City will use agency for permits, inspections, code compliance

By Marc Robertson - Editor | December 3, 2025

The San Antonio division of Bureau Veritas has been contracted by the city of Cotulla to begin conducting building inspections, checking code compliance and taking applications for construction permits from local residents.
A unanimous decision by city councilors at a November meeting secured the privately owned company for a rake of tasks currently undertaken by city staff, ranging from permits to add or alter structures, improve buildings or lots, to building code compliance as well as fire safety and hotel and restaurant inspections.
Company representative Jody Poth, area manager for Bureau Veritas, told the council on Nov. 19 that the process of permit application, inspection and city permission will be streamlined and faster for city residents under the single authority.
The agreement came after the city had issued a request for qualifications from any company interested in providing the service. Poth told councilors at their meeting that his company can handle all building inspections and that business permits and related inspections can extend to food trucks.
“This also helps with building plans meeting code,” Poth said. “We will condense the permitting process. You probably have different permits for a fence, a house, or a swimming pool. We try to reduce the paperwork, take a lot of the permitting process off the city’s hands.”
The city of Cotulla will not be required to pay a contract fee to Bureau Veritas for the service, as payment will be made through individual permit fees, according to City Administrator David Wright.
Poth added that Bureau Veritas will make every effort to schedule inspections on a next-day basis.
“We will be tasking them with an update on all building codes, and an update on the price structure,” Wright said. “Customers will come in, fill out a form that goes to Bureau Veritas… The city collects a fee and then the city’s part in this is done.
“This eliminates the city staff having to deal with customers in the permit process,” the city administrator added in reference to allegations of inconsistency or suggestions that residents may feel they have been treated differently than others. “One fee includes the city staff work and administration and the Veritas fee.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” City Attorney Steve Pena said. “I don’t think we do any restaurants right now. We probably need to let the restaurants know this is coming.”
“Cotullans do a lot of DIY work,” Mayor Sandra Luna asked regarding homestead projects undertaken by family members. “How are we going to deal with that?”
“We just ask for drawings to scale on a home remodeling project,” Poth said. “Put some dimensions on it.
“If residents own the house and live there, they can do the work themselves,” he added, dispelling the belief that all permitted construction or remodeling work must be undertaken by a contractor, but noted that the allowance has limitations. “They can’t live somewhere else. We can ask questions to see that they did the work themselves, but it can’t be an investment property or a rental property.”
“But it has to be done to code,” Atty. Pena said. “They can’t just do whatever they want. They have to follow the rules.
“If someone wants to build a fence, are we going to make them get a permit for that?” Pena asked. “Yes, we are.”
The decision to engage Bureau Veritas was made on a motion by Councilor Manuel Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Mary Koraleski.