The short answer
Yes. Each of the four cities requires a permit for foundation repair, and three of them want a licensed engineer involved before the work starts:
| City | Permit | Engineer before the permit | Engineer after the work | Published fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinney | yes | yes (before permit) | Final Engineer's Report required | Not found |
| Frisco | Yes | Stamped Engineer Letter + stamped pier drawings | yes (after repair) | $75.00 |
| Plano | yes | Engineer's letter, sealed: yes | Not stated in the handout | Not found |
| Allen | Over the counter | Not stated in the fee schedule | Not stated | $75.00 |
“Not found” means we couldn’t find it on the city’s published pages, not that there isn’t one. Call the city’s building inspections office to confirm before work starts.
McKinney
McKinney’s foundation repair guidelines are the most specific of the four. They count leveling, pier or footing replacement, shimming and floor-system repair as foundation repair. Before the city issues the permit, it wants an engineer’s letter and drawings showing the affected areas and whether any plumbing must be tested. To close the permit, the final engineer’s report goes to the city’s online portal.
What that means in practice:
- The contractor proposes a pier plan.
- A licensed engineer reviews it and writes the letter, with drawings.
- The contractor applies for the permit.
- The work is done and inspected.
- The engineer checks the result and writes the final report, which closes the permit.
Keep copies of the letter, drawings, permit and final report. They’re what a buyer’s inspector will ask for.
Frisco
Frisco’s residential alteration requirements say a foundation repair permit application must include a stamped engineer’s letter and stamped pier drawings, and that the engineer must provide an inspection report when the repair is complete. Frisco’s fee schedule lists the permit at $75.00.
Plano
Plano’s foundation repair permit handout asks for two copies of the construction documents: foundation plans showing every pier or footing location, pier and footing details, and an engineer’s letter. The drawings must be designed, sealed and signed by a Texas professional engineer.
Allen
Allen’s fee schedule lists foundation repair among its over-the-counter permits, at $75.00. The fee schedule doesn’t say whether Allen wants an engineer’s letter, so ask the city or the contractor.
Why the engineer matters to you
Texas has no state license for foundation repair contractors: a 2011 Senate bill analysis found no state regulation of foundation repair contractors (2011), and the bill to change that was not enacted. In McKinney, Frisco and Plano, the engineer’s letter and final report are the one licensed check on the work. The Texas Section of ASCE calls the engineer who seals the remediation documents the engineer of record.
Two things to watch:
- Who hired the engineer. Many contractors work with an engineer they bring in. That’s normal and the permit still requires the letter. If you want an opinion from someone with no stake in the repair, hire your own licensed engineer before you choose a plan.
- What the report covers. One DFW contractor notes that engineer’s reports here are generally limited to visual observations and an elevation survey. Ask what the engineer will look at.
Before you sign
- Ask who pulls the permit, and get the permit number.
- Ask who provides the engineer’s letter, the drawings and the final report, and whether they’re in the price.
- Ask for copies of everything when the permit closes.
Want a contractor to look at the house? Call to schedule an inspection.