Houston, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees for the City of Houston (Harris County), read from the City-Wide Fee Schedule (Ordinance No. 2023-907, fees effective January 1, 2026), the 2026 Building Code Enforcement (BCE) Permit Fee Schedule, and the Houston 2021 IRC Amendments Section R108.3.1. Houston does not price a new home per flat square-foot rate: the structural building permit is a graduated base-plus-increment fee that steps up by IBC construction type and building size. Every figure below is read directly from those three official sources.
This page covers: The structural building permit for a new one- or two-family dwelling in Houston, which is calculated from Tables R108.3.1(1) and (2) of the Houston 2021 IRC Amendments combined with the city fee schedule - a base charge plus an incremental charge per square foot, graduated by IBC construction type and size. Most detached homes are Type VB (unprotected wood frame), so the worked examples below use Type VB. The page also covers the general minimum and administrative fees, the 25% plan review, the flat fence, driveway, sidewalk, grading, and demolition lines, and the separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit minimums.
MEP trades are NOT bundled: Electrical, mechanical (HVAC), and plumbing are each their own permit, each with its own minimum ($91.06 electrical, $91.06 HVAC, $97.56 plumbing). The structural building permit does not include them. Because the trade permits are priced by component counts the plan sets determine, this page publishes no single all-in new-home total - only the exact structural line plus the 25% plan review and a clearly labeled trade build-up.
Construction type is a plan-check determination: the structural fee is graduated by IBC construction type (IA/IB/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB/IV/VA/VB). Type VB (wood frame) covers most detached homes, but the exact type is set at plan check, and a different type produces a different fee.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no state-level building permit surcharge. Houston does add a non-refundable $33.56 administrative fee to permits and a plan-review fee equal to 25% of the estimated building permit fee.
This page does NOT cover: Impact fees, water and wastewater tap and capacity charges, drainage and utility connection fees, and Harris County, MUD, or HOA costs. A residential swimming-pool permit is not separately itemized as a flat line on the BCE schedule (pools run through the structural/valuation path) - confirm the pool line with Building Code Enforcement before quoting.
A new one- or two-family home in Houston pays a structural building permit graduated by construction type and size. For a wood-frame (Type VB) home, a 2,000 sq ft dwelling works out to $1,278.36 for the structural permit, plus a plan review equal to 25% of that ($319.59) and a non-refundable $33.56 administrative fee. New 1-2 family dwellings of 1,800 sq ft or less get a 50% discount on permit fees, and a repair, alteration, or remodel is 20% of the new-construction fee. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are separate, each with its own minimum ($91.06 / $91.06 / $97.56), so no all-in new-home total is published here. Every permit is also subject to a $91.06 minimum. Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- Houston does not use a flat per-square-foot new-home rate. The structural building permit is a base charge plus an incremental per-square-foot charge that steps up through nine size tiers and is graduated by IBC construction type. A 2,000 sq ft Type VB (wood-frame) home is $1,278.36 for the structural permit.
- Two adjustments move the structural fee sharply: a new 1-2 family dwelling of 1,800 sq ft or less receives a 50% discount (so a 1,800 sq ft Type VB home is $1,165.56 × 50% = $582.78), and a repair, alteration, or remodel of a 1-2 family dwelling is charged at 20% of the calculated new-construction fee.
- Plan review is 25% of the estimated building permit fee and is non-refundable, and a $33.56 administrative fee is added to permits. Every permit is subject to a $91.06 minimum, so small jobs default to that floor.
- Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are separate permits with their own minimums - $91.06 electrical, $91.06 HVAC, $97.56 plumbing - and their own per-component fees. A new home draws the structural permit plus separate E/M/P permits plus the 25% plan review, so this page keeps the structural line and the trade build-up apart rather than merging them.
- Common flat lines: a fence is $73.85 for the first 100 linear feet plus $11.41 each additional 100 LF; a driveway is $47.00; a sidewalk is $47.00 for the first 100 LF plus $11.41 each additional 100 LF; grading is $94.00; and demolition of a building is $94.00 for the first story. Each is still subject to the $91.06 minimum and the $33.56 administrative fee.
