Permit Requirements

Sign 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.

Read the city code

Contact the Houston building department

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.

CityDistance Permit?Where the line falls
Houston No size threshold in the code
Pasadena 17 mi Yes Most on-premises signs need a permit; a short list of sma…
Sugar Land 20 mi Yes Installing a business or property sign needs a sign permi…
Conroe 38 mi Yes A permit is required for a freestanding on-premises sign;…
College Station 77 mi Yes A sign permit is required to install a sign; routine main…
Round Rock 145 mi Yes business or property sign (some exceptions such as refaci…

See every Texas city on sign work

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.