Effective February 6, 2017, the Department of Public Works & Engineering’s Plan Review section will take responsibility for reviewing plans for compliance with the airport compatible land use ordinance. This change will not impact the process of submitting plans to the City of Houston.

The airport compatible land use ordinance ensures that development surrounding Houston’s three airports – Bush Intercontinental, Hobby and Ellington Field – are not affected by airport operations. Depending upon which tier the proposed development is located, certain types of development such as apartments, schools and day care centers may be restricted and may require additional sound attenuation measures.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Aiport Compatible Land Use Regulations
Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Map of the Tiers
Sound Attenuation Form

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of Community and Children's Environmental Health's role is to effectively utilize available resources to protect the community by enforcing the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the emergency medical services (EMS) rules of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the prevention of injury and disability resulting from inadequate equipment or personnel operating upon the streets of Houston.  All ambulance inspections are performed at 7411 Park Place Boulevard Houston, TX 77087.

CLICK HERE for additional information.

The Houston Police Department's Auto Dealers Detail is responsible for the licensing and regulation of automotive related businesses and the disposal of abandoned motor vehicles in vehicle storage facilities. The mission of the unit is to insure that the automotive industry complies with the many laws that govern the automotive industry's operations and to dispose of unclaimed vehicles through public auction.
 

Beginning July 1, the Auto Dealers Detail will begin transitioning the wrecker license service from a walk-in service to an appointments based service. An online appointment scheduler will be available for new, renewal, or transfer of wrecker licenses on September 01, 2013. Appointments may be scheduled via the online scheduler or by phone up to 28-days in advance.

All other Auto Dealer services will remain a walk-in based service.

For additional information, please use the links below:
Auto Dealers Detail Home Page
Appointment Scheduler Home Page (A phone number is required to use the online schedule.)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (English)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (Spanish)

The Building Code Enforcement enforces the City of Houston Construction Codes for both residential and commercial construction.

Licensed and registered contractors may apply for certain permits online such as plumbing, electrical and mechanical trade permits. Additionally, our customers may schedule inspections, view inspection history, check the status of submitted plans, and search for permits sold within the last three years.

Beginning July 7, 2014, appointments may be scheduled online with the Building Code Enforcement's Plan Review section for the discussion of plan review project comments only. The design professional responsible for the respective plans must attend the scheduled appointment. Otherwise the appointment is subject to cancellation.
A phone number and email address are required to use the online scheduler.

All other Plan Review services will continue to be offered as walk-up services on a first-come-first-served basic.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Building Code Enforcement Permits (This site is only compatible with Internet Explorer 8 or earlier version.)
Building Code Enforcement Home Page (For additional forms, publications and plan review and inspection process information.)
Appointment Scheduler Homepage (Appointments are for the discussion of plan comments only.)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-In Guide

The Burglar Alarm Administration oversees permitting and collections for approximately 100,000 monitored burglar alarm systems within the City limits. Our objective is to educate homeowners and commercial entities about burglar alarms, encourage compliance, and reduce the number of false alarm notifications within the City limits, which divert police officers from their proactive crime prevention efforts and delay actual police service and emergency calls.

This site is the one-stop shop for burglar alarms. Citizens and businesses can apply for and renew their residential and commercial burglar alarm permits. They can also check their account status and history anytime, day or night. Online credit card payments are now accepted.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Burglar Alarm Home Page
ARA Home Page

ARA's burglar alarm website supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 11.0
Google Chrome version 42 and above
Firefox version 40
Safari on IOS

Commercial Permitting & Enforcement has three primary functions: (1) customer service; (2) billing and collections; and (3) enforcement. To this end, we daily engage in compliance investigations, permit processing and fee collection activities associated with over 50 various commercial permits, as well as various tasks related to providing a centralized cashiering function for various City departments. Go to the online permit portal.

Permits are issued annually for Alcohol and Alcohol-Related Businesses, Antique Dealers, Second Hand Dealers, Gold/Silver Dealers, Mini-Warehouses, Flea Markets, Dance Halls, Metal and Scrap Dealers, Game Rooms, and Coin Operated Amusement Machines.  In addition, Charitable Solicitation registration, Noise, Sound and Noise Related Equipment permits, and Itinerant Vendor permits are issued daily as required by the applicant.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Commercial Permitting Home Page
ARA Home Page

The Solid Waste Management Department’s (SWMD) mission is to provide solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal, and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound, and cost-effective.