- The schedule is current. Fees are effective January 1, 2026 under Ordinance No. 2023-907, and the residential methodology is set by Section R108.3.1 of the Houston 2021 IRC Amendments. Figures here were cross-verified against the live City-Wide Fee Schedule application, the 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule PDF, and the IRC Amendments PDF in July 2026.
Houston Building Permit Fee Structure
Houston prices a new one- or two-family dwelling with a graduated structural building permit: a base charge for the size tier plus an incremental charge for each square foot above the tier floor, selected by IBC construction type. The table below reproduces the Type VB (unprotected wood frame) schedule - the type that covers most detached homes - exactly as published. Type VA carries the same base charges with a slightly smaller per-increment step (7.69 sq ft rather than 8.17 sq ft). Everything else - the minimum, administrative, plan review, flat, trade, and commercial lines - follows in the tables under it.
Residential structural building permit - Type VB (wood frame) tiers
| Size tier | Base charge | Incremental charge |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (smallest) | $47.00 | Base only |
| Tier 2 (from 57.16 sq ft) | $47.00 | + $5.36 per 8.17 sq ft after first 57.16 sq ft |
| Tier 3 (from 1,224.89 sq ft) | $815.07 | + $5.03 per 8.17 sq ft after first 1,224.89 sq ft |
| Tier 4 (from 1,633.19 sq ft) | $1,066.86 | + $4.70 per 8.17 sq ft after first 1,633.19 sq ft |
| Tier 5 (from 2,449.78 sq ft) | $1,536.83 | + $4.36 per 8.17 sq ft after first 2,449.78 sq ft |
| Tier 6 (from 4,082.97 sq ft) | $2,409.66 | + $4.02 per 8.17 sq ft after first 4,082.97 sq ft |
| Tier 7 (from 8,165.93 sq ft) | $4,423.87 | + $3.68 per 8.17 sq ft after first 8,165.93 sq ft |
| Tier 8 (from 40,829.66 sq ft) | $19,194.73 | + $2.00 per 8.17 sq ft after first 40,829.66 sq ft |
| Tier 9 (from 408,296.59 sq ft) | $109,834.08 | + $1.34 per 8.17 sq ft after first 408,296.59 sq ft |
The tiers are continuous - each tier's base charge equals the prior tier evaluated at its top - so the schedule is a single smooth graduated curve, not a set of cliffs. A new 1-2 family dwelling of 1,800 sq ft or less receives a 50% discount on the permit fee (IRC Note 1), and a repair, alteration, or remodel of a 1-2 family dwelling is 20% of the calculated new-construction fee. Type VA uses the same base charges with a 7.69 sq ft increment step; other IBC construction types carry higher base and incremental charges.
Minimum, administrative, plan review, and occupancy fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum permit fee | $91.06 |
| Administrative fee (non-refundable) | $33.56 per permit |
| Building permit plan review (non-refundable) | 25% of estimated building permit fee |
| Certificate of Occupancy | $94.00 |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy | $94.00 |
| Reinspection | $94.00 |
Flat lines for common jobs
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fence | $73.85 first 100 LF + $11.41 each additional 100 LF |
| Driveway | $47.00 |
| Sidewalk | $47.00 first 100 LF + $11.41 each additional 100 LF |
| Grading | $94.00 |
| Demolition of a building | $94.00 first story, plus each additional story |
Every flat line is still subject to the $91.06 minimum permit fee and the $33.56 administrative fee, so a small job that computes below $91.06 is charged the $91.06 minimum. The BCE schedule prints no separate flat residential swimming-pool line - a residential pool runs through the structural/valuation path, so confirm the pool fee with Building Code Enforcement rather than assuming a flat figure.
