The Taps & Meters section reviews residential and commercial plans for compliance with the WCR Letters, reviews impact fee exemptions, permits water meters and sewer connections, permits water and sewer main extensions, and permits water and sewer abandonments.
1002 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
All documents for utility review should be uploaded into the Utility Letters folder. The documents listed below are most commonly uploaded for utility review. Other documents could be required based on the specific requirements for your project.
An impact fee exemption allows you to be exempt from paying impact fees for a single-family residence up to 3,000 square feet or one (1) service unit. There are qualifications that you must meet in order to be considered Impact Fee Exempt.
An approval of impact fee exemption at plan review does not permanently exempt the owner from paying impact fees at this location. If the home is sold for over the median exempt unit cost listed on the owners Impact Fee Exemption form, the owner listed will owe impact fees to the City of Houston.
Development of low and moderate-cost single-family housing can be considered for impact fee exemption. In order to qualify for this exemption, the house must be a single-family residence located within the City Limits having an initial purchase price as certified by the property owner that does not exceed the latest available 12-month listing for median price single-family housing in the city as published by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.
If the initial purchase price exceeds this amount, the property owner making the certification shall pay the full amount of impact fees as calculated by Impact Fee Administration, located on the 3rd floor of the Houston Permitting Center. The owner is responsible for turning in the closing statement for each impact fee exemption.
All impact fee exemption documents will be uploaded into ProjectDox for review. The following required documents must be uploaded into the Utility Letters folder:
Small Domestic Meters
Small domestic water meters are any size meter that is 2” and smaller that may service a permanent structure that can be for residential, multi-family, commercial, or government use. Please see the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide on how to apply for a Domestic meter.
Small Irrigation Meters
Small irrigation water meters that are 2” and smaller and used for plant or landscape irrigation purposes only. They may be used as an additional meter on a property with a Domestic meter, or to irrigate vacant lands such as land along the right-of-way, esplanades, parks, and private property. Please see the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide on how to apply for an Irrigation meter.
Ultrasonic Fire-rated meters
Ultrasonic meters are small water meters that are 2” and smaller that are used when there is a fire suppression system required for your development.
New Construction
You can apply for a small water meter after your building or utility plans have been approved by Utility Review in Taps & Meters. 1” Meter is the minimum size for new residential and commercial developments.
Enlargement
If you are requesting a larger meter size than the meter you already have existing at your site, then you will apply for a small meter enlargement.
Example: I have a 5/8” meter and I would like to enlarge it to a 1” meter.
Meter Relocation
If you want to move your existing meter to a different location on your lot that is adjacent to the City of Houston right-of-way.
Meter Separation
If you are sharing a meter with another unit and would like to install your own meter.
Cut, Plug, and Abandon Meter
If you no longer require your meter or need to remove an existing meter from your site, apply for a cut, plug, and abandon permit. This permit is also used to close out any existing water accounts associated with your property.
Meter Changeout
Meter changeouts facilitate the replacement of a domestic meter with an Ultrasonic fire-rated meter.
Online small meter application
Click here to apply for a small meter. Please download the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide to assist you with additional documents required with your permit application.
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 small water meter application it is completed by Customer Account Services (CAS) New Service group. CAS New Service is responsible for issuing the invoice for your small water meter permit and setting up new water accounts. If any water or drainage accounts associated with your site are not in good standing, you will not be able to purchase your permit until the account issues are resolved. If you have a billing issue and Customer Account Service at HPC has given you instruction to call the CAS Call Center, you can reach them at 713-371-1400. If you have a billing issue the CAS Call Center is your point of contact to update existing accounts. We are unable to update existing accounts at the Houston Permitting Center.
If you have questions about your permit invoice or work order status, please email CAS New Service at [email protected]. Provide your service address and WNS number.
Once you pay your invoice the plumber of your choice will receive a permit work order from Customer Account Services within 10-15 business days, communicating that the inspection can be set up with the Inspections group and your plumber.
In event that your application is rejected, you will receive an email from Taps & Meters indicating why your application was not approved and what items to provide. You will then be encouraged to submit a new application with the correct documents and information.
If you have application-related questions you may contact us at 832 394.8888.
A transient water meter service is a “temporary” meter typically installed on a publicly-owned fire hydrant. A transient meter is only permitted for commercial use. They are generally used to provide water for construction projects. They are not designed to provide potable water service in place of installing a permanent water service.
Please refer to the procedures on detailed requirements for each item.
You can apply for a transient meter with Taps & Meters online at https://www.houstonwaterbills.houstontx.gov/ProdDP/Billing/AccountBasedServiceRequest/TransientWaterMeterApplicationRequest/transient. You will need to have all the required documents outlined in the procedures for your use.
When Customer Account Services approves your application, you will be given a WNS (Water New Service) number. The WNS number will be your identifier for your permit for any future updates.
