The Houston rules your customers are Googling
We build websites for Houston contractors, so we keep up with the local ground rules — the ones homeowners ask about before they hire. Straight, sourced explainers, not legal filler.
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Houston Flood-Zone Map and Elevation-Certificate Lookup
A FEMA map, flood-zone determination, elevation certificate, floodplain permit, and substantial-improvement review answer different questions. This guide shows the correct lookup order for a Houston-area address and the official record to use at each step.
Read the guide →Houston jurisdiction lookupWho Permits This Houston-Area Address? A Jurisdiction-First Guide
A Houston mailing address does not identify the permitting authority. This guide separates City of Houston limits, Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction, unincorporated Harris County, and other incorporated cities so a project starts at the correct office before trade permits or floodplain review are assigned.
Read the guide →Houston permit deskHouston Building Permits by Trade: A Practical 2026 Guide
Houston does not have one universal permit or one universal contractor license. The right path depends on the address, scope, trade, and floodplain status. This guide organizes the official starting points so an owner or contractor can identify the likely review path before bidding, buying equipment, or starting work.
Read the guide →Houston development rulesBuilding in Houston With No Zoning: Chapter 42, Deed Restrictions & Setbacks — a Contractor's Guide
Houston is the largest U.S. city without conventional zoning — voters rejected it in 1948, 1962, and 1993. But no zoning is not no rules. Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances controls platting, lot sizes, and building lines; recorded deed restrictions do much of the work zoning does elsewhere, and the City helps enforce them; and structural, electrical, plumbing, and driveway work still needs a permit. This guide walks through what actually governs a Houston build, so a bid reflects the real rulebook instead of the missing one.
Read the guide →Houston floodplain rulesHouston Floodplain & Detention Rules After Harvey: What Contractors Need to Know
After Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston and Harris County rewrote the rules for building in and near the floodplain. New and heavily remodeled structures now have to sit two feet above the 500-year flood level, rainfall standards were rebased on NOAA Atlas 14, and stormwater detention requirements roughly quadrupled for many sites. This guide walks through what changed, the numbers that matter, and what a contractor has to handle on permits, elevation certificates, and engineering.
Read the guide →Texas licensingTexas Contractor Licensing, Explained: Why There's No State GC License — and Which Trades Do Need One
Texas is one of the few big states with no statewide general contractor license. That surprises homeowners and trips up contractors moving in from license states like California or Florida. But "no GC license" doesn't mean "no rules": electricians, HVAC contractors, and plumbers all need state licenses, and the City of Houston still requires permits and registers trade contractors before they can pull them. Here's how the system actually works — and how to talk about it honestly on your website.
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