Trade permits - priced separately, each with its own minimum
| Trade permit | Minimum | How it is priced |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | $91.06 | Meter loop/service up to 50 kW $94.00; outlets/fixtures $1.34 each; range/dryer/oven/disposal/dishwasher $4.70 each; panels 8+ circuits $9.39; motors up to 1 HP $4.02, 1-10 HP $11.41, over 10 HP $8.05 + $1.81/HP over 10 |
| Mechanical (HVAC) | $91.06 | Complete AC system $11.41/ton + $47.00; air-handling/duct $6.04/ton + $47.00; repairs/alterations under $500 valuation $47.00 per lease space |
| Plumbing | $97.56 | Fixtures $34.24 for one-to-three + $11.41 each additional; gas $45.53 up to 4 openings + $7.80 each additional |
Commercial structural permits (valuation-based)
| Valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $0.01 to $7,000 | $47.00 |
| $7,001 to $150,000 | $47.00 for first $7,000 + $5.36 per additional $1,000 |
| $150,001 to $200,000 | $815.07 + $5.03 per additional $1,000 |
| $200,001 to $300,000 | $1,066.86 + $4.70 per additional $1,000 |
| $300,001 to $500,000 | $1,536.83 + $4.36 per additional $1,000 |
Commercial structural permits mirror the residential base/increment amounts but drive off valuation rather than square footage, continuing upward in the same graduated pattern past $500,000. Commercial work is outside the scope of this residential page; the tiers are shown for context only.
Houston Permit Fee Components and Surcharges
A Houston residential total stacks the structural building permit, the 25% plan review, the $33.56 administrative fee, and then each trade permit separately. There is no statewide Texas levy and no percentage technology surcharge, but the plan review and the separate trade permits are what actually build up a new-home total.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Residential structural building permit | Base + increment by tier and construction type | Exact from Tables R108.3.1(1) & (2) |
| Building permit plan review | 25% of building permit fee (non-refundable) | Charged on plans submitted for a building permit |
| Administrative fee | $33.56 per permit (non-refundable) | Applies to all permits |
| Minimum permit fee | $91.06 | Floor for any permit below it |
| 1,800 sq ft or less discount | -50% of permit fee | New 1-2 family dwellings only (IRC Note 1) |
| Repair / alteration / remodel | 20% of new-construction fee | 1-2 family dwellings (IRC R108.3.1) |
| Electrical / mechanical / plumbing permits | $91.06 / $91.06 / $97.56 minimum each | Separate - NOT bundled into the structural permit |
| Certificate of Occupancy / reinspection | $94.00 each | As applicable |
| Texas statewide levy | $0.00 | Texas imposes none |
| Impact, tap, drainage fees | Separate schedules | Excluded from every figure here |
No percentage technology or automation surcharge appears on the residential structural line, and Texas imposes no state-level permit levy. Any convenience fee charged by the city's online permit portal is a payment-processing charge outside this fee schedule.
Worked Examples
Every structural figure below is direct arithmetic from the Type VB tier table and the IRC Section R108.3.1 rules. Structural permit lines are exact. Trade build-ups are labeled estimates, because the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are priced by component counts the plan set determines, not by a single printed figure.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Wood-Frame (Type VB) Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Structural building permit | Tier 4: $1,066.86 + 45 × $4.70 | $1,278.36 |
| Plan review | 25% × $1,278.36 | $319.59 |
| Administrative fee | flat, non-refundable | $33.56 |
| Structural side subtotal (exact) | $1,278.36 + $319.59 + $33.56 | $1,631.51 |
| Electrical permit (estimate, at minimum) | min $91.06 | $91.06+ |
| Mechanical permit (estimate, at minimum) | min $91.06 | $91.06+ |
| Plumbing permit (estimate, at minimum) | min $97.56 | $97.56+ |
Assumptions: 2,000 sq ft of building area, Type VB (unprotected wood frame), over 1,800 sq ft so no discount applies. The $1,278.36 structural permit is exact - it is the tier-4 base of $1,066.86 plus 45 increments (each 8.17 sq ft above 1,633.19 sq ft) at $4.70. The $319.59 plan review and $33.56 admin are exact from that structural figure. The three trade lines are shown at their minimums only, because the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fees depend on the fixture, circuit, and tonnage counts on the plans - a real new home will exceed those minimums. We deliberately do not publish a single all-in new-home total. Source: City of Houston City-Wide Fee Schedule (Ord. 2023-907, eff. Jan 1, 2026) + Houston 2021 IRC Amendments Sec. R108.3.1.
