H.B. No. 987 amends Section 214.904 of the Local Government Code, which governs the timeline for municipalities to issue building permits. The bill reduces the time frame for municipalities to grant or deny a permit from 45 days to 30 days after an application is submitted. Additionally, it removes the requirement for municipalities to provide written notice explaining delays in granting or denying permits and instead allows for a written agreement with the applicant to establish a deadline for the decision.

Furthermore, if a municipality fails to meet the new 30-day deadline or the deadline set in an agreement, the bill stipulates that the municipality cannot collect any permit fees related to the application and must refund any fees that have already been collected. This legislation aims to streamline the permitting process and ensure timely responses from municipalities to applicants. The bill will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 214.904 (Local Government Code 214)