Plumbing permits across Greater Houston
Your plumber's license comes from the state. Your permit comes from wherever your address sits: the City of Houston, a suburban city, or the county.
A plumbing license is statewide: anyone doing plumbing work on your home needs one from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, whichever city you live in. source
Permits are local. Inside a city, that city's permit office decides which jobs need a permit and which code applies. Houston uses amended Uniform Plumbing Code rules; several suburbs use the International Plumbing Code instead. source
Unincorporated areas such as Cypress and much of Spring fall under county rules. Harris County's permit office handles development permits under its floodplain rules and septic permits; its published FAQ does not describe a plumbing permit program. Water and sewer there usually come from a municipal utility district. source
| Area | County | Who handles plumbing permits | Listed companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties | The City of Houston Permitting Center. Water heater replacements, gas connections and most pipe repairs need a plumbing permit and inspection, pulled by a master plumber registered with the city. Homestead owners doing their own work can get a Homeowner's Plumbing Permit. | 9 |
| Katy | Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties | The City of Katy Permits and Building department. The city says plumbing work requires a permit; contractors and homeowners apply through its online Citizen Access Portal (281-391-4830). | 8 |
| Sugar Land | Fort Bend County | The City of Sugar Land Permits Division (281-275-2270). Its homeowner brochure lists permits for repipes, sewer line repair or replacement, drain repairs under the home, gas lines, water softeners and water heaters. | 8 |
| Missouri City | Fort Bend County | The City of Missouri City handles plumbing inspections inside city limits. Water heater, water softener and repipe inspections can be done by remote video inspection, requested through the city's self-service portal. | 7 |
| Pearland | Brazoria County | The City of Pearland Permits and Inspections office (281-652-1638). Registered contractors apply online; homeowners file paper applications in person. | 6 |
| Pasadena | Harris County | The City of Pasadena Permit Department (713-475-5575) handles permits and inspections inside city limits. | 5 |
| Baytown | Harris and Chambers counties | The City of Baytown Building Services Division (281-420-6537), which takes applications online. Its residential checklist asks for plumbing and gas riser diagrams on permitted plans. | 4 |
| The Woodlands | Montgomery County | The Woodlands is an unincorporated township, not a city. The Township's Covenant Administration reviews many exterior projects for covenant compliance, which is separate from plumbing code. We could not confirm any local body that issues plumbing permits there, so ask your plumber what applies to your address. | 6 |
| Conroe | Montgomery County | The City of Conroe Building Inspections office (936-522-3610). Plumbing permits are issued separately from building permits, with their own fees. | 5 |
| Spring | Harris County | Most of Spring is unincorporated Harris County. The county's permit office requires permits for development in the unincorporated area (floodplain rules) and for septic systems; its published FAQ does not describe a plumbing permit program. Water and sewer usually come from a municipal utility district (MUD). | 7 |
| Cypress | Harris County | Cypress is unincorporated Harris County. The county's permit office handles development permits under its floodplain rules and septic permits; its published FAQ does not describe a plumbing permit program. Many homes get water and sewer from a municipal utility district (MUD). | 6 |