Turns out you need more paperwork to knock down a wall than to build one. We thought we would get the permit yesterday, now we have to wait 3 days for the county to process a “Certificate of Title” or sum-such. This will prove that we really really paid our taxes (and it costs $10.00). The tax office front desk lady gave me a request form to fill out and then just sat it on her desk. Literally wedged it halfway under her keyboard with a bunch of other random stuff you might see on a messy desk. I guess all I can do is cross my fingers.
Update Jan. 20: Travis County had the papers ready two days early. I got sandbagged! Yea!