Start with where the work is
Most concrete permits around Houston are about the public right-of-way: the strip between your property line and the street that holds the sidewalk, the driveway approach, the curb and, on many streets, a roadside ditch. Work there affects drainage and traffic, so cities and counties regulate it. Work entirely on your lot, such as a backyard patio, is a different question that depends on the jurisdiction and the project; structures with walls and roofs, such as garages and additions, typically need building permits.
City of Houston
The Houston Permitting Center lists a residential driveway, sidewalk, or curb and gutter permit through Houston Public Works, and a separate single-family residential driveway permit. Both involve plan review and inspections, and the City's inspection requirements include having the approved plans on site and, where applicable, the culvert installed and the driveway and sidewalk formed before calling for inspection. Commercial driveway, sidewalk and curb work has its own commercial permit. The City's current requirements and fees are on the Houston Permitting Center site.
Unincorporated Harris County
Large parts of the metro, including much of Cypress, Spring, Atascocita and Klein, are outside any city. There, the Harris County Engineering Department permits driveways and culverts in the county right-of-way. The County's list includes new residential culverts, culvert extensions, driveway widening and driveway repair, and the application calls for a residential application and a site plan, with the culvert location marked in the ditch. Work in Harris County Flood Control District rights-of-way falls under a separate process.
Suburban cities
Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Bellaire, Humble and the Memorial Villages each have their own city hall and their own rules. Some require permits for flatwork beyond the right-of-way; some don't. Unincorporated areas of Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties have county processes of their own.
HOAs and utility districts
A permit and HOA approval are separate. Many Houston-area communities require architectural review for driveway widening, front walks and other visible changes, and utility districts and drainage districts care about work in their easements. We prepare the drawings and wait for approval.
What we do
- Check which city or county governs your address
- Tell you which parts of the job need a permit and which don't
- File the permit and show the fee on its own line
- Schedule inspections before the pour
- Prepare the HOA submittal
This guide is general information gathered from the City of Houston and Harris County permit pages. Rules and fees change; the issuing office's current requirements govern.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for a backyard patio in Houston?
Often not for a simple slab on your own lot, but it depends on the jurisdiction, easements and whether a structure like a patio cover is involved. We check for your address.
Who pays for the permit?
You do, as part of the job. We show the fee as its own line on the estimate.
How long do permits take?
It varies by office and season. Simple right-of-way permits can be fairly quick; anything with plan review takes longer. We give you the expected timing.
What happens if I skip the permit?
Unpermitted work in the right-of-way can be cited and may have to be removed or redone. It can also come up when you sell.
Keep reading: Driveway cost · Sidewalks · Cypress