Do I need a permit to replace a garage door in Richardson?

What the City does and does not publish

Richardson's residential permit-type list has no garage door entry, and no garage-door-specific category appears anywhere in the City's published material. The 2021 IRC exempt-work list does not exempt garage doors either. Richardson's local amendments to that code touch fire separation for carports and patio covers, townhome structural independence, pool and spa foundation adjacency, and two gas-piping items. None of them mention garage doors. The silence is worth noticing, and it is not the same as an answer.

Where the City is explicit

Compare that silence with the things Richardson spells out. A roof permit is required above 25% of roof area. A foundation permit is required at four or more piers, with a repair report signed and sealed by a Texas Licensed Engineer. All carports need a permit. So do new, widened or replaced driveways. A city that lists those and stays quiet on garage doors is telling you the scope of the work is what decides it.

The requirement with no exceptions

Whatever the permit answer turns out to be for your job, contractor registration is not optional. Every contractor working in Richardson must register with the Building Inspection Department before a permit is issued, and the City publishes the Registered Contractor List publicly and updates it almost daily. Reinspection is $50, and fees may be doubled if work starts before the permit is obtained. Building Inspection sits at 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd, Suite 550, Monday to Friday 8 to 5.