Houston Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Houston’s Houston Permitting Center and Building Code Enforcement handle building permits, plan review, inspections, and code compliance for property inside the City of Houston. A Houston mailing address does not by itself establish city jurisdiction: property in an incorporated municipality or in unincorporated Harris County may use a different permitting authority. Confirm the situs and jurisdiction before submitting an application.

Houston permit process

Start with the City’s permit portal to apply for eligible permits, upload or manage project information, make payments, search permit records, and follow permit progress. The City says residential and commercial construction work is reviewed under its adopted construction codes, and the required documents depend on the scope, valuation, occupancy, and trade work. Plan early for other approvals such as fire, public works, planning, or utility reviews when the project requires them.

Inspections, zoning, and occupancy

Houston’s official business guidance explains that permitted work remains subject to inspection and must remain accessible and exposed until approved by the building official. Use the permit portal for available inspection scheduling and history. A commercial building or lease space generally needs a Certificate of Occupancy before it is occupied, and a change in occupancy classification can trigger additional review. Zoning and land-use questions should be checked with the City Planning and Development Department before relying on a building permit alone.

Official contact information

The Houston Permitting Center is listed at 1002 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002. The official Building Code Enforcement dashboard lists (832) 394-9000 for customer questions. For property outside Houston city limits, contact the applicable municipality or Harris County department rather than assuming the City of Houston is the authority.