Hiring local businesses in Houston

Building permits come from the City of Houston's Houston Permitting Center. Applications go in person, by email or through the iPermits portal, and plans are uploaded through ProjectDox once a project number is assigned. The city says a new system, HouPermits, is being built to replace iPermits.

Trade work has an extra layer. Master plumbers and licensed electrical contractors must register their state licenses with the city before they can pull permits, and a first-time plumbing registration has to be done in person. Ask any plumber or electrician for the Houston registration as well as the state license.

Two more checks are specific to Houston. Any construction in the 500-year floodplain, 100-year floodplain or floodway needs a floodplain development permit from the city's Floodplain Management Office under Chapter 19 of the City Code. And the tree ordinance protects street right-of-way trees and trees of 20 inches or more in diameter in the building setback; removing one takes written notice to Planning 20 days ahead, and right-of-way trees need Parks Department permission.

Without zoning, many neighborhoods rely on deed restrictions, and the City Legal Department can sue to enforce certain ones, such as use, setbacks and some fences that need a building permit. The deed restriction hotline is 832-393-6333.

CenterPoint Energy owns the poles and wires, and Houston homes in the deregulated market choose their own retail electric provider on PowerToChoose. Houston Public Works supplies water to city customers, though some areas inside the city are served by utility districts, so check who bills you before you call about a water line.

Houston rescinded Stage One of its drought plan effective May 29, 2024, and as of October 2026 the city listed no stage in effect. If restrictions return, single-family homes water on two set days by address, so check the Current Watering Restrictions page from Houston Public Works before a pool fill or a large wash job.

Harris County runs hurricane evacuation by ZIP code, and the season runs June 1 to November 30. The county's Mosquito and Vector Control Division (713-440-4800) treats between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. Property is appraised by the Harris Central Appraisal District, which takes protests online through iFile; the usual Texas deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice, whichever is later.

City heavy trash pickup comes every other month, but debris from contractors, including tree removal and roofing, isn't collected. Put haul-away in the contract. The Census Bureau estimates Houston's population at 2,397,315 as of July 1, 2025.

Houston home repair and trades

• Plumbers in Houston: city registration and plumbing permits
• Electricians in Houston: the 2026 electrical code for new permits
• AC repair in Houston: TDLR licenses and retail power plans
• Roofing companies in Houston: hail claims and the deductible law
• Pest control in Houston: Formosan termites and mosquitoes

Houston yard, pool and exterior work

• Tree service in Houston: protected trees and debris haul-away
• Pool service in Houston
• Pressure washing in Houston
• Cleaning services in Houston
• Movers in Houston

Houston professionals and fitness

• Personal injury lawyers in Houston
• Dentists in Houston
• Realtors in Houston
• Gyms in Houston

The Clear Lake neighborhood has its own page. For nearby cities, see Pasadena and Pearland, or the wider Houston and Gulf Coast region.