents – Dallas, TX
Confirm energy and green building items
Item 1: check that the plans comply with the Dallas Energy Conservation Code and the Green Building Ordinance. For a first-time Tenant Finish Out, check the box for the green building affidavit and checklist and the Energy Code Compliance Path form, and note the certificate due before final inspection.
Address the asbestos survey
Item 2: check the box if an asbestos survey was needed and conducted for the area being renovated or demolished. The form says the permit cannot be issued before notification of the survey.
Confirm Texas Accessibility Standards proof
Item 3: check the box once you have proof that plans and specifications were submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation by a Registered Accessibility Specialist.
Check the application and information sheet
Item 4: check the box when the permit application and the commercial permit processing information sheet are completed.
Complete the fee worksheet if it applies
Item 5: check the box only if the project is a hotel or motel, multifamily housing, college dormitory, or fraternity or sorority house with a net increase in dwelling units, sleeping rooms or guest rooms.
Check each information sheet entry
Item 6: mark scope of work, total square feet by occupancy or use, occupancy type if known, number of dwelling units or guest rooms, fire sprinkler status and intentions, parking calculations, and TXDOT approval if applicable.
Confirm the site plan
Item 7: check that the scaled site plan shows exits to the exterior or key plans showing exits, and, for a change in building use, the entire property with property lines and parking spaces.
Check the building plans
Item 8: mark the floor key plan, existing-conditions or demolition plan, floor plans of the construction area with each room's use, additional architectural plans, structural, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans. Mark the 'if needed' entries only when they apply.
Confirm EPA lead rule compliance
Item 9: check the box confirming that all aspects of the project comply with the EPA Lead; Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule, 40 CFR, Part 745.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every item that applies to your project is marked and that your documents are complete and legible. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and include it in your packet as described under How to submit.
How to submit Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist and Required Documents – Dallas, TX
The checklist goes with your commercial building permit application packet; the form names no separate portal, mailing address or appointment rule for the checklist itself.
- Department contact: both pages print the Planning & Development Department, 320 E Jefferson Blvd, Dallas TX 75203, telephone (214) 948-4480. Call to confirm how and where to file your packet.
- Fee worksheet (item 5): for the hotel, motel, multifamily, dormitory and fraternity or sorority projects described there, the form points to the department's web page at https://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/Pages/default.aspx to fill out the required information for the packet. A fee worksheet is part of that item; ask the department for any amount.
- What to include: the permit application and commercial permit processing information sheet (item 4) and every item that applies to your project.
Staff cannot accept incomplete applications or illegible construction documents. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the City of Dallas channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting an incomplete application or illegible construction documents; the form says staff cannot accept either.
- Leaving out the Green Building affidavit and the Energy Code Compliance Path form on a first-time Tenant Finish Out.
- Waiting until after final inspection to obtain the Energy Code Compliance Certificate, which is required before final inspection for all permits.
- Expecting the permit to be issued before notification that an asbestos survey is being conducted, when a survey is needed.
- Listing only a site plan of the building when the project is a change in building use; the form requires the entire property with all property lines and parking spaces.
- Omitting the fee worksheet for a hotel, motel, multifamily, dormitory or fraternity or sorority project with a net increase in units or rooms.
- Sending building plans without design professional seals and signatures where required, or without full dimensions and a standard scale.
- Treating the checklist as the permit application; item 4 requires a separate completed permit application and processing information sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for a Dallas permit for a commercial remodel?
The City of Dallas checklist lists nine items: energy and green building paperwork, an asbestos survey if needed, TAS proof, the permit application and processing sheet, information sheets, a site plan, building plans and EPA lead rule compliance. The fee worksheet applies only to certain housing and lodging projects.
What is the Commercial Building Finish-Out, Remodel and Renovations Checklist?
It is a two-page City of Dallas Planning & Development Department checklist of the documents a commercial finish-out, remodel or renovation permit application must contain. It is not the permit application, which item 4 requires separately.
Does a first-time tenant finish out need extra documents?
Yes. For a first-time Tenant Finish Out, the form requires a Commercial Green Building Program Plan Review Compliance Affidavit & Checklist and an Energy Code Compliance Path form, each from a Registered Third-Party provider, with the permit application.
When is the Energy Code Compliance Certificate due?
For all permits, the certificate must be provided before final inspection. Only first-time Tenant Finish Out projects also need the green building and energy code path paperwork with the permit application.
Can I fill out the Dallas finish-out checklist online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Dallas and does not submit your packet; you deliver it through the department's channels.
Does the city accept an incomplete permit packet?
No. The form states that staff cannot accept incomplete applications or illegible construction documents, and that the Building Official may require additional information before the permit is issued (Ordinance no. 26029).
Do I need a site plan for the whole property?
Only for a change in building use. Then the site plan must show the entire property with all property lines and parking spaces. In every case it is drawn to scale and shows exits to the exterior or key plans that show exits.
Where can I get help with the checklist?
The form prints the Planning & Development Department, 320 E Jefferson Blvd, Dallas TX 75203, and the telephone number (214) 948-4480. Call to ask how to file your packet or which items apply to your project.
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