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Houston, TX Permit Fees (2026)

Building permit fees and building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, and roofing permit fees for Houston, straight from the official fee schedule, with a free permit fee calculator below.

New homes of 1,800 square feet or less get a 50 percent discount on Houston's structural permit fee that this estimate does not apply, and historic landmark discounts are not applied either. Residential building fees are priced by floor area and construction type, never by job value.

Building Permit
$158.18
200 sq ft remodel area
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Roofing Permit
$322.79
2,000 sq ft roof
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HVAC Permit
$280.56
$10,000 change-out
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Electrical Permit
$127.56
$10,000 panel or rewire
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Plumbing Permit
$204.72
15-fixture scope
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In Houston, a building permit for a remodel runs $158.18 in permit fees, a re-roof $322.79, a $10,000 HVAC change-out $280.56, a $10,000 electrical panel upgrade or rewire $127.56, and a whole-house repipe $204.72. Totals include the documented surcharges and minimum fees; where the schedule prices by unit, figures assume a 200 sq ft remodel area, a 2,000 sq ft roof, and a 15-fixture scope. Each figure is that single permit only: a job that combines trades, like a kitchen remodel with electrical and plumbing work, pays each applicable permit. Pick a project to load it in the calculator below.

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Source

2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule, Houston Public Works (Houston Construction Code Sec. 118, Ordinance 2023-907; amounts effective January 1, 2026)

Covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, and roofing permits.

Official Fee Schedule

Apply online at the Houston permit portal, or call 832-394-9000.

How Houston values a job: Houston prices commercial permits on the total cost of construction to the end user, excluding land, checked against ICC Building Valuation Data, and prices one- and two-family homes by square footage and construction type rather than by value.

Schedule effective January 1, 2026. Last verified: October 18, 2026

Houston Permit Fee Schedule

Every documented rule for each permit type, straight from the official schedule.

Building Permit Fees in Houston

Residential (1–2 family): Type VB construction (remodel/alteration)
tiered rates by sq ft, minimum $91.06 (20% of the new-construction fee, as the code prints)
Up to 57.16 sq ft
$9.40
Over 57.16, up to 1,224.89 sq ft
$9.40 plus $1.07 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 1,224.89, up to 1,633.19 sq ft
$163.01 plus $1.01 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 1,633.19, up to 2,449.78 sq ft
$213.37 plus $0.94 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 2,449.78, up to 4,082.97 sq ft
$307.37 plus $0.87 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 4,082.97, up to 8,165.93 sq ft
$481.93 plus $0.80 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 8,165.93, up to 40,829.66 sq ft
$884.77 plus $0.74 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 40,829.66, up to 408,296.59 sq ft
$3,838.95 plus $0.40 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 408,296.59 sq ft
$21,966.82 plus $0.27 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Residential (1–2 family): Type VB construction (new construction)
tiered rates by sq ft, minimum $91.06
Up to 57.16 sq ft
$47.00
Over 57.16, up to 1,224.89 sq ft
$47.00 plus $5.36 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 1,224.89, up to 1,633.19 sq ft
$815.07 plus $5.03 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 1,633.19, up to 2,449.78 sq ft
$1,066.86 plus $4.70 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 2,449.78, up to 4,082.97 sq ft
$1,536.83 plus $4.36 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 4,082.97, up to 8,165.93 sq ft
$2,409.66 plus $4.02 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 8,165.93, up to 40,829.66 sq ft
$4,423.87 plus $3.68 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 40,829.66, up to 408,296.59 sq ft
$19,194.73 plus $2.00 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Over 408,296.59 sq ft
$109,834.08 plus $1.34 per additional 8.17 sq ft
Residential (1–2 family): Type VA construction (remodel/alteration)
tiered rates by sq ft, minimum $91.06 (20% of the new-construction fee, as the code prints)
Up to 53.83 sq ft
$9.40
Over 53.83, up to 1,153.49 sq ft
$9.40 plus $1.07 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 1,153.49, up to 1,537.99 sq ft
$163.01 plus $1.01 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 1,537.99, up to 2,306.98 sq ft
$213.37 plus $0.94 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 2,306.98, up to 3,844.97 sq ft
$307.37 plus $0.87 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 3,844.97, up to 7,689.94 sq ft
$481.93 plus $0.80 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 7,689.94, up to 38,449.71 sq ft
$884.77 plus $0.74 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 38,449.71, up to 384,497.08 sq ft
$3,838.95 plus $0.40 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 384,497.08 sq ft
$21,966.82 plus $0.27 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Residential (1–2 family): Type VA construction (new construction)
tiered rates by sq ft, minimum $91.06
Up to 53.83 sq ft
$47.00
Over 53.83, up to 1,153.49 sq ft
$47.00 plus $5.36 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 1,153.49, up to 1,537.99 sq ft
$815.07 plus $5.03 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 1,537.99, up to 2,306.98 sq ft
$1,066.86 plus $4.70 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 2,306.98, up to 3,844.97 sq ft
$1,536.83 plus $4.36 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 3,844.97, up to 7,689.94 sq ft
$2,409.66 plus $4.02 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 7,689.94, up to 38,449.71 sq ft
$4,423.87 plus $3.68 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 38,449.71, up to 384,497.08 sq ft
$19,194.73 plus $2.00 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Over 384,497.08 sq ft
$109,834.08 plus $1.34 per additional 7.69 sq ft
Commercial / 3+ units
tiered rates by job value, minimum $91.06
Up to $7,000
$47.00
Over $7,000, up to $150,000
$47.00 plus $5.36 per additional $1,000
Over $150,000, up to $200,000
$815.07 plus $5.03 per additional $1,000
Over $200,000, up to $300,000
$1,066.86 plus $4.70 per additional $1,000
Over $300,000, up to $500,000
$1,536.83 plus $4.36 per additional $1,000
Over $500,000, up to $1,000,000
$2,409.66 plus $4.02 per additional $1,000
Over $1,000,000, up to $5,000,000
$4,423.87 plus $3.68 per additional $1,000
Over $5,000,000, up to $50,000,000
$19,194.73 plus $2.00 per additional $1,000
Over $50,000,000
$109,834.09 plus $1.34 per additional $1,000
Administrative fee
$33.56
Administrative fee on the plan review deposit receipt
$33.56‡
Plan review deposit (paid when you apply, counts toward the permit fee)
25% of the permit fee

