Most cities in Collin and Grayson County require a permit to demolish a building, and several publish a flat fee for it. Shed and deck exemptions, like 120 square feet or 30 inches above grade, are written for building those structures, not removing them. Call your city's building department before a shed, deck or slab comes out.
Read this first
Everything below comes from each city's own code, permit list or fee schedule. It's a starting point, not a ruling. Building departments interpret their own codes, and fees change with each ordinance.
Also check where your property sits. Collin County's development services FAQ covers properties outside city limits, including unincorporated areas and any ETJ. Those apply for a Development Permit through the county's Citizen Self-Service Portal.
Collin County requires that permit only for projects that disturb ground or add footprint, like a structure, pool, fencing or grading. Grayson County's development page says it does not issue building permits for single-family homes in unincorporated areas.
Do I need a demolition permit in McKinney, Allen, Frisco or Plano?
- McKinney: the permit fee schedule lists demolition permits at $40. McKinney's amended building code exempts one-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet from a building permit.
- McKinney requires a signed asbestos survey certification before any demolition or alteration permit for a public or commercial building. It defines commercial as non-residential or an apartment building.
- Allen: the June 2025 fee schedule lists residential demolition at $75. Allen's residential permit page exempts sheds and playhouses of 120 square feet or less, or 8 feet tall or less.
- Allen also exempts unattached decks under 200 square feet and no more than 30 inches above grade. The deck can't serve the required exit door.
- Frisco: a permit is required for any residential structure that is erected, altered, moved, removed or demolished, per Frisco's permit applications page. The fee schedule lists a demolition permit at $50 and a swimming pool demolition at $50.
- Frisco's accessory structure FAQ says all accessory structures require a building permit before placement or construction. Its fee schedule lists a concrete driveway or pad at $75.
- Plano: the city's permit handout lists demolition of a building as requiring a permit. The fee schedule lists a residential demolition permit at $100.
- Plano's building permit application requires a Solid Waste Removal subcontractor when job valuation is $10,000 or more. Replacing a driveway approach also needs a permit.
- Plano's amended building code exempts accessory structures up to 120 square feet and small, low, unattached decks. Its handout still lists storage sheds as needing a permit, so confirm with the city.
What about Prosper, Celina, Anna and Princeton?
- Prosper: the demolition submittal covers dismantling any building or structure or any part of one. It requires a site plan with gas and electric meter locations, and the applicant must terminate utilities.
- Prosper requires a sewer cap inspection, may require erosion control, and requires two inspections for a pool demolition. The fee schedule sets a $100 demolition permit fee.
- Prosper's permit FAQ says all accessory buildings need a permit regardless of size. Low, unattached decks of 200 square feet or less are exempt, but concrete flatwork like driveways and patios needs a permit.
- Celina: the city says all building construction and demolition work requires a permit, per its permit guidance. The demolition packet asks for an HOA letter if applicable and a registered electrician and plumber.
- Celina's packet also requires a site plan with utility cap-off locations, and every contractor must be registered with the city. The fee chart lists residential demolition at $100, with a $50 application fee.
- Anna: demolition goes on the Miscellaneous Simple Permit Application, one application per job. The permit is void if work doesn't start within 180 days.
- Anna's fee schedule sets the demolition permit at $100. It exempts one-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet with no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work.
- Princeton: its code says no regulated building or structure may be removed or demolished without a separate permit. Princeton's permitting page requires permits for all accessory structures and for wood decks.
Melissa, Farmersville and Lucas
- Melissa: the Development Permit Application lists a Demolition Permit and a Structure Removal Fee. Melissa's building code requires contractors who remove and dispose of construction debris to register with the city.
- Farmersville: the city's building permit application lists demolition as a permit type, and all permits require final inspection.
- Lucas: the town's building permits page says demolition requires a separate permit. Accessory buildings over 200 square feet need a building permit.
Wylie, Murphy, Sachse and Fairview
- Wylie: its projects requiring permits page lists demolition of an existing building, structure or pool. It also lists accessory buildings, sheds, decks, and any concrete work like extending a driveway or patio.
- Wylie won't issue a demolition permit for a public or commercial building until an asbestos survey is verified, per its asbestos certification form. The page notes its permit list is not all-inclusive.
- Murphy: the city's permit list covers demolition of buildings and swimming pools, accessory buildings, decks and concrete flatwork. Murphy requires an asbestos survey before a renovation or demolition permit, if one wasn't already done.
- Sachse: residential owners need a building permit for demolition of permanent structures, per the city's permit FAQ. Accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt but must still meet setbacks.
- Sachse requires a permit for all flatwork, including driveways, patios, decks and sidewalks, per its flatwork permit page.
- Fairview: the town's permit application includes Residential Demo, with 7 to 10 business days for processing. It names Republic Services as the town's sole provider for construction and demolition debris collection.
- Fairview's IRC amendment exempts low, unattached decks of 200 square feet or less that don't serve the required exit door.
Do Grayson County cities require demolition permits?
- Sherman: a demolition permit is required for any residential, commercial, multi-family or industrial use, including internal demolition, per the permits-required list. Accessory buildings need a permit unless they're 100 square feet or less with no permanent foundation.
- Denison: a permit is required for complete or interior demolition, accessory buildings and decks, per its permit list. The fee page lists the demolition permit at $50 and demolition contractor registration at $50.
- Van Alstyne: the city's permits page lists demolitions and says adding or removing an accessory building needs a permit. It's the clearest local rule on shed removal we found.
- Howe: the 2026 fee schedule lists a demolition permit at $150, with an asbestos survey required by the contractor. Howe requires a permit for all accessory buildings, including prefab ones.
- Gunter: the demolition permit costs $150, plus $55 each for initial and final inspections. Work must finish within 60 days, the owner must clear all debris, and the form asks for the disposal method.
Sheds, decks and slabs: what the exemptions really cover
The 120-square-foot shed exemptions (McKinney, Allen, Plano, Sachse) and the low-deck exemptions (Allen, Plano, Prosper, Fairview) are written for building a structure. Most pages don't say whether removing one needs a demolition permit.
Van Alstyne requires a permit to remove an accessory building, and Frisco's general rule covers anything removed or demolished. Our shed teardown guide covers the rest of the prep.
For flatwork, Prosper, Murphy, Sachse and Wylie require permits for concrete work, and McKinney regulates driveways and sidewalks in the right-of-way. Ask before a slab comes out and a replacement goes in. Small patios fall under our concrete removal work; bigger slabs don't.
Where asbestos fits in
TCEQ's asbestos page says asbestos abatement in buildings falls under the Texas Department of State Health Services. Several cities above tie asbestos surveys to their demolition permits, mostly for commercial buildings.
If you suspect asbestos in a residential tear-out, get it tested first. It's on our list of things we don't take.
Where we fit
Our light demolition service covers sheds, pergolas, decks, fences and cabinet or drywall tear-outs. Structural work and anything needing heavy equipment are outside what we do, as our light vs. structural demolition guide explains.
Where a city requires a permit, it's usually pulled by the general contractor or the homeowner. If one is needed and nobody else is pulling it, we can usually pull it ourselves for an added fee that varies by city.
Shed removal and the rest of our work are quoted per job once we've seen it. The debris leaves on the same trailer. City pages cover McKinney, Frisco, Plano and Sherman.