CLICK HERE for additional information.

Encroachments are defined as any private item into, upon, over, or under the City’s Right-of-Way. The City’s Office of the City Engineer Branch initiates the application for an encroachment permit that covers tunnels, vaults, pedestrian walkways, basements, tiebacks, railroad spurs, pipelines, high and low voltage circuits, cables, conduits, signs, tanks, balconies, canopies, etc.  For these purposes the Right-of-Way is defined as the entire width between the boundary lines of every street way which is held by the City in fee or by easement or dedication; the term ‘public street’ shall include any designated state or federal highway or road or any designated county road which is under the administrative control of the City for maintenance, repair or vehicular traffic control purposes.

To find a step-by-step procedure and application to obtain an Encroachment Permit, please click HERE.

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of Consumer Health Services’ role is to effectively utilize available resources to protect the community by administering the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the State of Texas for the prevention of disease, disability, and death resulting from food borne and water borne illness through enforcement and education.

HDHHS regulates all Fats, Oils and Grease Generators in the City of Houston.  You are a generator if you own or manage a restaurant, car wash, lube station, laundromat or dry cleaning facility; an apartment complex with 10 or more washing machines; any establishment with an interceptor (grease trap, lint trap, oil/water separator, lift station, grit trap, reclaim, etc.); and/or a septic tank (residential or commercial). 

CLICK HERE for additional information. 

The mission of the Houston Fire Department is to save lives, protect property, and serve our community with courage, commitment and compassion.  The Houston Fire Department seeks to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. To that end, they issue and regulate over 40 various fire permits, as well as the basic fire alarm permit, for Houston businesses.

For additional information, please use the links below:
Fire Permit Office Home Page
FAQ’s

The Floodplain Management Office (FMO) is responsible for permitting all construction activity within the City of Houston’s Special Flood Hazard Area (100 year floodplain and floodway) in accordance with the provisions of the City of Houston’s floodplain ordinance, Chapter 19 of the Houston City Code.

For commercial or residential projects on private land, plan review for Floodplain Development Permits is part of the building permit plan review process.  No separate permit application is required.  Upon plan approval, the Floodplain Development Permit is issued along with the building permit for a separate fee.

Public infrastructure projects by private developers or agencies must submit plans directly to FMO for plan review and issuance of permits.  Floodplain permit fees are also charged for public infrastructure projects.

Effective Monday, July 8, 2013, FMO will transition the following services from a walk-in based service to an appointments-based service:
• Rejected Plan Review
• Drainage Plan for Plat Review
• Public Infrastructure Plan Review
• Variances
• Red Tags and Compliance Agreements
• Letters of Map Change
Appointments may be scheduled via the online scheduler or by phone up to 3-weeks in advance.
All other FMO services not listed above will remain a walk-in based service.
For additional information, please use the links below:
Floodplain Management Office Home Page
Appointment Scheduler Home Page (An email address and a phone number are required to use the online scheduler.)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (English)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (Spanish)

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of Consumer Health Services’ role is to effectively utilize available resources to protect the community by administering the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the State of Texas for the prevention of disease, disability, and death resulting from food borne and water borne illness through enforcement and education.

It is unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment in the City of Houston without a current permit issued by a health officer. More than one permit may be required depending on the type of food or type of food service provided. Permits are required to be posted in view of the public in every food establishment. Permit fees vary according to permit type. Most permits, except for temporary food service establishment permits, are renewable on an annual basis.

CLICK HERE for Additional Information.

In accordance with Chapter 20-25(e) of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, the Department of Health and Human Services will begin assessing a separate plan review fee for all plan submittals received on or after January 1, 2013. This fee applies only to food establishments.  Projects submitted prior to January 1 are not subject to this fee. This fee will be based on valuation of the project.  For questions or concerns please contact David McCoy at 832-394-9462 or [email protected]

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department's Permits Office issues permits for the use of different venues and parks operated by the Department for the City of Houston. An area within a park may be reserved for personal use or for private events under 200 people by obtaining a permit through the Permits Office. A fee is required and a refundable deposit may be required on certain reservations. This permit ensures the exclusive use of a particular space for a designated time.

