PlainPermit

Building permits in Houston, TX

Short answer: In Houston, permits are issued by City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works); of the 16 common projects we checked, 10 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 6 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works). Applies inside Houston city limits. Planning, flood, and deed-restriction reviews can add requirements.

Permit rules in Houston
ProjectAnswerVerified
ADU or garage conversionPermit required
Yes. Garage conversions and additions need permits; a garage conversion gets structural, flood and planning reviews.		2026-10-19
DeckDepends on your project
No permit for a small freestanding deck: 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or less above grade, not attached to the house, and not serving a required…		2026-10-19
Driveway or patioDepends on your project
Interior flatwork (driveways and sidewalks not covered by the Infrastructure Design Manual, under 65% of the impervious area) is exempt. Sid…		2026-10-19
Electrical panel upgradePermit required
Yes. All electrical work needs a permit, pulled by a TDLR-licensed master electrician registered with the City.		2026-10-19
EV chargerPermit required
Yes. Installing an EV charger is electrical work, and all electrical work needs a permit in Houston.		2026-10-19
FenceDepends on your project
No building permit for fences up to 8 ft that are not masonry or concrete and not electrified. Taller fences and any masonry or concrete fen…		2026-10-19
HVAC / AC replacementPermit required
Yes. All mechanical work needs a permit, pulled by a TDLR-licensed air conditioning contractor registered with the City.		2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodelDepends on your project
Finish work (tiling, cabinets, countertops) needs no permit. A remodel needs a Residential Remodel permit, and all plumbing and electrical w…		2026-10-19
Pool or hot tubPermit required
Yes. Swimming pools need their own permit, separate from other structures; the pool deck can be included in the pool permit.		2026-10-19
Retaining wallDepends on your project
No permit for retaining walls up to 4 ft (bottom of footing to top) unless supporting a surcharge.		2026-10-19
Roof replacementPermit required
Yes. A re-roof or roofing overlay on a home needs a permit. Only roof-covering repairs of 100 sq ft or less are exempt.		2026-10-19
ShedDepends on your project
No building permit for a one-story detached shed of 120 sq ft or less. Larger sheds need a permit.		2026-10-19
Siding replacementPermit required
Yes. Patching or repairing siding, stucco or EIFS is on Houston's minor repair permit; only small like-for-like fascia, trim and soffit repa…		2026-10-19
Solar panelsPermit required
Yes. Solar PV needs a permit; rooftop systems get structural, electrical and flood reviews (see Form CE-1198).		2026-10-19
Water heater replacementPermit required
Yes. Replacing or installing a water heater needs a plumbing permit, pulled by a master plumber registered with the City of Houston. No plan…		2026-10-19
Window and door replacementPermit required
Yes. Replacing windows or exterior doors is a non-exempt repair that needs a permit (Houston has a minor repair permit for like-for-like wor…		2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/news-events/2026-fee-increase-notice · 4 verified Houston permit fees

Other cities in Texas

All Texas cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.