Houston Public Works has completed the 2023–2026 Review Cycle, and the 2026 edition of the Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) has been published. It is effective March 2, 2026, and the City of Houston will give a 90-day design grace period for implementation. The 2026 IDM will be fully implemented beginning June 1, 2026.
The following documents have been updated:
- Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM)
- General Requirements
- Standard Construction Specifications
- Standard Details
Additional key considerations:
Projects submitted on or after June 1, 2026, must comply with the 2026 IDM requirements. This applies to:
- Houston Public Works Capital Improvement Projects with 60% designs.
- Public/private sector projects submitted for initial review.
- Note: Substantially complete plans submitted for initial review prior to June 1, 2026, will be held to the 2023 IDM requirements.
If a project was submitted before June 1, 2026, and the applicant would like to use the 2026 requirements, the existing project MUST BE CANCELED and a new project submitted.
Reminder:
- All 2026 IDM requirements will be enforced
- Payments are non‑refundable
- New fees will apply
How To Cancel Your Current Project:
- Email [email protected] on company letterhead with your project number and cancellation request.
- The Office of the City Engineer will email confirmation and any outstanding balance information.
- Pay any outstanding balance and email a copy of the receipt to [email protected].
Resources:
All materials are available on the Design and Construction Standards webpage, including
- Houston Public Works Director signed an IDM Cover Letter & Executive Summary, which provides a summary of updates made to all documents during the review cycle.
- IDM Redlines and Construction Specifications Redlines are also available for additional background.
For additional questions, contact the Design and Construction Standards Section at [email protected].
Training Opportunities:
May 2026 a public IDM Webinar will be conducted via Microsoft Teams in which city engineer departments will present a high-level overview of the changes implemented during the 2023–2026 Review Cycle.
Registration details will be available on the Training webpage, social media, and Houston Permitting Center website.
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