Venues available for permitting (including pavilions, picnic table clusters, and open space) may be reserved for private use by families and organizations. Reservations at area sports fields (including softball, baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball, rugby, and volleyball venues) are also available for sports practice, as well as league and tournament play.

Contact the Parks' Permits Office as early as possible to receive the most current information on the facility of your choice. For events over 200 people, contact the Mayor’s Office of Special Events at (832) 393-0868. For Community Center rentals, contact (832) 395-7260 or (832) 395-7261.

CLICK HERE for ONLINE RESERVATIONS.

Effective Monday, June 8, 2015, Permits and Reservations Office will be located at 2999 South Wayside Drive in the Gragg building.

Rainout Hotline:

(713) 865-4105

The Houston Police Department’s Identity Verification Unit provides FBI fingerprint cards for local, state, and national background information.  Certified clearance letters are provided for immigration, adoption, hunting, overseas travel, sponsorship, a US work permit, permanent residence, and citizenship.

A government issued ID is required for fingerprinting. There is a $10 charge per set of fingerprints recorded. A "set of fingerprints" is considered one (1) fingerprint card. Government issued ID, birth certificate, or passport is required for clearance letters. Beginning on January 1, 2016, the price for a clearance letter will increase to $20.89 in accordance with city policy. For fee schedules, go to www.houstoncityfees.org.

For addtional information, please use the links below:

Clearance Letter Application and Instructions

Solicitud e instrucciones para una carta de claridad

The Impact Fee Administration is responsible for managing wastewater flows through wastewater capacity reservations (WCR), managing water demands through water/storm drainage commitment letters, and planning the near and long term facilities requirements that will assure reliable service for today and the future.

Future Service Improvement to the WCR Process: Effective May1, 2017

The Impact Fee Administration is undertaking a process improvement project to streamline the Wastewater Capacity Reservation (WCR) application processes for customers in an effort to decrease application processing time. As a result, long and short form applications will be replaced with a single, simplified application. Effective May 1, 2017, applications may be submitted online via the iPermits portal or processed in-person at the Houston Permitting Center by online appointment . Please note, walk-in service will now be reserved for general information, letter status inquires and to schedule appointments.

Additional improvements include:

• Acceptance of an HCAD, FBCAD, MCAD printout in lieu of a deed if the owner information is consistent with the owner information on the application.
• Two processes: low-impact (15 service units or less) and high-impact (more than 15 service units) with decreased turnaround time for WCR letters—contingent on certain criteria and conditions being met.
• Incorporation of stormwater, water and wastewater connections in one application—all will be included on WCR letters as necessary.

For additional information, please visit:

Impact Fee Administration Website

All metal recyclers must be licensed by the Commercial Permitting Division of the ARA Department.

According to the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7, Article III, Section 7, a metal recycler means any person who:

1. Engages in the business of purchasing aluminum cans; or

2. Engages in the business of utilizing machinery or equipment for the processing of or manufacturing of iron, steel or nonferrous metallic scrap and whose principal product is scrap iron, scrap steel or nonferrous metallic scrap for remelting purposes; or

3. Operates or maintains a scrap metal yard or other place in which used or previously purchased metal items or scrap metal is collected or kept for shipment, sale, or transfer.

To obtain a metal recyclers license, an application must be completed and an inspection must take place.

If you are a mobile metal recycler, meaning that you do not have a permanent facility, please call Sgt. McGinty at 281.405.6560 for more information.

To find a step-by-step guide on the necessary steps to obtain a license, click HERE.

To print the application, click HERE.

Located at 611 Walker St. in downtown Houston, the Mobility Permits Division oversees lane & street closures, sidewalk closures, sidewalk cafés, and curb painting. The mobility permit system portal provides the City of Houston with the ability to manage city streets and sidewalks during public and private construction. If you are a contractor that may require temporary use of city streets or sidewalks during construction, please read our FAQ prior to applying for a permit. The mobility permit system also serves to manage sidewalk café permits.

