H.B. No. 987 amends Section 214.904 of the Local Government Code, which governs the time frame 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, instead allowing for a written agreement with the applicant to establish a deadline for the decision.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a municipality fails to grant or deny a permit within the specified time frame or the agreed deadline, it cannot collect any associated permit fees and must refund any fees already collected from the applicant. This legislation aims to streamline the permitting process and ensure timely responses from municipalities to applicants. The bill is set to 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)