What a gas line job covers
Gas line work runs new or repaired pipe from the supply point to an appliance, such as a range, a dryer, a grill or a water heater. Houston's plumbing inspection section lists a gas test among its inspections, next to ground, rough, sewer and final.
Ask each company whether its price covers the permit and the gas test, so that two bids price the same job.
Texas gas line work: our estimate, with a permit in it
Gas line work comes to $385 to $1,300 per job on our model, with a typical Texas plumbing permit of $65 counted in. That plumbing fee stands in for the gas permit; Houston and San Antonio print gas permit charges of their own, listed above. The base is 2 national published ranges scaled to Texas pay.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $385 to $1,300 per job | Built from 2 national published ranges, adjusted by the Texas plumber wage ratio (0.84) plus a typical permit fee ($65). Four Texas plumbing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Plumber wage, Texas mean | $29.22 an hour | The average hourly wage of a Texas plumber (BLS, May 2025); a bill uses a different rate. |
| Gas and plumbing permit, Texas typical fee | $65 | Typical plumbing permit fee across Texas cities that publish one. Houston and San Antonio also print a separate gas permit charge. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (2 sources), adjusted by Texas's plumber wage ratio to the US (0.84, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. Four Texas plumbing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Texas company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
Which gas code applies, and what an owner may do
TSBPE's rule adopts the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code among the codes it incorporates, and a city may amend the codes for local concerns. Killeen's building inspections page lists the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code as amended.
The license law exempts a property owner doing plumbing in their own homestead (Occupations Code 1301.051). San Antonio issues a plumbing permit for an existing home to its owner only if the house is the homestead and the owner does the work personally, on a Plumbing Homeowner Affidavit. Houston sells a homeowner's permit too.
What cities charge for gas permits
Gas permit amounts differ by city. Houston's schedule, dated January 1, 2026, sets a gas permit base charge of $45.53 for up to four openings. San Antonio's FY 2027 schedule charges $57.50 as the gas permit base fee. Waco's undated schedule lists $8 for each gas-fired appliance and $20 per 100 feet of gas service line in the yard.
Fort Worth's fee ordinance prints $10.34 for a gas service; check the current schedule, since the ordinance carries a new and a current fee column. Garland lists new gas service, gas relays and gas test among its permit types, so ask its Development and Permitting Center for the fee.
Digging for a buried gas line
Under the state damage prevention law, as Texas811 explains it, anyone digging must notify a one-call center first, and its homeowner FAQ gives a two working day wait before excavation, state holidays not counted. Utility operators then mark their underground lines.
Chapter 18 of Title 16 of the Texas Administrative Code covers digging near regulated pipelines.
Gas smell: act before anything else
- You smell gas anywhere in the house: go outside first.
- A shovel or machine has struck a buried gas line.
- A planned new line for a range, dryer or grill, with no smell of gas anywhere.
Before you hire for gas piping
- If there's any gas smell, stop here and follow the box above.
- Pick the appliances the new line will serve and mark where each will sit.
- Ask each company for its license number, and whether the price covers the permit and the test.
- Hold off on any digging until the 811 ticket is in place.
Gas permits and inspections in Texas
No state agency issues a plumbing permit in Texas. Occupations Code 1301.551 has each city over 5,000 residents regulate pipe carrying gas, water or sewage by ordinance, with inspections by a licensed plumbing inspector, so your city's permit office sets the permit and the fee.
Each city takes applications its own way: Dallas through its DallasNow portal, Amarillo through MGO Connect, and Laredo by email to bldgpermits@ci.laredo.tx.us.
Before any work starts, ask for the license number of the company's Responsible Master Plumber and search it on TSBPE's public license search.
Questions people ask
Who can pull a gas permit in Houston?
A master plumber registered with the city, or an owner under the Homeowner's Permit. Houston's plumbing inspection section registers a master plumber who holds a Texas Master Plumber's license and proof of insurance. It also sells homeowner's permits, and the homeowner schedules the inspections under that option.
Does a new gas line need a city permit in Texas?
The one your city writes, since Texas has no statewide plumbing permit. State law has cities over 5,000 residents regulate gas piping by ordinance, so the permit, the fee and the inspection come from the city. Houston's gas permit base charge is $45.53 for up to four openings, and San Antonio's base fee is $57.50.
I smell gas near the meter: which call comes first?
Outside first, then 911 or the number on your gas bill. Get everyone outside before you phone anyone. From there, call 911 or the emergency line printed on your gas bill, and don't go back in to check the meter.
Do I call 811 before the gas line trench is dug?
Yes, before any dig; Texas811 gives a two working day wait. Texas law has anyone who plans to dig notify a one-call center first, and Texas811's homeowner FAQ gives a two working day wait before excavation, with state holidays not counted. The operators mark their lines in that time.
Which gas code applies in Texas?
The 2018 International Fuel Gas Code at the state level, amended by some cities. TSBPE adopts the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code with its other codes (22 TAC 367.2), and cities may amend them for local concerns. Killeen lists the 2024 edition as amended, so ask your city which one it enforces.
How much does gas line work cost in Texas?
$385 to $1,300 per job with a typical permit; a model, not a quote. For gas line work the model lands at $385 to $1,300 per job, with a typical permit fee in it. It starts from national ranges adjusted to Texas plumber pay, and no company quoted it.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Texas, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- PlumberMatch: how we estimate costs, Texas (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TSBPE Administrative Rules (Texas Administrative Code Title 22 Part 17), updated March 2026 Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TSBPE Plumbing License Law, plain-view PDF Sept 2025 Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of San Antonio DSD: Residential Permits Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Houston Permitting Center: Plumbing Inspections Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Houston Fee Schedule (Finance Dept) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of San Antonio DSD Current Fee Schedule (FY 2027) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Waco Permit Fee Schedules Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Fort Worth Development Services fee schedule (Ordinance 26-28781) Read Oct 23, 2026. Check this with the source itself before you rely on it.
- City of Garland: Plumbing Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Killeen: Building Inspections Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas811: Texas law (and homeowner FAQs https://texas811.org/homeowner-faqs/) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Dallas Sustainable Development: Inspections Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Amarillo: Building Safety Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Laredo: Permit Applications and Requirements Read Oct 23, 2026.