ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in Houston, TX
We couldn't confirm this from Houston's code.
Rather than guess, here is the exact section to read and who to call. A rule appears on this site only when the ordinance states it plainly.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | — | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Pearland | 16 mi | Yes | Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, ca… |
| Pasadena | 17 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Sugar Land | 20 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| League City | 26 mi | Yes | construction of a new accessory dwelling unit (a new one-… |
| Conroe | 38 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
Other work in Houston
Questions people ask
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Houston can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.