What is a large meter?
Large compound meter
A large compound meter is a water meter that is 3 inches or larger, and used for domestic and fire services. These may service a permanent structure that can be used for multi-family, commercial, or government.
Fire only large meter
A fire-only large meter is a water meter that is 3 inches or larger, and serves fire only. These may service a permanent structure that can be used for multi-family, commercial, or government.
Irrigation large meter
An irrigation large meter is a water meter that is 3 inches or larger, and services a property for landscape irrigation or livestock purposes only.
When do I apply for a large water meter?
New and existing construction
Apply for a large water meter after you have received an approved Building Code Enforcement (BCE) utility plan and an approved OCE Plan and Profile provided by the Office of the City Engineer.
Commercial and multifamily developments located Outside the City Limits (OCL) will need an OCL plumbing and utility plan approval from Building Code Enforcement's Plumbing Inspections section.
When Taps & Meters approves your application, you will be given a Water New Service (WNS) number. The WNS number will be your identifier for your permit for any future updates. After Taps & Meters approves your large water meter application, Customer Account Services completes the request. Customer Account Services issues invoices for your large water meter permit and sets up new water accounts. If any accounts associated with your permit are not in good standing, you will not be able to purchase your permit until the account issues are resolved. Customer Account Services staff at the Houston Permitting Center may instruct you to call the Customer Account Services call center to resolve billing issues for existing accounts. The call center can be reached at 713.371.1400. We are unable to update existing accounts at the Houston Permitting Center.
Once you pay your invoice, your plumber will receive a work order within 10-15 business days from Customer Account Services to set up an inspection with the Inspections group. If you have not received an invoice or permit work order after receiving a WNS number you may contact Customer Account Service by email at [email protected]
- The property must have direct access to City of Houston water mains. Property that does not have direct access to water mains requires prior approval from the Infrastructure Support Group.
- The water main must be at least 4” in size and less than 20”. Property with direct access to water mains 20” and larger require prior approval
- The tap must be the same size as the water meter excluding the 5/8” meter which has a 3/4” tap.
- Impact fees, if required, must be paid before the water meter can be set up. Projects with conditional WCR letters, House for House, and/or qualifying impact fee exemption residential development are exempt from impact fee payment prior to water meter set up.
- All plumbing sub-contractor must be bonded for each job and must carry a valid texas Master plumber’s license.
- A TXDOT UIR permit is required for water tap connections within a TXDOT Right-Of-Way.
- Large Job Application - Meters
- Signed notarized copy of the warranty deed or recorded deed
- A copy of the IRS form with the EIN.
- Existing accounts or meter numbers, if any
Note: Please read the Large Meter Permit Requirements document to identify the required documents for your large meter request. There are different requirements and documents that will need to be provided based on project classification.
- Review the Large Meter Permit Requirements document
- Fill out Large Job Application - Meters and Commercial Service Application
- Email the application and required documents to [email protected]. Please put "Large Job Request" in the email subject line.
Note: Please read the Large Meter Permit Requirements to identify the required documents for your large meter request. There are different requirements and documents that will need to be provided based on project classification.
Review is completed by the Customer Account Services. If the application is accept, and the deposit, if required, is processed and the Inspection team is notified.
If additional information is required, visit 1002 Washington Ave., 3rd floor.
The Inspections team at Customer Account Services will review the job and issue a work order to the plumber via email. When the work is completed, the plumber must schedule an inspection via email. It takes approximately 48 hours for the inspector to bring out the meter to the job site.