Harris County, TX Permit Fees (2026)
Building permit fees for unincorporated Harris County, with a free permit fee calculator. Inside city limits? Pick your city below; incorporated cities have their own fee schedules.
Unincorporated Harris County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county issues a flat development permit for residential work and a square-footage development permit plus fire code review for commercial buildings; builders of new homes hire their own third-party inspectors under state law. Commissioners Court approved phased fee changes on September 9, 2025: from January 1, 2027 the new-home permit becomes $224, the addition and remodel permit $43, and the new commercial development fee $0.05 per square foot. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
In Unincorporated Harris County, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs $35.00 in permit fees, and a $20,000 re-roof $35.00. Totals include the documented surcharges and minimum fees. 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 CalculatorHarris County Office of the County Engineer Permits Office Fee Schedule and Fire Code Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2025)
Covers building and roofing permits.
Apply online at the Unincorporated Harris County permit portal, or call 713-274-3900.
How Unincorporated Harris County values a job: Harris County issues development permits rather than building-code permits: residential permits are flat, commercial permits are priced per square foot of all floors, and commercial fire code fees are banded by the estimated construction cost, which the Fire Marshal may reset from building area and ICC valuation data.
Schedule effective October 1, 2025. Last verified: October 18, 2026
Jurisdictions in Harris County
Jobs inside city limits are permitted by the city, not the county. Across Harris County's 8 covered jurisdictions, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs from $10.00 (La Porte) to $871.50 (Bellaire).
Unincorporated Harris County Permit Fee Schedule
Every documented rule for each permit type, straight from the official schedule.
Plumbing Permit Fees in Unincorporated Harris County
Unincorporated Harris County issues no plumbing permit. Licensed electricians, plumbers and air conditioning contractors work under their Texas state licenses here, with no county permit, inspection or fee; the county's Floodplain Management Regulations exclude routine maintenance and repairs from the development that needs a permit. A county development permit applies when the work is part of an addition, a remodel or a substantial improvement (half or more of the building's appraised value), and a new electric service gets a free county power release with that permit. Inside a city's limits, the city permits the work.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Harris County plumbing permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageUnincorporated Harris County Permit Fee Calculator
Pick a permit type and adjust the job value. Total updates instantly, itemized below.
Unincorporated Harris County does not have a documented plumbing fee for this project type in our sourced data yet. Check the official fee schedule linked above, or ask the building department.
Unincorporated Harris County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county issues a flat development permit for residential work and a square-footage development permit plus fire code review for commercial buildings; builders of new homes hire their own third-party inspectors under state law. Commissioners Court approved phased fee changes on September 9, 2025: from January 1, 2027 the new-home permit becomes $224, the addition and remodel permit $43, and the new commercial development fee $0.05 per square foot. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
Estimate only. Confirm with the Unincorporated Harris County building department before applying. Apply online. Phone: 713-274-3900. Permit fees only; excludes impact fees, utility connection charges, and other non-permit charges.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Harris County plumbing permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageHow to Apply for a Permit in Unincorporated Harris County
Apply for a development permit online through the Office of the County Engineer's ePermits system (register, then Projects, Apply), choosing the Residential or Commercial Building application. Commercial building and tenant build-out applications are also the Fire Code application, reviewed by the Fire Code group and inspected by the Fire Marshal's Office. Fees are paid in ePermits after approval; the Permits Office at 1111 Fannin also takes applications in person.
Source: Unincorporated Harris County application instructions
Apply online: Unincorporated Harris County permit portal- Phone
- 713-274-3900
- Residential
- Residential@harriscountytx.gov
- Fire Code
- Firecode@harriscountytx.gov
- Fire Marshal
- 713-274-1700, FMOSupport@fmo.hctx.net, 7701 Wilshire Place, Houston, TX 77040
- Address
- 1111 Fannin St., 1st Floor Lobby, Houston, TX 77002
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Source
- Official contact page