Transient meters will be delivered to the specified job site within 48 hours after the application is accepted and the required deposit is paid and posted to the account. To schedule an appointment for delivery, please call the Transient Water Meter Section at 832.395.6285 between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For any inquiries, please email [email protected].
Yes, you or your company representative must be present so the technician can review the final installation and operating instructions with you. You will be asked to sign a verification form indicating the condition of the equipment, meter reading, etc.
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.
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 use for multi-family, commercial, or government.
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.
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.
If you no longer require a water meter and need to remove an existing large water meter from the property, you will apply for a cut, plug, and abandon of your large water meter.
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.
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]
Helpful links:
A water meter easement is a small piece of land dedicated for a water meter, in which the City of Houston staff can access or install infrastructure.
The purpose of an easement is to safeguard Power and Water's Right of Access to construct, inspect, operate, repair, replace and maintain assets located on private property and to regulate the activities of others within the easement to ensure the safety of all people and safe and reliable operation of the asset.
A water meter easement is required for meters that are 3 inches or larger. A water meter easement may be required for meters that are 2 inches or smaller if the meter will be placed on private property.
You can apply for a water meter easement after your building plans are approved by Utility Review in Taps & Meters. Requirements form other departments include an approved public plan set from the Office of the City Engineer.
It is common for the utility contractor working on the project to coordinate the approval of the meter easement process as it is ultimately tied to the release and installation of the meter itself.
Note: please refer to procedures on detailed requirements for each item.
Easement Document Requirements: one of these options must be provided prior to set up of work order. Your specified project will dictate which option you choose to submit.
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
You can apply for a water meter easement approval by submitting your documents by email. Please call us at 832.394.8888 for more information on easement submittal requirements. You will need to have all required documents outlined in procedures. A Meter easement cannot be submitted without first obtaining a Job number. Please refer to the Large Meter Procedure link to obtain a Job number.
Once all required documents are submitted for review, the process typically takes up to 8 weeks to gain approval and ultimately record the easement document. During this process:
A sponsor change is the process of updating or changing the utility contractor that has been selected to perform the installation of your public utilities. This item may be accepted during or after the permitting process for utilities with the Taps & Meters group.
Note: Please refer to the Sponsor Change Form for detailed requirements.
You can request a sponsor change in person at the Houston Permitting Center by pulling a W800 ticket in the main lobby for the Utilities Customer Service Group in Taps & Meters. You will need to have all the required documents outlined in procedures depending on your use.
After the sponsor change form is processed, the new plumber of your choice will receive a work order within 24-48 hours from Customer Account Services, communicating that the inspection can be set up with the inspections group and your plumber.
The Contractor must contact the Water Maintenance Inspection Supervisor of the City Inspector assigned to that project and schedule an inspection of the installation. This must be done at least two (2) working days prior to the meter installation.
The Letter of Authorization will be issued after inspection and meter fees have been received and posted to your account by Customer Account Services.
Water Main Extension
A water main extension is the continuation of an existing public water main located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
Water Main Abandonment
A water main abandonment is the removal of an existing public water main located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
Water Main Offset
A water main offset is the vertical relocation of a portion of an existing public water main located in the City of Houston Right-of-way or public utility easement.
New & Existing Construction
You can apply for a water main permit after your utility public plan set is approved by the Office of City Engineer (OCE). The plans must show your proposed water main offset, water main extension, or water main abandonment.
Online Large Job Application
You can submit your Large Job Application - Non-Billable and required documents to [email protected]. Please put "Large Job Request" in the subject line. (Water main abandon, water main extension, water main offset)
You must have all required documents for your use as outlined in the procedures.
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 job application it is completed by a Taps and Meters Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSR is responsible for issuing the invoice for your large water main permit and sending your work order to the Office of the City Engineer's Construction Services section. If you have a construction or inspections issue or questions, you may contact the Construction Services at 832.394.9079.
Once you pay your invoice, the plumber of your choice will receive a work order within 10-15 business days from a Taps and Meters CSR. A copy of the signed work order and permit will be sent to the Inspectors.
Statutory Payment and Performance Bonds for jobs costing more than $25,000. Bond amount for Statutory Payment and Performance Bond is 100% of job cost. Performance and Payment Bonds must be obtained by the Developer/Owner as per Section 47-163(4).
Statutory Payment and Performance bond require Legal Department’s approval. Bonds must be submitted with two weeks in advance with contract pages to verify ownership, contractor, signatures, scope of work and cost. Bonds will be sent to the Legal Department for their review and approval. Once approved, the contractor will be notified.
Non-DPC Performance and Payment Bond Package
Fire Hydrant Installation
Fire Hydrant Installation permits are required when a new fire hydrant needs to be installed on an existing public water main located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
Fire Hydrant Relocation
Fire Hydrant Relocation permits are required when an existing fire hydrant needs to be:
You can apply for a water main permit after your utility public plan set are approved by the Office of City Engineer (OCE). The plans must show your proposed fire hydrant relocation or fire hydrant installation.