To begin the online application process, visit the Permit System Portal and click on Mobility Permit System. From there you will be able to obtain a user name and password by creating a user profile. Please fax or email your updated insurance to (832) 395-3057 or [email protected] after registration so that we may update your profile. Permit status updates will be sent to you via email. If required to pay a fee, the email will contain a link to pay for permits online using your credit card or e-check. A valid email address is required for you to receive notifications from the City. If you do not receive an email response after application submittal please contact us for resolution prior to the requested start date.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Permit System Portal (Online Applications. This site is only compatible with Internet Explorer)
Mobility Permitting Frequently Asked Questions
Sidewalk and Roadway Obstructions and Impairments Ordinance
Sidewalk and Roadway Obstructions and Impairments Ordinance - Rules & Regulations
Sidewalk Cafe Ordinance

The Office of the City Engineer Branch’s Monitoring Well Program is designated by the City of Houston to administer and enforce city ordinances pertaining to the construction, alteration, maintenance, and destruction of monitoring wells and environmental soil borings within the City's right of way.

If you are a non-city contractor that may require temporary or long term use of the City's right of way during environmental testing, environmental monitoring, or environmental treatment of the soil or ground water, please read our FAQ prior to applying for a permit.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Monitoring Wells Homepage

Office of the City Engineer

The City Engineer is responsible for approving plats and overseeing plan review for street, water, wastewater and storm sewer infrastructure. All privately funded projects must submit their plans to the Office of the City Engineer. Information on the City of Houston’s plan review process for privately funded projects can be found in Chapter 1 of the Infrastructure Design Manual located HERE. 

CLICK HERE for additional information.

The Open Records Section is responsible for processing requests pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA or "the Act"). Information available includes permit history, inspection records, drawings and plans, and certificates of occupancy (between 1972 and 1987). The TPIA gives the public the right to request government documents without being asked why you want them. 

It may take up to 10 business days to process and research a TPIA request. You will receive a letter informing you of what records, if any, were found. You may choose whether to inspect the requested information, receive copies of the information or both. Please schedule an appointment to view or pick-up the documents via the online scheduler or by phone. Appointments for viewing documents may be scheduled up to 2-weeks in advance, while appointments for picking-up documents may be scheduled up to 1-week in advance.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Request Form
Appointment Scheduler Home Page (An email address and a phone number are required to use the online scheduler.)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (English)
Appointment Scheduler & Check-in Guide (Spanish)

Texas Public Information Act

Other Departments’ TPIA Contacts

Harris County Appraisal District Home Page

Code Enforcement Permit Search (For permits sold within the last 3 years. This site only compatible with Internet Explorer version 8 or higher.)

In 2001, the City of Houston passed Ordinance No. 01-1078 so that no person or company may own, maintain, operate, acquire, construct, or extend a pipeline for the transportation or distribution of natural gas or liquids in a City street without a permit. Pipeline companies are required to submit mapping information and obtain a permit ordinance. Once all documents and fees are received, the Public Works & Engineering Department initiates the permitting process through to City Council for approval. 

For information on water meters and sewer connections, please see Taps & Meters.

For information on gas line connection or inspection, please contact CenterPoint Energy.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Procedure Package
New Pipeline Application
Existing Pipeline Application
Pipeline Questionnaire
City of Houston CODE OF ORDINANCES, Chapter 40, Article IX, Sections 40-228 through 40-235

The Planning and Development Department's mission is to work to ensure that Houston remains a vibrant and sustainable city by partnering with decision makers and the community to balance a spectrum of needs and interests while addressing the dynamics of growth and change. The Department regulates land development in Houston and the extraterritorial jurisdiction. It also reviews, investigates, and promotes land regulation policies for the changing demands to Houston’s growth and quality of life.

Effective November 6, 2015, customers may request an expedited review for qualified site plans and development plats. Each expedited review will be conducted during normal business hours. A limited number of requests will be accommodated each day. If the request is accepted, an expedited review fee is due prior to review. This fee is in addition to all other fees required by the Code of Ordinances.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Site Plan Submittal Requirements
Site Review Home Page
Expedited Plan Review Rules
Planning Department Home Page
Sign-up for the Planning Department Newsletter

The Houston Sign Administration regulates and permits all advertising signs within the City of Houston. The Houston Sign Code was originally adopted in May 1980 and provides standards for the use, quality, construction, and location of advertising signs throughout the City. The height, size, and lighting of signs is determined by the category of the street from which the sign will be viewed. The Code also regulates off-premise signs (also known as billboards) in the city, as well as extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of Consumer Health Services’ role is to effectively utilize available resources to protect the community by administering the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the State of Texas for the prevention of disease, disability, and death resulting from contamination through enforcement and education.

