A building permit is required for most commercial and residential projects within the corporate limits of the City of Houston. This includes, but is not limited to, construction of new or existing buildings, remodeling work (excluding cosmetic updates such as painting or wallpapering), and building repairs.
For eligible minor commercial and residential projects, the One-Stop Walk-In Plan Review process provides a streamlined review option. This process is intended to expedite approvals for smaller-scale projects, while larger or more complex projects may require review from multiple disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP). All projects remain subject to required field inspections, and not all projects qualify for One-Stop Walk-In Service.
1002 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
The One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service program was launched on March 3, 2025. This service processes paper plans only.
Program Details:
The following Plan Review departments participate in the One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service in addition to the Structural Section:
Plans must be printed to scale at least 11 x 17.
Plans on graph paper or lined paper will not be accepted.
The City of Houston does not offer copy services to the public.
Note: Projects that require prescreening include, but are not limited to, those listed below. Not all prescreen projects will qualify for One-Stop Walk-In Service.
Use the One-Stop Online process to submit plans, upload documents, and track your project without visiting the Houston Permitting Center.
This option is available for projects less than 5,000 sq. ft. that qualify for a streamlined review process.
Follow the steps below to submit your project for plan review:
Before submitting your building plans for review, visit the Planning and Development Department, Subdivisions Section, to complete a development plat review. It is also recommended to contact the Taps & Meters Section to confirm water and wastewater availability for your project.
For more information, contact Planning at 832.394.8849 or Taps & Meters at 832.394.8888.
Prior to applying, review the Commercial Plan Review Prerequisites (CE-1105) and Traffic Plan Review Prerequisites (OCE-0001)
Requirements vary based on the scope of work, and not all items will apply to every project.
A license is not required to obtain a structural permit or a paving permit for commercial projects.
However, a license is required for trade permits, including fire alarm, fire sprinkler, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. A bond is also required for sidewalk, culvert, and driveway permits.
All building permit applications and plan submissions must be completed online. Please review the user guide for step-by-step instructions or watch our how-to videos:
See our flowchart of a standard Commercial Plan Review process.
For guidelines on converting existing buildings into multi-unit residential developments, please refer to our 2024 Guidelines for Converting Existing Buildings to Multi-Unit Residential.
COMcheck is a nationally recognized software program to show compliance for International Energy Code Compliance for commercial building projects. Since 2016, a COMcheck report has been required on all commercial plan reviews. However, reports submitted are frequently incomplete.
Beginning April 15, 2021, plans submitted with incomplete COMcheck reports will be rejected at pre-screen.
To help the development community adjust to the new procedure, Building Code Enforcement hosted an online workshop to explain the:
A new COMcheck guideline was developed to help the development community avoid frequently missed items.
Download a copy of the presentation slides and watch the recording of the workshop: https://youtu.be/uOZBUdlhIXA
For questions, please contact Commercial Plan Review, 832.394.8810 or email [email protected]
Last update: March 1, 2021
The One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service program was launched on March 3, 2025. This service processes paper plans only.
Program Details:
The following Plan Review Departments/Sections are participating in the One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service:
Plans must be printed to scale and easy to read.
Plans on graph paper or lined paper will not be accepted.
The City of Houston does not offer copy services to the public.
Note: Projects that require prescreening include, but are not limited to, those listed below. Not all prescreen projects will qualify for One-Stop Walk-In Service.
Additions up to 1,000 sq. ft.
Additions over 1,000 sq. ft.
Driveways and paving for existing residences
Fire Damage, Storm Damage, Tree Damage, Vehicle Damage
Damage Report from Structural Inspections is required for review. For more information, contact Structural Inspections at [email protected] or call 832-394-8840.
Flatwork inside the property line with no work in the right-of-way
Foundation repairs
Garage conversions
Grading and fill on residential lots
House moves
Remodels
Revisions to projects previously permitted through Residential One Stop
The entire building demo does not qualify for plan review. For questions and Building Demolition Guidelines, contact the Permit Office at [email protected] or call 832-394-8899.
Substantial remodels (refer to code word B28)
Swimming pools and swimming pool demos
Use the One-Stop Online process to submit plans, upload documents, and track your project without visiting the Houston Permitting Center.
This option is available for projects less than 2,500 sq. ft. that qualify for a streamlined review process.
Follow the steps below to submit your project for plan review:
Before proceeding with any work, make sure your project complies with your subdivision's deed restrictions. Contact the county clerk’s office, your civic club, or your homeowners' association for a copy of the deed restrictions. A completed deed restrictions declaration form is required for new construction.
Before submitting your plans for review, you must apply for and receive a Wastewater Capacity Reservation (WCR) Letter via iPermits. For more information contact the Impact Fee Administration Section at 832-394-8888 or click here.
All plans must be submitted electronically. To apply for a building permit, complete the following steps:
For a detailed list of steps, please refer to the EPR User guides.
To help us achieve this 30-day goal, we ask for your commitment to the following:
Submit a WCR application or provide a valid WCR letter at the time of plan submittal
Secure payment of the impact fee prior to the 2nd review cycle
Submit complete, high-quality plans to minimize delays
Return corrected drawings within 7 business days after receiving comments
Maintain clear and timely communication with City staff
We’ve structured a review process to ensure consistency and transparency:
Cycle 1: Initial review and first round of applicant corrections
Cycle 2: Second review and final corrections
Cycle 3: Final review and permit issuance
To view the full list of the Fast Track common rejections list go to: 30-Day Permitting Common Rejections | Houston Permitting Center
Before submitting your building plans for review, you may need to contact the Planning and Development Department Subdivisions Section at 832.394.8849 for information about development plat review, and the Impact Fee Administration at 832.394.8888 to ensure there is available water and wastewater for your project.
A general contractor’s license is not required to obtain building permits. However, trade contractors (i.e., Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical) are required to register their license with the City of Houston.
The City of Houston has a Voluntary Registration Program for roofing contractors. To register, roofing contractors must have proof of comprehensive general liability insurance in the form of a certificate or policy with minimum limits of $500,000 of death or bodily injury and $500,000 for property damage, per occurrence. For more information contact us at 832.394.8840.
Permits are not required for the following:
For a complete list of exemptions, refer to Section R105.2 of the Houston Amendments to the 2021 IRC.
Visit the Code Development page for code information and updates.
Before proceeding with any work, make sure your project complies with your subdivision's deed restrictions.
Contact your civic club or homeowners' association for a copy of the deed restrictions.
An unsworn Declaration in Support of Application for City of Houston Permit signed by the owner is required before starting the application process for most residential projects.
In most cases, to obtain a permit for general repairs, plans are not required. However, an Online Building Permit Application, and a Residential Repair Spec List must be approved, and the permit issued.
To obtain a permit for re-roof or roof repairs, plans are not required. This does not include the replacement of rafters and/or joists.
An Online Building Permit Application and a Residential Re-roof Worksheet must be completed.
Some projects may require additional information. Please contact the One-Stop Section at 832.394.8820 for more information or review the Residential One-Stop Guideline:
Forms
Plans including (but limited to):
The Model Home Program is designed for developers who build (10) or more units of the same model home over the span of a year. A complete plan review is done for the model plan. For subsequent identical units built, plan reviews are performed in an expedited manner and permit fees are known in advance.
To learn more, visit the Residential Master Plan permit page.