Online Large Job Application
You can submit your Large Job Application - Non-Billable and required documents to [email protected]. Please put "Large Job Request" in the subject line. (Fire Hydrant Installation, Fire Hydrant Relocation)
You must have all required documents for your use as outlined in the procedures.
When Taps & Meters approves your application you will be given a Water New Service (WNS) number. The WNS number will be your identifier to your permit for any future updates.
After Taps & Meters approves your large job application it is completed by a Taps and Meters Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSR is responsible for issuing the invoice for your large water main permit and sending your work order to the Office of the City Engineer's Construction Services section. If you have a construction or inspections issue or questions, you may contact the Construction Services section at 832.394.9079.
Once you pay your invoice, the plumber of your choice will receive a work order within 10-15 business days from a Taps and Meters CSR. A copy of the signed work order and permit will be sent to the Inspectors.
A sanitary sewer taps is when a lateral sanitary service line taps to an existing public sewer main or manhole located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
All lateral sanitary sewer taps serve an existing or proposed commercial or residential structure.
Tap to direct to exiting main or tap to a manhole
You can apply for a sanitary sewer tap after the proposed building plans are approved by Utility Review in Taps & Meters, and after your utility public plan set are approved by the Office of City Engineer (OCE). The plans must show your proposed sanitary sewer tap to the sewer main or manhole. An excavation permit is required from the Street Cuts group.
Apply by email only
You can apply for Sewer permits with the Taps & Meters section by email at [email protected]. You will need to have all the required documents outlined in the procedures depending on your use.
At this time in-person applications will not be accepted.
When Taps & Meters review approves your application you will be assisted by a Customer Service Representative and prompted to pay for your permit.
After Taps & Meters approves your sanitary tap application it is completed by a Taps and Meters Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSR is responsible for issuing the invoice for your permit and sending your work order to the Office of the City Engineer's Construction Services section. If you have a construction or inspections issue or questions, you may contact the Construction Services at 832.394.9079.
Once you pay your invoice, the plumber of your choice will receive a work order within 10-15 business days from a Taps and Meters CSR. A copy of the signed work order and permit will be sent to the Inspectors.
Sanitary Sewer Main Extension
A sewer main extension is the continuation of an existing public sewer main located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
Sanitary Sewer Main Abandonment
A sewer main abandonment is the removal of an existing public sewer main located in the City of Houston Right-of-Way or public utility easement.
You can apply for a water main permit after your utility public plan set are approved by the Office of City Engineer (OCE). The plans must show your proposed sewer main extension or sewer main abandonment.
Online Large Job Application
You can submit your large meter application and required documents to [email protected]. Please put "Large Job Request" in the subject line. (Sewer main abandon, Sewer main extension)
You will need to have all the required documents outlined in the procedures depending on your use.
Apply by email only
You can apply for Sewer permits with the Taps & Meters section by email at [email protected]. You will need to have all the required documents outlined in the procedures depending on your use.
At this time in-person applications will not be accepted.
After Taps & Meters approves your sanitary tap application it is completed by a Taps and Meters Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSR is responsible for issuing the invoice for your permit and sending your work order to the Office of the City Engineer's Construction Services section. If you have a construction or inspections issue or questions, you may contact the Construction Services section at 832.394.9079.
Once you pay your invoice, the plumber of your choice will receive a work order within 10-15 business days from a Taps and Meters CSR. A copy of the signed work order and permit will be sent to the Inspectors.
Statutory Payment and Performance Bonds for jobs costing more than $25,000. Bond amount for Statutory Payment and Performance Bond is 100% of job cost. Performance and Payment Bonds must be obtained by the Developer/Owner as per Section 47-163(4).
Statutory Payment and Performance bond require Legal Department’s approval. Bonds must be submitted with two weeks in advance with contract pages to verify ownership, contractor, signatures, scope of work and cost. Bonds will be sent to the Legal Department for their review and approval. Once approved, the contractor will be notified.
You will apply for a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) permit when your project includes any utility construction in the TxDOT right of way. You must have an approved TxDOT permit to apply for City of Houston permits if located in the right of way.
If you are applying for a water or sewer main extension, you will need to provide public plan sets approved by the Office of the City Engineer.
To apply for a TxDOT permit, TxDOT requires the following:
Submit the completed application and plans to [email protected]. The link to TxDOT application above is used for water and sewer requests only. Each type of request should be a separate application.
The project information will be submitted to TxDOT and we will notify you when TxDOT sends updates. We, the Taps & Meters section, act as a liaison between you and TxDOT. This means we upload the information provided to us into TxDOT's online permit system, called the UIR. If TxDOT has any comments, we will notify you, wait for your response, and update the application in the UIR system accordingly.
We do not control TxDOT's response time. We will do our part to submit the information provided to us as quickly as possible and will update you as we receive updates from TxDOT.
In accordance with the Texas Administrative Code Title 43, Part 1, the City of Houston will request a permit from TxDOT for utility connection to City of Houston utility located within TxDOT right-of-way.
Click the link(s) below.
