Check an Austin permit status

Short answer

The City of Austin's public permit search shows status, reviews, and inspections by address or permit number. A permit stuck in review usually means a comment is waiting on the applicant, and the search shows which review discipline left it.

Who this is for

Homeowners, contractors, and buyers who need to know where an Austin permit stands or whether a past job was finaled.

The steps, in order

1. Search by address or permit number in the City's public permit lookup.
2. Open the permit record and read the status plus each review discipline.
3. Check for review comments; most stalls are an unanswered comment.
4. For inspections, look at the inspection history tab for pass/fail and re-inspection notes.
5. If the record looks wrong or missing, the permit center is the escalation route.

Have this ready

• The address or permit number
• The applicant or contractor name if you have it

Common mistakes to avoid

• Searching only by address when the permit number is known; addresses can index several permits.
• Assuming an expired permit means approved work; open or expired permits on a sold house become your problem.

Common questions

How do I find out if work on a house was permitted?

Search the address in the City's permit lookup and check each permit's status. A finaled permit means the city closed it; expired or withdrawn permits are a red flag when buying.

What does 'in review' mean on an Austin permit?

One or more city review disciplines is still evaluating the plans. The record shows which discipline, and its comments say what is holding things up.

Official source

• City of Austin permit search

Last reviewed August 26, 2026 against the official source.

Related

• How to look up an Austin permit