Home Remodeling in Bastrop, TX
Remodeling in the Most Historic Small Town in Texas, among the Lost Pines and the marks of the 2011 wildfire.
Remodeling in Bastrop
Bastrop was platted on June 8, 1832, and incorporated in 1837, which makes it one of the oldest towns in Texas. A fire in 1862 destroyed most of downtown's commercial buildings and the county courthouse, so most of what stands on Main Street today dates from after the Civil War. In 1978 the National Register of Historic Places listed 131 Bastrop buildings and sites, and the town earned the nickname the Most Historic Small Town in Texas. The Bastrop Opera House, built in 1889, and the Lost Pines Art Center are on the same street.
The Lost Pines forest, the westernmost stand of the southern pine forest, overlooks downtown, and Bastrop began supplying Austin with lumber in 1839. It is also the scene of the most destructive wildfire in Texas history: the 2011 Bastrop County Complex fire began on September 4, 2011 and destroyed 1,691 homes, with $325 million in insured property damage. Fire-resistant roofing, siding, vents and windows are worth asking about for any house in the pines.
Bastrop has a flooding story too. The city enforced a moratorium on new development from August 14, 2018 to May 21, 2019 because of flooding and drainage problems. The 2020 census counted 9,688 residents and 4,089 housing units, 52.2 percent of them owner-occupied, and the 2025 estimate is 13,383. July highs reach 95 degrees, annual precipitation averages 37.71 inches, and October is the wettest month at 4.82 inches.
Housing here is split almost evenly. Of the 4,089 units counted in 2020, 52.2 percent were owner-occupied and 47.8 percent rented, 9.2 percent were vacant, and 32.4 percent of households included children under 18. That mix shapes the work: owners finishing bathrooms and floors, and landlords refreshing rentals between tenants. Renovating rental housing built before 1978 falls under the EPA lead rule.
Neighborhoods and landmarks in Bastrop
Downtown Bastrop is where historic review matters. The city's building page says that a property in a historic district needs additional permits, which may include a Certificate of Appropriateness, before you apply for a building permit. The same page says the Iredell Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness has been suspended since March 28, 2023, so call Development Services before you plan any exterior work in that area.
Outside the historic core, Bastrop spreads along the Colorado River and State Highway 71. Bastrop State Park is on the eastern edge of town, Lake Bastrop lies about three miles northeast, and the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort sits about 15 miles west. Bastrop County's own Development Services office does not issue building permits, so it only matters for properties outside the city limits.
Permits in Bastrop: where to start
Bastrop takes building permit applications on Mondays. Anything submitted earlier waits until the following Monday at 4 p.m. for review, while trade permits can be submitted any day.
Development Services Department, City of Bastrop
1311 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, TX 78602512-332-8800
Online: MyGov (public.mygov.us/bastrop_tx)
- Applications for new construction or remodels are accepted on Mondays before 4:00 p.m. Trade permits can be submitted any day.
- Next-day inspection requests must be made before 3:00 p.m.
- The city publishes a Residential Remodel checklist and asks you to contact the Building Official to confirm which permits and codes apply.
- Contractors and subcontractors must show proof of commercial general liability insurance of at least $200,000 combined for property damage and bodily injury, plus $200,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
- Tradespeople must be licensed or working under a licensed tradesperson. Each trade needs its own homestead affidavit when pulling permits on a homestead property.
- Adopted codes listed on the city's page include the 2018 International Building and Residential Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code.
Verify before you hire anyone. Texas licenses electricians and HVAC contractors through TDLR and plumbers through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and the city's own permit page sets the local rules.
Work we quote in Bastrop
Door Installation
Entry, patio and interior doors hung plumb, flashed and sealed.
Window Installation
Replacement and new windows with proper flashing and clear ratings.
Wood and Trim Remodeling
Trim, paneling, built-ins and stair parts cut to fit the room.
Interior Remodeling
Kitchens, bathrooms and whole interiors from a written scope.
Questions about remodeling in Bastrop
When does a remodel in Bastrop need a permit?
The city's page does not give a threshold. It provides a Residential Remodel checklist and says to contact the Building Official to confirm which permits and codes apply. We make that call for your address at the quote stage.
When can I submit a building permit application?
Building permits for remodels and new construction are accepted on Mondays before 4:00 p.m. You can submit earlier, but review begins the following Monday. Trade permits can be submitted any day.
What if my house is in a historic district?
The city says a property in a historic district needs additional permits, possibly including a Certificate of Appropriateness, before you apply for a building permit. The Iredell Historic District approval has been suspended since March 28, 2023, so call the city first.
What insurance does Bastrop require of contractors?
The city's page lists commercial general liability insurance of at least $200,000 combined for property damage and bodily injury, plus $200,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, under Ordinance 2019-46.
Does a homestead affect who can pull the permit?
Yes. The city's page says each trade needs its own homestead affidavit when pulling permits on a homestead property, and tradespeople file a Contractor Authorization Form while property owners file an Agent Authorization Form.
Should I think about wildfire in a Bastrop remodel?
The city's building page does not list a wildfire-specific requirement, but the 2011 Bastrop County Complex fire destroyed 1,691 homes. Ember-resistant roofing, vents and siding are worth asking about for any house in the pines, and we note them in the scope.
Does the 2018 to 2019 flooding moratorium affect my project?
It ended on May 21, 2019, but it shows that drainage is a live issue. For work at ground level, check where your lot sits relative to mapped flood zones.
Also quoted nearby
The same work is quoted across four counties, and each town sets its own rules:
- Austin: Express permits, the AB+C Portal, historic districts and clay soils.
- Round Rock: A strict one-permit system and a flat remodel permit fee.
- Georgetown: A Victorian downtown, MGO Connect permits and soils that change at I-35.
- San Marcos: A river town with historic districts and a campus-heavy rental market.
- Kyle: Contractor registration, 2021 codes and fast-growing neighborhoods.
- Buda: A short list of permit triggers and a single online portal.
Request a quote in Bastrop
Tell us the work and the address in Bastrop. We follow up using the phone number you provide.
Martinez & Sons Remodeling1190 Airport Blvd #214
Austin, TX 78702