Mechanical Inspections

A mechanical inspector must inspect and approve all work requiring a mechanical permit before the project is finalized. Some of this work may require approved plans
Situations that require a mechanical permit and inspection include:

• New commercial or residential air conditioning (a/c) installations (replacement of commercial or residential a/c)
• Stairwell Pressurization Systems
• Commercial kitchen ventilation systems (replacement of commercial kitchen ventilation system)
• PCC test for commercial kitchen ventilation
• Ventilation systems
• Commercial chiller and AHU replacements
• Unit Heater installations or replacements
• Duct alterations
• Industrial refrigeration, process refrigeration, walk-in coolers, and freezers
• Condenser replacement
• Evaporator Replacement
• Furnace Replacement
• Installation of central vacuum systems
• Installation of decorative gas fireplaces
• Installation of commercial boilers and replacement and repair of boilers
• Installations of new cooling towers and replacement of cooling towers
• Paint spray booths

When do I call for a mechanical inspection?

Typically the mechanical contractor completing the work will call the Mechanical Inspection section to schedule the required inspections. During the construction phase, the contractor must call in all required inspections (cover, grill seal, final). If you have completed work under the Homeowner's Permit option, you are responsible for scheduling the required mechanical inspections.

To request an inspection of an occupied residence, please complete the request form.

To schedule a mechanical inspection or for further clarification concerning mechanical inspections, please call us at 832.394.8850.

How to register an Air Conditioning license?

To register or renew your air conditioning license with the City of Houston, the following documents are required:

• Texas Driver's License or Identification
• Class A or B air conditioning license
• Certificate of Insurance

Once you have the required documents, please follow these steps:

• Complete the Registration Form for State Air Conditioning License (Form CE- 1307) and iPermits Acknowledgment Form (if you don’t have an existing iPermits account)
• Email the registration forms and copies of the required documents to [email protected]
• Pay the applicable registration fee using iPermits.

For fee information, please refer to the Code Enforcement's License Fee Schedule. Please contact the Mechanical Inspections Section at 832.394.8850 for more information.

Where can I find out information about licensing?

For more information visit the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

A Guide to Houston's General Boiler Regulations:

Operators must be licensed, and boiler fees are required annually for all boiler sites within the city limits.

About Boiler Operator Licensing

A boiler used to heat a building or that is used in for commercial processing is subject to Houston's boiler regulations. This includes all boilers except those used exclusively for producing domestic (potable) hot water.

The Uniform Mechanical Code regulations require that regulated boilers are operated by duly licensed or permitted operators. There are two types of boiler operator licenses:

• Stationary Engineer License (1st Grade, 2nd Grade, or 3rd Grade) is required when: operating a high pressure steam boiler that exceeds 1,676,000 BTU's. 
• Boiler Operator Permit is required to operate Low-pressure boilers and power boilers up to 1,676,000 BTU. These boilers may be operated by either a stationary engineer or by permitted boiler operator.
• Requirements for Stationary Engineer's Licenses

These licenses are issued to individuals who have passed the required examination. Licensed boiler operators then post the license in the boiler room as evidence that they are qualified to supervise the boiler(s).

Annual Boiler Operation inspection

A City inspector will perform an annual general review of the boiler installation, and he or she will verify that appropriate operator licenses are posted. These licenses must be displayed and the boiler and its appurtenances kept in safe condition in order to receive an "approved" inspection result.

Annual Boiler Fee

An annual boiler fee is charged for each subject boiler within the city limits of Houston. Click here to access a printable version of Code Enforcement's Permit Fee Schedule.

An itemized invoice/statement is mailed to the owner/operator of each boiler site once per year, indicating the type and quantity of boilers and each boiler's fee.

Basic Compliance Process

To comply with the regulations, a business/operator must:

• Pay the Annual Boiler fee when invoiced. An invoice/statement will be mailed on a quarterly basis.
• Post Boiler Operator Permits and/or Stationary Engineer Licenses in the boiler room.
• Attach renewal or issuance receipts to the license or permit.
• Perform corrections to the boiler facility if so indicated in the City Inspector's annual inspection report.

