How to read the answer
- Permit required: an official City of Houston or Harris County publication says this work needs a permit.
- Usually required: a permit applies in most cases, but a detail (size, scope, your lot) could change it. Confirm it.
- Usually not required: the work fits a published exemption. You still have to follow the code, setbacks, easements, deed restrictions and floodplain rules.
- Check with the Houston Permitting Center (or your city or the County): we could not verify the exemption, so we are not guessing.
City of Houston: work that needs no building permit
The Houston Permitting Center (HPC) Residential One-Stop Guide (Form CE-1050, revised September 2025), Section R105.2 of Houston's amendments to the 2021 International Residential Code, lists the work that does not need a building permit. The list is short.
| Exempt work | Limit |
|---|---|
| One-story detached accessory structure (shed) | 120 sq ft or less of floor area (storm shelters excluded) |
| Fence | 8 ft or less, not masonry or concrete, not electrically energized |
| Retaining wall | 4 ft or less from bottom of footing to top, no surcharge |
| Water tank on grade | 5,000 gallons or less, height to width ratio 2 to 1 or less |
| Sidewalks and driveways not covered by the Infrastructure Design Manual | Interior flatwork not over 65% of total impervious area |
| Finish work: painting, tarping, wallpaper, tile, carpet, cabinets, countertops | Replacement and repair of finishes |
| Drywall repair | 100 sq ft or less, not a fire-rated assembly |
| Exterior wood fascia, trim, soffit repair, same material | 128 sq ft or less |
| Roof covering | 100 sq ft or less |
| Swings and playground equipment; small window awnings | Awnings project 54 in or less and need no added support |
| Deck | 200 sq ft or less, 30 in or less above grade, not attached to a dwelling, not serving a required exit door |
HPC adds that an exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or any other law, and that properties in the floodplain may need a floodplain development permit even when no building permit is required. Source: Residential One-Stop Guide (CE-1050); also Residential Permitting 101 and Top 10 Things to Know About Permitting (CE-1165).
Everything else usually needs a permit
HPC's plan review page says a building permit is required for most residential projects inside the City limits, including new construction, remodeling (excluding cosmetic updates like painting or wallpapering) and building repairs. Additions, remodels, new construction, conversions, foundation repairs and pools go through plan review. Repairs that replace like for like (siding, windows, exterior doors, roof covering, wall covering, stairs, porches) use a simpler repair permit with a Residential Repair Spec List, and re-roofs use a worksheet instead of plans. Sources: HPC residential plan review, Residential Repairs Permit Guidelines (CE-1058).
Who can pull which permit
| Permit | Who, according to HPC |
|---|---|
| Building | Owner, agent or contractor. General contractors are not required to be licensed. The owner signs a declaration about deed restrictions that is checked against HCAD records. |
| Electrical | Master Electrician licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and registered with the City. |
| Mechanical (HVAC) | Air conditioning contractor with a TDLR Type A or B license, registered with the City. In some instances a homeowner may obtain it. |
| Plumbing | Master Plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, registered with the City. A homeowner who owns, occupies and has registered the property as a homestead, and does the work personally, can apply for a Homeowner's Plumbing Permit (inspection required, no plan review). |
| Driveway, sidewalk, curb | Bonded contractor with a $2,000 surety bond. A homeowner may buy it when no curb cut is needed. |
Trade permits are bought after the building permit. Sources: Residential Permitting 101, Homeowner's Plumbing Permit. Check the licensing databases of TDLR and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners before you hire.
Houston codes in force
HPC lists the 2021 International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Existing Building Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, plus the 2023 National Electrical Code, all with Houston amendments (One-Stop Guide, September 2025). Older HPC handouts may still show the 2015 editions, so rely on the current guide.
Floodplain (Chapter 19)
Houston's floodplain ordinance, Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances, is run by the City's Floodplain Management Office. It regulates development in the 100-year and 500-year floodplains and the floodway, and it covers most construction and repair work. An exempt project in the floodplain can still need a floodplain development permit. Substantial damage or improvement (cost at or above 50% of the structure's market value) triggers extra requirements in the 100-year floodplain and floodway. New buildings and substantial improvements in the 500-year floodplain generally must be built 2 feet above the 500-year elevation. Contact the office at 832-394-8854 or fmo@houstontx.gov. Sources: City floodplain FAQ on repairing flood damage, One-Stop Guide, Freese and Nichols summary of the 2018 changes.
Unincorporated Harris County
Outside any city, the Harris County Engineering Department (Office of the County Engineer) issues the permits. Its FAQ says a permit is needed for all development in the unincorporated area, and a Floodplain Development Permit is required for all work in the floodplain, including fences. The County says no permit is needed for a residential fence outside the special flood hazard area, and no demolition permit is required (a permit applies to the construction afterward). Its permit list includes residential construction, swimming pool, driveway and culvert, and septic permits. In our understanding the County's residential review focuses on drainage, floodplain and fire code rather than a full city-style building code. That detail is not stated on the County pages we reviewed, so confirm it. Sources: Harris County permits FAQ, Floodplain management, Permits A to Z. Phone: 713-274-3900.
Fees
This page does not estimate permit fees, because Houston's fees change and depend on project value and scope. Use the official Houston Permitting Center fee calculator. HPC says most projects with plan review also pay a plan review fee equal to 25% of the total permit fee.
Deed restrictions and HOAs
Houston has no zoning, and deed restrictions fill that role. They are not permits. The City requires a declaration with your building permit application that you checked whether the project violates deed restrictions, and permits may be revoked for a violation. The City Legal Department enforces some deed restriction items, and neighbors and civic associations can too. Sources: City of Houston Legal Department, One-Stop Guide.
What this page cannot do
- It does not know your lot, your survey, easements, setbacks or historic district status.
- It states rules only for the City of Houston and general facts about unincorporated Harris County. Other cities, MUDs and HOAs have their own rules.
- Permit rules change. HPC revises its guides, so check the date on the guide you rely on.
- When a specific exemption is not confirmed in an official source, the answer is "check with the Houston Permitting Center": 832-394-9494, rmcacd@houstontx.gov.
This tool is general information, not legal, engineering or permit advice. Always confirm requirements with the Houston Permitting Center, Harris County or your local building department. Working without a required permit can lead to citations and trouble selling the home.