Frisco’s new 6% technology fee now applies to covered permit filings

Frisco’s new 6% technology fee took effect August 1, 2026, for covered permits, projects, licenses and other submissions processed through the city’s land-development and permitting system.

The fee equals 6% of the applicable base fee. It is added to the base fee and any other applicable charges, giving builders, contractors, businesses and homeowners another amount to account for before submitting an eligible filing.

What the fee covers

Under Ordinance 2026-05-40, the technology fee applies to zoning and development permits and submittals, items identified in the city’s Permit, Inspection and Miscellaneous Consolidated Fee Schedule, and other submissions processed through the system by Planning, Building Inspections, Fire, Engineering, Health and other departments.

The ordinance also includes other permit types, project categories, licenses and submissions that the city requires to be processed through its land-development or permitting-services software system, including categories adopted after the ordinance’s effective date.

The City Council approved the ordinance May 19, 2026. The ordinance says the fee is intended to cover part of the city’s costs for software licensing, maintenance, hardware and digital infrastructure used for application, inspection, licensing and other regulatory services.

Payment is due when the application is submitted

The technology fee is assessed, due and collected when an application or request is submitted for processing through the city system. The filing is not complete, accepted or processed until the technology fee has been paid.

The charge is nonrefundable and nontransferable. That remains true if the related permit, project, license or other submission is later withdrawn, denied or expires.

Because the fee is based on the applicable base fee, the total will vary by submission. Applicants should review the amount shown in Frisco’s permitting system and account for the 6% charge before submitting. This article does not calculate a total because other fees may apply.

Charges the ordinance excludes

The technology fee does not apply to water, wastewater or roadway impact fees; convenience or payment-processing charges tied to the payment method; escrow funds held for third-party review, environmental mitigation or public improvements; or network-node fees collected under Chapter 284 of the Texas Local Government Code.

Those exclusions apply to the specified charges themselves. A related application may still be processed through Frisco’s permitting system and may involve other applicable fees.

What online applicants should expect

Frisco requires building-permit applications to be submitted online through its Plans and Permits portal. The Building Inspections Division directs applicants to use the portal to create an account, submit applications and documents, and pay assigned fees. The division also lists 972-292-5301 for questions about permits, registrations and payments.

Public Works uses an electronic permit-review portal for several categories, including liquid-waste and grease-interceptor permits, irrigation permits, network-node permits and right-of-way permits. The city says the portal provides access to electronic applications and plans, review comments, permit-status updates and applicable fee payments.

For public-works applications, the city’s posted process instructs applicants to create an account, complete the electronic application, wait for assigned fees, submit required documents and pay the applicable fees before the application moves into department review. The city’s separate network-node exclusion means the network-node fee itself is not subject to the 6% technology fee.

Anyone filing a covered Frisco application on or after August 1 should budget an additional 6% of the applicable base fee and confirm the final amount in the city’s online permitting system before submitting. The city’s Planning, Building Inspections and Public Works pages identify the affected online services and link to Ordinance 2026-05-40.

Sources

• City of Frisco Ordinance 2026-05-40