Overview

In 1987 City Council adopted a ordinance designed to regulate the installation, repair and general safety of elevators, escalators, chair lifts, dumbwaiters, manlifts and similar conveyances. Conveyances located in commercial establishments are required to have an annual inspection and traction elevators are required to be periodically load tested to assure minimum safety standards are maintained. There are three basic components of this process, each involves the owner/operator of the conveyance:

1. Annual Operating Permit fee 
2. Annual inspection 
3. Periodic full-load test

Owners and/or Operators of subject conveyances receive annually a combination Invoice and Notice of Required Inspection from the City. The Owner/Operator is responsible for scheduling the necessary firms and personnel to perform and witness required inspections and/or tests. Additionally, the Owner/Operator pays the prescribed Operating Permit Fee directly to the City.

Basic compliance process

• The Owner/Operator engages an Approved Elevator Inspection Agency or Authorized Company.
• Their inspector then submits his/her inspection report to the City.
• The Owner/Operator submits payment of the annual operating permit fee directly to the City of Houston.
• Upon receipt of the inspection reports and annual operating permit fee, the City produces an Annual Operating Permit and mails it to the owner/operator.
• The Owner/Operator posts the Annual Operating Permit within the building which houses the conveyance(s).

This process is repeated each year as prescribed by law.

Annual Elevator Fee and Notice of Required Inspection

Each year, Owner/Operators of subject conveyances are mailed a combination Annual Elevator Fee invoice and Notice of Required Inspection. The Invoice/Notice describes the location, type and quantity of conveyances. The fee amount is indicated along with the type of inspection or test required for each conveyance. Conveyance Owner/Operators use this invoice to pay the operating permit fee, and to initiate the inspection process.

Invoice/Notice mailing is based on a quarterly cycle. The Owner/Operator of subject conveyances will receive the Invoice/Notice during the same quarter of each subsequent year.

Inspection Types

Annual Inspection

An annual inspection is required for each conveyance. Inspection procedures are based on requirements appearing in the Elevator Code (ANSI A17.1). The City of Houston does not perform elevator inspections. Private sector businesses accepted by the City as "Approved Inspection Agencies" or "Authorized Companies" are engaged by the conveyance Owner/Operator to provide the inspection report. The Owner/Operator of the conveyance must coordinate the inspection process with their Inspection agency.

Full Load Test

Traction type elevators, and dumbwaiters equipped with safeties, require a full load test periodically. The load- test is to be performed once every (5) five years. Periodic load tests are not required for existing escalators, hydraulic elevators or conveyance types other than traction elevators and specified dumbwaiters.

Annual inspection may be performed by either an Approved Inspection Agency or an Authorized Company. However, only an Approved Agency may perform a load test. An Elevator Company or other qualified elevator maintenance personnel provide the necessary labor and material to perform the load test. The Approved Agency then submits a load-test report to the City.

Reinspection

If an inspector's report indicates violation of Houston's elevator safety regulations, the City will notify the conveyance owner/operator of the nature of violations and will stipulate a time by which corrections should be made. After corrections are made to the conveyance, the Owner/Operator must again engage the inspector to reinspect the conveyance and submit a reinspection report to the City. (Usually the same approved agency or authorized company that provided the original inspection report)

Annual Operating Permit

Upon receipt of both the Annual Operating Permit Fee and the Approved Agency's Inspection report (provided the inspection report indicates approval) the City produces and mails the Operating Permit to the Owner/Operator.

The Annual Operating Permit is to be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.

Operating Permit Fee

Houston's building code assigns a fee value for each conveyance within the city limits. The combination invoice and inspection notice displays the fee amount for the annual operating permit. This fee is to be paid directly to the City. Other expenses involved in the inspection process involve private agreements between Approved Inspection Agencies, Elevator Maintenance Companies (or qualified elevator maintenance personnel) and the conveyance owner/operator.

Contact

For questions about elevators call: 832.394.8861.

This form is used to request an iPermits account without a license requirement.

All registrants must submit the completed Non-Licensed User Account Registration Form via email to the Mechanical Inspections group at [email protected].

For more information, download our Non-Licensed User Account Guide.