Building permits in Houston, TX
Which home projects need a permit here, what the size cutoffs are, and where to apply. Read from Houston's own code of ordinances.
Projects covered
17
Permit needed
4
Depends on size
0
Pick your project
- Fence —
- Deck —
- Shed —
- Swimming Pool —
- Roof Replacement —
- Water Heater Yes
- HVAC Replacement Yes
- Electrical Panel —
- Demolition —
- Driveway Yes
- Tree Removal —
- Sign —
- Short-Term Rental Yes
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) —
- Garage —
- Basement —
- Above-Ground Pool —
A dash means we could not confirm the rule from the code text. Those pages link straight to the ordinance section instead of guessing.
Where to apply in Houston
| Department site | houstontx.gov |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Population | 2,390,125 |
Working just outside the city line? Rules change at the boundary — unincorporated land is usually the county's call, not the city's.