Houston's Unique Permitting: Houston is one of the only major U.S. cities without traditional zoning, but building codes and permits still apply city-wide. Deed restrictions in many neighborhoods serve a similar function to zoning.
About Building Permits in Houston
Building permits in Houston are issued by the Houston Permitting Center. Most residential permit applications are submitted online through the PermitStar portal at houstonpermittingcenter.org. Processing times for standard residential projects typically run 5–10 business days for standard residential projects.
Houston has no traditional zoning — deed restrictions govern land use. Houston is one of the only major U.S. cities without zoning, making permit rules more uniform citywide.
Inspections are scheduled through the PermitStar portal at key construction stages.