Building Permits in Harris County, Texas

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Verified August 2026

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Adopted Construction Codes

These are the state-level code editions for Texas. They apply in Harris Countyunless a verified local adoption or amendment is noted — in local-adoption states, confirm the city or county's own code editions with the building department.

Code	Edition	Adoption
IBC — International Building Code	2012 IBC	Tex. Loc. Gov't Code s 214.216 (Subchapter G, Building and Rehabilitation Codes); added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 120, s 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 389 (S.B. 1458), s 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; freeze date moved to May 1, 2012 by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 315 (H.B. 738), eff. Jan. 1, 2022. Industrialized buildings: 16 TAC s 70.101 (TDLR), 2021 IBC, eff. 2024-07-01. · source ↗
IECC — International Energy Conservation Code	2015 IECC	34 Tex. Admin. Code s 19.53(a) (State Energy Conservation Office); statutory authority Tex. Health & Safety Code s 388.003 (Texas Building Energy Performance Standards). Single-family counterpart: 2015 IRC ch. 11, adopted by SECO eff. 2016-09-01 under the same statute. Update authority: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S. (S.B. 783), eff. 2025-09-01. · source ↗
IFC —	2003 IFC (county-option floor; NO statewide adoption)	Tex. Loc. Gov't Code s 233.062(c)(1)(A) (Subchapter C, Fire Code in Unincorporated Area), county-option adoption authorized by s 233.061(a); code reference and later-edition power added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 331 (S.B. 736), s 2, eff. June 17, 2005. State-level counterpart (NFPA, not IFC): Tex. Gov't Code ss 417.008, 417.0081 and 28 TAC s 34.301 et seq., 2021 NFPA 101 and NFPA 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. · source ↗
IMC — International Mechanical Code	2021 IMC	16 TAC s70.101 (TDLR Industrialized Housing and Buildings, Mandatory Building Codes), Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1202; codes adopted effective 2024-07-01. For contrast, Tex. Loc. Gov't Code ch. 214 subch. H names no mechanical code. · source ↗
IPC — International Plumbing Code	2018 IPC	22 Tex. Admin. Code s 367.2(a)(2) (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Code Requirements), adopted under Tex. Occ. Code s 1301.255(a)-(b) (Plumbing License Law); rule most recently adopted 43 TexReg 5531 (Aug. 24, 2018), eff. Aug. 29, 2018, amended through 48 TexReg 684, eff. Feb. 16, 2023. · source ↗
IRC — International Residential Code	2012 IRC	Tex. Loc. Gov't Code s 214.212 (Subchapter G, Building and Rehabilitation Codes); added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 120, s 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; amended by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 315 (H.B. 738), s 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022. County opt-in: Tex. Loc. Gov't Code s 233.153 (Subchapter F), added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1318 (H.B. 2833), s 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2009, amended by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 526 (H.B. 3680), s 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2025. Industrialized housing: 16 TAC s 70.101 (TDLR), 2021 IRC, eff. 2024-07-01. · source ↗
NEC — National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)	2026 NEC	16 Tex. Admin. Code s 73.100 (TDLR, Electricians -- Technical Requirements), as amended effective September 1, 2026. CODIFIED TEXT, VERBATIM, subsection (a): "Except as provided in subsection (b), effective September 1, 2026, the department adopts the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) as approved by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. on September 9, 2025." Subsection (b), VERBATIM: "Pertaining to NEC Section 210.8, Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Personnel, subsection (F), Outdoor Outlets: the department adopts Exception No. 2, relating to the exemption of listed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, without expiration." ADOPTING INSTRUMENT: adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation July 28, 2026; filed with the Office of the Secretary of State August 12, 2026; TRD-202603409; published in the Texas Register, 51 TexReg, issue of August 28, 2026, Adopted Rules, Title 16 Economic Regulation; effective September 1, 2026. Written and oral public comments received from 42 interested persons. STATUTORY AUTHORITY, as printed in the adopted rule: Tex. Occ. Code ch. 51, specifically s 51.201 and s 51.203; and Tex. Occ. Code ch. 1305, specifically s 1305.101 and s 1305.102(c). MUNICIPAL STATUTORY DEFAULT IS A DIFFERENT AND MUCH OLDER INSTRUMENT AND MUST NOT BE CONFLATED WITH THIS ONE: Tex. Loc. Gov't Code s 214.214 binds municipalities to the NEC "as it existed on May 1, 2001". · source ↗

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Published fee amounts by permit type, how Harris County calculates them, plan review and surcharges — quoted from the official fee schedule.

Permit checklists by project →

Deck, fence, shed, water heater and more — whether Harris County requires a permit, what to submit, which inspections it publishes, and what it charges. Every line quoted from a Harris County document.