Administrative overview · FIPS 48201
Harris County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Development Services & Permits Division
For a project in or near Harris County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
Permits main: 713-274-3900; Residential: 713-274-3920; Development Inspections: 713-274-3924; septic inspection questions: 713-274-3800
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Harris County Permits Office, 1111 Fannin Street, 1st Floor Lobby, Houston, TX 77002
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
Residential construction and OSSF plan review: 30 business days. Published processing times vary by permit type; for example, sign permits list 3-5 business days. Harris County states that it does not offer expedited review, except possible case-by-case coordination for emergencies.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Harris County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Development Services & Permits Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Permits main: 713-274-3900; Residential: 713-274-3920; Development Inspections: 713-274-3924; septic inspection questions: 713-274-3800.
How long might review take?
Residential construction and OSSF plan review: 30 business days. Published processing times vary by permit type; for example, sign permits list 3-5 business days. Harris County states that it does not offer expedited review, except possible case-by-case coordination for emergencies.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request development inspections through the Harris County ePermits Inspection Request portal by entering the permit number, or contact Development Inspections at 713-274-3924. Residential builders or qualified third-party inspectors must record foundation, framing/mechanical, and final inspection results in the county Residential Building Code Inspection System. For septic inspections, the licensed installer must give at least 24 hours' notice through the online form or by phone at 713-274-3800; a valid septic permit and county-stamped approved plans are required.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
In unincorporated Harris County, single-family and duplex construction permitted on or after September 1, 2009 is subject to Harris County Residential Building Code Standards and the residential inspection-notification system; county materials identify the 2006 International Residential Code or the code applicable in the county seat under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233. Commercial/public buildings and multifamily dwellings of four or more units are governed by the Harris County Fire Code Regulations effective October 1, 2025. Floodplain development, civil/site work, stormwater, driveway, OSSF, and other county regulations also apply according to project scope. No county demolition permit is required for demolition work in unincorporated Harris County, although later construction or development requires a permit. A residential fence outside a Special Flood Hazard Area does not require a county permit. These are narrow exemptions: the county's residential application otherwise covers new homes, additions/remodels, garages, carports, pools, accessory structures, driveways, fill, and on-site sewage systems; municipal rules apply inside incorporated cities.