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Temporary Boiler Operating Permit in Texas: When You Need One
A new boiler in Texas cannot run until it passes its initial inspection. The one way around the wait is a temporary boiler operating permit: $50, filed on the same form as the installation report, and not guaranteed.
9 October 2026
The short answer
| What it allows | Operating a newly installed boiler before it has passed its initial inspection |
|---|---|
| Form | BLR213N, Part II (Part I is the installation report) |
| Fee | $50 (16 TAC §65.300) |
| Approval | Not guaranteed. Do not operate until TDLR approves it |
| Send to | boilers@tdlr.texas.gov, subject "BIR TOP request" plus the location name |
When you need one
TDLR's rule is simple: a new or reinstalled boiler is not test-fired or operated until it passes its initial inspection. If the building needs heat or process steam before an inspector can get there, the temporary operating permit is the only lawful way to run it in the meantime.
If the inspection can happen before you need the boiler, you do not need a permit at all: file the installation report and wait.
How to apply
- Complete Part II of form BLR213N. Most people file it together with Part I, the installation report, from TDLR's boiler forms page.
- Email it to boilers@tdlr.texas.gov with "BIR TOP request" and the location name in the subject, or mail it to TDLR, Attn: Boiler Program, PO Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711.
- Wait for approval before firing the boiler. The $50 fee applies.
- Schedule the initial inspection. The permit bridges the gap; it does not replace the inspection or the certificate of operation.
The risk of not bothering
Running a boiler without a current certificate of operation is a Class C violation in TDLR's boiler sanctions schedule, with a first-offence range of $2,000 to $4,000, against a $50 permit fee.
Questions
How much is a temporary boiler operating permit in Texas?
$50.
Is a temporary operating permit automatic?
No. TDLR states that approval is not guaranteed, and the boiler must not be operated until it is approved.
Related
- New boiler: the installation report and first inspection
- Boiler fees and late fees
- How to check a certificate of operation
Sources
TDLR boiler FAQ; 16 TAC §65.200 and §65.300; TDLR boiler penalties and sanctions.
Reviewed 9 October 2026. Written by an independent site; not an official TDLR publication.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). Temporary Boiler Operating Permit in Texas: When You Need One. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/blog/texas-temporary-boiler-operating-permit
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.
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