Example 2: New 1,800 SF Home (50% Small-Home Discount)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Structural permit before discount | Tier 4: $1,066.86 + 21 × $4.70 | $1,165.56 |
| Structural permit after 50% discount | $1,165.56 × 50% | $582.78 |
| Plan review | 25% of building permit fee | applies |
| Administrative fee | flat | $33.56 |
Assumptions: 1,800 sq ft Type VB, which is exactly at the 1,800-sq-ft-or-less threshold for the 50% discount (IRC Note 1). The pre-discount structural permit of $1,165.56 is exact ($1,066.86 base + 21 increments at $4.70), and half of it is $582.78. The schedule states plan review is 25% of the estimated building permit fee; whether the 25% is taken on the discounted or undiscounted permit is a department determination, so it is shown as "applies" rather than a fixed number here. Source: Houston 2021 IRC Amendments Sec. R108.3.1 + City-Wide Fee Schedule.
Example 3: Remodel and Small Flat Jobs
| Project | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel priced as $1,278.36 new | 20% × $1,278.36 | $255.67 |
| Fence, 200 linear feet | $73.85 + $11.41 = $85.26 → min $91.06 + $33.56 admin | $124.62 |
| Driveway | $47.00 → min $91.06 + $33.56 admin | $124.62 |
| Demolition of a one-story building | $94.00 + $33.56 admin | $127.56 |
Assumptions: The remodel line applies the IRC R108.3.1 rule that a repair, alteration, or remodel of a 1-2 family dwelling is 20% of the calculated new-construction fee; 20% of $1,278.36 is $255.67. The fence and driveway lines compute below the $91.06 minimum permit fee, so the minimum controls, and the $33.56 administrative fee is added. The demolition line is the $94.00 first-story fee plus the $33.56 admin. Every figure here is exact from the schedule. Source: City of Houston City-Wide Fee Schedule + 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule.
Read before you budget from these examples
- No all-in new-home total is published here. Houston prices electrical, mechanical, and plumbing as separate permits by component count. Merging the structural line and the trade build-up into one headline number would imply a precision the schedule does not provide.
- The structural line is exact; the trade lines are minimums. $1,278.36 for a 2,000 sq ft Type VB home is arithmetic from the tier table. The $91.06 / $91.06 / $97.56 trade figures are floors - a real home exceeds them once fixtures, circuits, and tonnage are counted.
- Construction type changes the fee. Type VB (wood frame) is used here because it covers most detached homes, but the type is a plan-check determination and other types carry higher charges.
- Two rules move the structural fee sharply. A dwelling of 1,800 sq ft or less is halved; a remodel is 20% of the new-construction fee.
- Excluded fees are large. Impact fees, water and wastewater tap and capacity charges, and drainage fees sit on separate schedules and are not in any figure above.
Practitioner Insight
Houston's residential permit is one of the most misunderstood in Texas because there is no clean per-square-foot number to quote. Unlike Conroe's flat $0.96/sq ft or Frisco's tiered table, Houston builds the structural fee from a base charge plus an incremental charge per 8.17 sq ft, selected by IBC construction type. The upside is that it is fully deterministic once you know the size and type: a 2,000 sq ft wood-frame home is $1,278.36, every time, before plan review.
Where people under-budget is the same place as everywhere else in the metro - the trades. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are three separate permits with their own minimums ($91.06 / $91.06 / $97.56) and their own per-component pricing, and a new home always exceeds those minimums. Add the non-refundable 25% plan review and the $33.56 administrative fee and the structural side alone is over $1,600 before a single trade permit is pulled. Two rules cut the other way and are worth knowing: a dwelling of 1,800 sq ft or less is charged at half price, and a remodel is 20% of what the new-construction fee would be. Compare Houston's structure to nearby Pearland, Pasadena, and League City, which each package trades and review differently.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Houston
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | Base + increment by tier/type | 2,000 SF Type VB = $1,278.36 structural; + 25% review; MEP separate |
| Home 1,800 SF or less | Yes | Structural − 50% | 1,800 SF Type VB = $582.78 structural after discount |
| Remodel / alteration / repair | Yes | 20% of new-construction fee | 1-2 family dwellings (IRC R108.3.1) |
| Fence | Yes | $73.85 first 100 LF + $11.41/100 LF | Subject to $91.06 minimum + $33.56 admin |
| Driveway / sidewalk | Yes | $47.00 flat (sidewalk + $11.41/100 LF) | Subject to $91.06 minimum + $33.56 admin |
| Demolition of a building | Yes | $94.00 first story | Plus each additional story |
| Rooftop solar / electrical work | Yes | Electrical permit, min $91.06 | Priced by circuits/components; separate permit |
| HVAC change-out | Yes | Mechanical permit, min $91.06 | $11.41/ton + $47.00 for a complete AC system |
| Water heater / plumbing | Yes | Plumbing permit, min $97.56 | $34.24 for one-to-three fixtures + $11.41 each additional |
| Swimming pool | Yes | Structural/valuation path | No separate flat residential pool line printed - confirm with BCE |
Permit trigger thresholds, chargeable area, and IBC construction-type determinations are set by Houston Public Works, Building Code Enforcement. Where the schedule prints no flat line for a project type, the department decides which path applies - ask before you file rather than assuming a figure.