The municipal code provides for a viable means of locating and monitoring sources of air contamination by compliance inspections. Registrations are issued annually for automotive body repair shops, dry cleaning plants, facilities that dispense gasoline, sewage treatment plants and used vehicle sales lots. It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any facility unless there is a registration for the facility.

For additional information, please use the links below: 

Source Registration Website
Source Registration City Ordinance

On October 1, 1998, the City of Houston received a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The MS4 permit required that a storm water quality permit program be administered by the City. The program requires any new development of an undeveloped parcel of land five acres or larger, or significant redevelopment of changes of one acre or more to the impervious surface on a five acre or larger developed parcel must have an annually renewable Storm Water Quality permit and develop a Storm Water Quality Management Plan that details how the property will control the quality of storm water leaving the property. To comply with the MS4 permit the City adopted Ord. No. 01-800 (Code of Ordinance Chapter 47 Article 12) in 2001.

CLICK HERE for downloadable forms.

The Construction Services Section reviews and approves street cut/excavation permits to enforce the Street Cut Ordinance that regulates the manner in which excavations are made and construction is performed in the City’s Right of Way.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Go to Street Cut Permit System
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Instructions for Emergency Evacuation
Fee Schedule

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Bureau of Consumer Health Services’ role is to effectively utilize available resources to protect the community by administering the public health ordinances of the City of Houston and the State of Texas for the prevention of disability and death resulting from swimming-pool-drowning through enforcement and education.

The Commercial Pools Section regulates public and semi-public pools and spas for compliance with City Ordinance Chapter 43 through annual inspections.

The Residential Pools Section regulates private swimming pools through violations reported by citizens usually pertaining to vacant or abandoned homes.

CLICK HERE for additional information. 

Traffic’s role is to review plans in the right of way (R.O.W.) and private property for compliance of applicable codes and ordinances (Chapters 10, 15, 19 and 42 of the Infrastructure Design Manual). Traffic coordinates between Utility Services, Code Enforcement, Construction Plan Review, Engineering Services, and Traffic Parking Management Services. Traffic addresses code violations and work done without permit, which may be subjected to approval by the Office of the City Engineer. Traffic’s main goal is to address conflicts with sidewalks, driveways, parking, and remodel/new construction in the City of Houston. Work done in the R.O.W. should be permitted by the owner, contractor, engineer, and/or architect.

Types of permits include: Driveway (new/remove and replace), Sidewalk/Sidewalk Variances (per Variance committee), Alley Access, Curb Ramps/ADA Ramps, Parking/Parking Lots, Oversize Load, Construction Encroachment, and Sky Bridge.

*Effective Monday, February 27, the Traffic section will hold specific hours for walk-in service and appointments. Appointments will be available daily, and walk-ins will be seen Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. To ensure minimal wait time, service by appointment is suggested and can be scheduled using the Online Queuing Service.

**Also beginning February 27, checklists for both residential and commercial traffic plan review will be required upon plan submittal. Both checklists outline specific criteria expected for plan review in order to give customers the best opportunity for plan approval. PLEASE NOTE: The requirements they list are not new—the checklists are designed to clarify what is required, to help the plan submission process, and to improve review turnaround. Staff will work with customers who do not submit a checklist while we implement this change.

Permit Walk-In Checklist (same-day-service)
Traffic Commercial Plan Review Checklist
Traffic Residential Plan Review Checklist
Permit Application
Bond Application
Standard Details & Additional Documents

ARA’s Vehicle for Hire Permitting & Enforcement Section issues licenses and permits to operators and drivers of vehicles for hire, and performs field enforcement ensuring compliance by operators and drivers of vehicles for hire.  The categories of vehicles for hire regulated by the Section include taxicabs, limousines, transportation network companies, private school vehicles, scheduled ground transportation, charter sightseeing vehicles, pedicabs, and low-speed shuttles.

For additional information, please use the links below:

Vehicle for Hire Home Page 
ARA Home Page