The City of Houston Right of Way – Traffic and Mobility section enforces the city’s ordinance that regulates sidewalks, streets, driveways, and traffic control, by managing the review and approval of plans and processing of construction permits.
Additionally, the section reviews and approves mobility permits for lane closures.
1002 Washington Ave., 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
The traffic section offers walk-in services to assist customers with inquiries about issues including design requirements, red tags, status of commercial and residential projects, inspections, etc.
Walk-in services do not address existing project review comments. For traffic review comments, please contact the project reviewer directly.
Every Tuesday and Thursday (excluding City Holidays) from 8:00 AM till 3:00 PM.
1002 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Please consider using our live chat for easier access to our assisting team.
A variance is an allowed deviation from the standard rules and regulations of Chapter 10 and 15 of the Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM). Requests are reviewed and evaluated by the Office of the City Engineer.
A new sidewalk ordinance went into effect on October 1, 2020. The Planning Department reviews sidewalk widths and applications for sidewalk modifications within the city limits of Houston. For more information, please contact the Planning Department.
Planning Department Contact Information:
Phone: (832) 393-6660
Location: 1002 Washington Ave, 3rd Floor Houston, TX 77002
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.houstontx.gov/planning/sidewalk-regulations.html
**Traffic Right of Way section only reviews the engineering components of sidewalk construction details**
For more information regarding alleys, please refer to the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 40, Article XV.
The City of Houston Accepted Alleys list is provided below:
An Access Management Form is required for all commercial developments except for developments with no change in use and/or size. Alterations to roadway access points may result in significant site plan revisions. For this reason, Access Forms should be submitted prior to or during plat submittal. If platting is not required, this form shall be approved prior to submitting plans for permitting.
Carefully read the form and completely fill out the form.
For trip generation information please refer to the latest edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual.
Subject Line of any correspondence should be consistent and unique, such as:
Project Name/Project Address
Project Number
Please include the following items with the completed Access Management Form application:
Dimensioned Civil Site Plan
Recorded plat/Re-plat
CPC 101 Conditions (if applicable)
Certified Survey
The purpose of a TIA is to identify the adequacy of the existing street right of way to accommodate any changes in trips generated from a proposed development/redevelopment (as a stand-alone development or a stage of a master plan). If impacts are identified, potential mitigation measures (on-site or off-site) can be proposed and evaluated. The traffic impact analysis will be used to make a determination as to whether driveway(s) being considered are necessary to provide reasonable access to the private property consistent with the safety and convenience of the public.
For more information regarding Traffic Impact Analysis, please refer to Chapter 15 of the City of Houston IDM.
To schedule a scoping meeting, please email Ms. Angela Washington at [email protected]. Attach all required scoping meeting documents in the email.
Once the engineer completes the Traffic Impact Analysis report for the proposed development, send a PDF copy of the TIA report to [email protected]. The Traffic Impact Analysis report must bear the seal and signature of a Texas Licensed Professional Engineer specializing in the branch of civil engineering.
All OCE plans and profiles must be designed and submitted to OCE department by a register PE Civil Engineer.
A mobility permit allows the City to maintain a safe and orderly movement of vehicles and pedestrians through safe work zone practices.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, cause, or allow any impairment or obstruction of a sidewalk or roadway, except as authorized by a permit. Permits should be secured prior to obstructing a public roadway or public sidewalk.
For information on how to apply for a mobility permit, please refer to mobility permits.
A commercial plan review is required for all new construction, or conversion of existing buildings, or additions to existing buildings.
1002 Washington Ave., 3rd floor Houston, TX 77002
832.394.8810
All plans are submitted electronically via iPermits.
The Traffic Right of Way section reviews and approves the driveway/sidewalk permit for all commercial project submittals within the limits of the City of Houston.
All one stop projects must be submitted online through the one stop department intake process in ProjectDox.
Please take note of the following items below:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 832.394.9149
A residential plan review is required for all residential new construction (single-family, duplex, detached), remodel, or addition to an existing residential building.
All plans are submitted electronically via iPermits.
The Traffic Right of Way section reviews and approves the driveway/sidewalk permit for all residential project submittals within the limits of the City of Houston.
Click the link(s) below.
