Local service guide
Plan your interior design project in Irving, TX
Start your interior design project in Irving by deciding whether you want help with furnishings and finishes or a remodel that changes the building. Ask designers to quote the same rooms, deliverables and purchasing responsibilities. For construction work, assign responsibility for plans, permits and inspections before signing. Irving exempts cosmetic painting, carpeting and cabinetry from permits, but requires permits for building alterations and other covered work. [1]
Choose the help you want to buy
Write a brief describing how you use each room, what frustrates you and what you want to keep. Include photographs, rough dimensions, furniture measurements and examples of finishes you like. Tell the designer about children, pets, storage needs and anyone who needs more space to move through the home.
For a consultation, request a written list of recommendations and priorities. For a room plan, specify whether you want measured layouts, finish selections, lighting suggestions and a shopping list. For purchasing support, ask who orders, receives deliveries, checks damage and handles returns. Put those responsibilities in the agreement.
If you plan to remove a wall or relocate fixtures, describe those changes during the first conversation. Irving requires building permits for alterations and requires a plan showing proposed changes for most permits. Ask the designer to identify who will prepare the documents and coordinate with the construction team. [1]
Compare proposals and the complete budget
Give candidates the same brief and spending limit. Ask each to identify rooms covered, drawings supplied, revision rounds, site visits and exclusions. Request a sample deliverable and discuss a past project with a similar scope. Ask which tasks the designer performed on the projects in their portfolio.
Ask how the designer charges for design time, purchasing and project coordination. Request written explanations of deposits, product markups, discounts, freight, storage, installation and cancellation terms. Set an approval amount for purchases and changes so nobody commits money beyond your agreed limit.
Request a project-specific design proposal and keep city fees separate. Irving publishes a residential alteration permit charge of $0.30 per square foot of the work area, with a $130 minimum and a cap tied to comparable new construction. Ask Inspections which classification and additional charges apply to your project. [3]
Check permit requirements before ordering
Irving does not require permits for cosmetic work such as painting, carpeting and cabinetry. The city also exempts replacement fixtures or appliances at existing connections, except water heaters. Check the other work involved before applying those exemptions to an entire kitchen or bathroom project. [1]
For a remodel, ask the designer and contractor to list proposed building changes and trade work before you approve custom orders. The city lists building alteration applications for general remodels and separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits. Confirm the application route with Inspections and record who will submit it. [2]
If you intend to perform the work yourself, check eligibility before planning the application. Irving requires a homeowner doing their own work to have a homestead exemption filed with the Dallas Central Appraisal District before applying for a residential permit, except roof permits. [1]
Set approval, delivery and inspection milestones
Ask for a schedule with separate dates for measurements, design approval, purchasing, construction and installation. Identify products that require final site measurements. Agree on who checks dimensions before ordering custom pieces, and require your approval before anyone substitutes a material or changes a finish.
For permitted work, Irving uses the MGO portal for applications, payments, correspondence, approved plans and inspection scheduling. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors validating onto a building permit must contact Inspections by email; the city says they cannot complete that step through MGO. [2]
Before the final installation, walk through the rooms with the designer and make a written list of missing, damaged or unfinished items. Agree on who resolves each item and by when. Keep product specifications, purchase records and care instructions together for future repairs or replacement orders.
Selected Irving single-trade permit fees
Local details that affect your job
Use the current city fee reference
The Fees + Forms page labels its linked permit schedule as revised October 15, 2022, while the Rates + Fees page includes building-fee updates dated February 13 and October 1, 2026. Check the consolidated schedule and confirm the applicable classification with Inspections before accepting a permit allowance in a remodel quote. [2] [3]
Assign the inspection request deadline
Irving sets 6 a.m. as the deadline for online inspection requests for that business day. After that time, the next business day is the earliest request date. Ask your contractor who will submit requests and how inspection milestones affect the installation schedule. [2]
Resolve permit questions with the right office
For a scope that mixes cosmetic changes with construction, contact Irving Inspections at (972) 721-2371. The department lists office hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd., second floor. Prepare a short work description and proposed layout before asking which applications you need. [2]
Match your project to a written scope
| Your project | Ask the designer for | Local planning step |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture layout and shopping | Measured layout, product list and purchasing responsibilities | Define measurements and delivery access before ordering |
| Paint, carpeting or cabinetry | Finish selections and installation scope | Irving exempts these cosmetic tasks from permits; check any additional work |
| Wall changes or a broader remodel | Plans and named construction coordination responsibilities | Confirm building alteration requirements with Inspections |
| Remodel with electrical, plumbing or HVAC work | Trade scope and inspection milestones | Assign trade permit coordination and email validation onto the building permit |
Your hiring checklist
- List the rooms, problems to solve and furnishings you will keep.
- Set a total spending limit and separate design, purchases and construction.
- Request written deliverables, revision limits and site-visit responsibilities.
- Ask who measures, orders, receives deliveries and resolves damaged items.
- Assign permit and inspection responsibilities before construction begins.
- Document purchase approvals, substitutions and cancellation terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire a designer to plan one room?
Ask for a proposal limited to that room. Specify the layout, selections, shopping information and revisions you want. Decide whether you will place orders and arrange installation yourself.
Does replacing cabinets require an Irving permit?
Irving lists cabinetry among cosmetic work that does not require a permit. Check the complete project if you also plan building alterations or changes to electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems. [1] [2]
Are city permit fees the same as design fees?
Budget them separately. The city publishes permit and inspection charges, including a $130 minimum for residential alteration permits. Ask your designer to explain their compensation and ask the contractor which city charges apply. [3]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.