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

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Houston Permit Fee Calculator

Pick a permit type and adjust the job value. Total updates instantly, itemized below.

Permit type
Project type
Kind of work
Job type

2 documented rates for this permit type; pick the one that matches your job.

sq ft
505,000 sq ft
Estimated building permit fee
$158.18
Included in this total
Building Permit Fee$28.70
$9.40 + 18 × $1.072 per 8.17 sq ft over 57.16 sq ft, minimum $91.06 (see the fee table above)
20% of the new-construction fee, as the code prints
Minimum Permit Fee Adjustment$62.36
Minimum permit fee: $91.06
Administrative Fee$33.56
Administrative Fee on the Plan Review Deposit Receipt$33.56‡
Total Estimate$158.18
Paid when you apply, counts toward this total
Plan Review Deposit$22.77
You pay this when you apply. It comes off the final permit bill, so it does not add to the total above.

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

New homes of 1,800 square feet or less get a 50 percent discount on Houston's structural permit fee that this estimate does not apply, and historic landmark discounts are not applied either. Residential building fees are priced by floor area and construction type, never by job value.

Estimate only. Confirm with the Houston building department before applying. Apply online. Phone: 832-394-9000. Permit fees only; excludes impact fees, utility connection charges, and other non-permit charges.

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Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Houston building permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.

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How to Apply for a Permit in Houston

Apply online through iPermits, the Houston Permitting Center's permit portal. For building and roofing permits that need plan review, pay the plan review deposit (25 percent of the estimated building permit fee) when you apply; after it is paid you get an invitation to upload plans to ProjectDox, and the rest of the permit fee is due when the permit is issued. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are applied for and paid in iPermits by the licensed contractor. You can also apply and pay in person at the Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Avenue; the cashiers are open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Source: Houston application instructions

Apply online: Houston permit portal
Building Department Contact
Commercial Plan Review
832-394-8810, commercial.planreview@houstontx.gov
Residential Plan Review
832-394-8820, residential.planreview@houstontx.gov
Structural Inspections
832-394-8840, structural.inspections@houstontx.gov
Mechanical
832-394-8850, mechanicalsection@houstontx.gov
Electrical
832-394-8860, hpcelectricalsection@houstontx.gov
Plumbing
832-394-8870, hpcplumbingsection@houstontx.gov
Address
Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77002
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

Houston Permit Fee FAQs

How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Houston?

The building permit for a residential remodel runs $158.18, assuming a 200 sq ft remodel area (the schedule prices per unit), including the documented surcharges and minimum fees. The estimate is built from Houston's sourced fee schedule, and it covers the building permit alone; a job that combines trades pays each applicable permit. Calculate your job's value for an itemized total.

How Much Does a Roofing Permit Cost in Houston?

The roofing permit for a residential re-roof runs $322.79, assuming a 2,000 sq ft roof (the schedule prices per unit), based on Houston's sourced fee schedule.

How Are Permit Fees Calculated in Houston?

A residential building permit is tiered rates by sq ft, minimum $91.06 (20% of the new-construction fee, as the code prints). Electrical permits are flat fees; Plumbing permits are priced per fixture; Mechanical / HVAC permits scale with the value of the job; Roofing permits are priced per sq ft. New construction is priced separately from remodel and alteration work; the calculator asks which kind of job yours is. Every rate comes straight from the sourced fee schedule above. Enter your job's details for an itemized total.

Where Do These Fees Come From?

Every figure on this page is sourced from 2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule, Houston Public Works (Houston Construction Code Sec. 118, Ordinance 2023-907; amounts effective January 1, 2026). See the official schedule. Last verified .

Other Jurisdictions in Harris County

Jobs inside another city's limits are permitted by that city; unincorporated areas by the county.

Unincorporated Harris CountyBaytownBellaireDeer ParkHoustonHumbleLa PortePasadena
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