City of Houston - Building Code Enforcement
Houston Public Works - Building Code Enforcement
Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77002
City-Wide Fee Schedule application
The live fee schedule at cohweb.houstontx.gov confirms the residential tier tables before you file.
Ord. 2023-907 + 2026 BCE Schedule + 2021 IRC Amendments
Fees effective January 1, 2026 · residential methodology in IRC Sec. R108.3.1
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your home is not Type VB
The worked examples use Type VB (unprotected wood frame) because it covers most detached homes. If the plan check assigns a different IBC construction type, the base and incremental charges change and the structural permit is a different number.
You want one all-in number for a new house
There isn't one on this schedule. The structural permit and 25% plan review are exact, but electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are separate permits priced by component counts. This page shows the structural side and the trade minimums separately rather than a single total.
Your project is a pool
The BCE schedule prints no separate flat residential swimming-pool line. A residential pool runs through the structural/valuation path, so the fee depends on how the department values or classifies it. Confirm the pool line with Building Code Enforcement.
You are budgeting site and utility costs
Impact fees, water and wastewater tap and capacity charges, and drainage and utility connection fees are set on separate schedules and are not in any figure on this page. On a new home these can dwarf the permit fee.
The city amends the schedule again
Fees are effective January 1, 2026 under Ordinance No. 2023-907. A later ordinance can change any figure here. Confirm the current schedule on the City-Wide Fee Schedule application before filing.
Source note: This page was previously blocked because the Houston permitting hosts returned Cloudflare 403 and connection errors from the prior network. It was triple cross-verified in July 2026 on an unblocked route: (1) the live City-Wide Fee Schedule application at cohweb.houstontx.gov (Ord. 2023-907, fees effective 01/01/2026) read the full one- and two-family residential structural permit tier tables (nine IBC construction types × nine size tiers, base + incremental); (2) the 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule PDF confirmed the identical residential tier base charges plus the commercial valuation table, trade fees, admin, plan review, fence, and demolition lines; and (3) the Houston 2021 IRC Amendments PDF, Section R108.3.1, confirmed the methodology, the "1,800 sq ft or less = 50% discount" rule, and the "repair/alteration/remodel = 20% of new-construction fee" rule. No cross-source conflict was observed among the three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of Houston - City-Wide Fee Schedule (Building Code Enforcement) Houston, TX - live fee schedule application (Ord. No. 2023-907, fees effective January 1, 2026). Primary source for the one- and two-family residential structural permit tier tables, the minimum and administrative fees, the 25% plan review, and the trade minimums. Read via Playwright July 4, 2026 Verified
-
City of Houston - 2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule + Houston 2021 IRC Amendments (Sec. R108.3.1) Houston, TX official documents confirming the identical residential tier base charges, the commercial valuation table, the flat fence/driveway/sidewalk/grading/demolition lines, and the "1,800 sq ft or less = 50% discount" and "remodel = 20% of new-construction fee" rules. Extracted with pdfplumber July 2026.
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Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 State statute confirming municipal building-regulation authority and that Texas imposes no statewide percentage building-permit levy. Cited only as context for the "no statewide levy" statement. No fee amount on this page comes from this statute.
Compare Houston's structural schedule to other Texas cities, or read a Houston project guide.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Houston permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition, remodel, or new home can change the property's taxable value in Harris County. The county appraisal district determines that value and local taxing units adopt the rates, both separately from this permit fee.
Impact, tap, and drainage fees for larger projects
Houston's impact fees, water and wastewater tap and capacity charges, and drainage fees sit on schedules separate from the building permit. These items are governed separately and are not included in the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →