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

$10,000 panel or rewire

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.

Jump to Permit Fee Calculator

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.

Electrical Permit Fees in Houston

Meter loop and service, up to 50 kW

$94.00 flat‡

Outlets and fixtures, each

$1.34 per outlet or fixture, minimum $91.06

Administrative fee

$33.56

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

Sponsor This Page

Be the Featured Electrician in Houston

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

Advertise on This Page

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.

Estimated electrical permit fee

$127.56

Included in this total

Electrical Permit Fee$94.00‡

$94.00 flat

Administrative Fee$33.56

Total Estimate$127.56

‡ Awaiting confirmation from the jurisdiction.

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.

Sponsor This Page

Be the Featured Electrician in Houston

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

Advertise on This Page

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

Phone: 832-394-9000
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
Source: Official contact page

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 October 18, 2026.

Other Jurisdictions in Harris County

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

Unincorporated Harris County Baytown Bellaire Deer ParkHoustonHumble La Porte Pasadena

Houston, TX Permit Fees (2026)

Houston Permit Fee Schedule

Building Permit Fees in Houston

Electrical Permit Fees in Houston

Plumbing Permit Fees in Houston

Mechanical / HVAC Permit Fees in Houston

Roofing Permit Fees in Houston

Houston Permit Fee Calculator

How to Apply for a Permit in Houston

Houston Permit Fee FAQs

How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Houston?

How Much Does a Roofing Permit Cost in Houston?

How Are Permit Fees Calculated in Houston?

Where Do These Fees Come From?

Other Jurisdictions in Harris County

Get in Touch