Houston Permitting Center

Welcome to the Houston Permitting Center

The Houston Permitting Center combines the majority of the City of Houston's permitting and licensing into one convenient location. We opened in June 2011 with a mission to help customers achieve their goals while complying with the City’s regulations. Providing excellent service, streamlining business processes, implementing innovative technologies, and proactively engaging customers are all cornerstones of our mission.

Office of the City Engineer

The Office of the City Engineer (OCE) implements and administers the provisions in the City's Code of Ordinances state and federal regulations relating to floodplain management, street cuts, and storm water quality.

Building Code Enforcement

Building Code Enforcement manages Building Code Services and administers the provisions in the City's Code of Ordinances and state/federal regulations relating to private building construction, and sign administration.

Infrastructure & Development Services

The Infrastructure & Development Services agency is part of the Houston Water service line.

Open Records

The Open Records section is responsible for processing Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) requests for the Building Code Enforcement and the Office of the City Engineer service lines.

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Construction Codes

Construction codes help our residents protect their homes and businesses by providing safer, more resilient construction that will support greater economic security and public safety

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Infrastructure Design Manual | IDM

The basic criteria for engineers to design infrastructure in a manner acceptable to Houston Public Works

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Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained before a commercial building or an individual lease space within a commercial building may be occupied.

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Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System | MS4

This section manages the MS4 permit/program (municipal separate storm sewer system)

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Flood Insurance

Don't delay, buy flood insurance today. There is a 30-day waiting period before insurance is effective.

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Elevation Certificate

Learn how to fill out each section of the elevation certificate form, correct an existing certificate, and other general issues completing the form.

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Disclosure of Flood Risk

A new state law went into effect on January 1, 2022, where apartment owners must disclose to renters if their property is located in the 100-year floodplain or if the property has flooded within the last five years.

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