Patio Permit in Harris County, Texas
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before pouring or paving a patio anywhere in unincorporated Harris County.
Issued byHarris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Harris County requires a permit for all "development" in its unincorporated area, and its definition of development names paving explicitly; there is no size exemption for paving. A paved (for example concrete) patio is therefore a residential development permit item from the Office of the County Engineer, inside or outside the floodplain. A covered patio is also a structure, which the 150 sq ft accessory-structure exclusion may reach outside A and V flood zones.
Who is pulling this permit?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before pouring or paving a patio anywhere in unincorporated Harris County.
What a patio permit costs in Harris County
How Harris County compares in Texas
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington | It depends | height of an uncovered patio above grade at any point |
| Corpus Christi | It depends | Every attached patio cover or carport needs a permit regardless of size; a detached patio cover or carport needs one once it is larger than 200 square feet. |
| Dallas | It depends | detached patio covers of 200 sq ft or less on single-family or duplex premises are exempt; attached patio covers and those over 200 sq ft require a permit |
| El Paso | It depends | Concrete work more than 30 inches above grade, or concrete that will support a structure, requires a permit; a detached patio cover is permitted under the city's porches and canopies entry. |
| Fort Worth | It depends | height of the patio platform or walk above grade; a patio cover is a separate accessory structure regardless of the slab height |
| Harris Countythis page | Permit required | Any size |
| Houston | It depends | patio covers and enclosed patios require a permit; unroofed ground-level concrete slabs generally do not; impervious cover limits may trigger additional review |
How to apply in Harris County
In Harris County, applying for a patio permit means submitting a site plan and framing plans for a roofed patio cover, since a cover is treated as its own permitted structure regardless of size. A plain concrete or paver patio slab at or near grade is, by contrast, often exempt from that same building permit requirement.
What most patio permit applications include:
- Filing a permit application with the local building department, which only the property owner or an authorized agent may sign, since a patio cover is treated as its own permitted structure regardless of size (IRC R105.1).
- For Harris County, a scaled site plan showing the new patio cover's size and location relative to the house and other existing structures, with dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is approved (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents such as a framing plan and elevation, showing rafter or beam sizes and spacing, the distance between supporting posts, and the method of attachment to the house, drawn with enough clarity for the building official to confirm the work will conform to the code (IRC R106.1).
- For the roof structure itself, plans showing compliance with the patio cover appendix's structural limits, such as adequate footing sizes for the applied post loads, since a shallow slab on grade may substitute for a deeper footing only in limited cases up to about 750 pounds of load per post (IRC Appendix AH, Section AH105.2).
- By contrast, an at grade concrete or paver patio that is not attached to the dwelling and stays within the code's small flatwork thresholds, similar to a sidewalk, driveway, or low deck under 200 square feet and 30 inches high, commonly needs no building permit at all, so none of the plan review steps above apply (IRC R105.2).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Sections R105 and R106, with Appendix AH Patio Covers (named Appendix H in the 2012, 2015, and 2018 editions). Source. Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department) sets the exact checklist for Harris County.
Where to apply in Harris County:
Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department)
- 1111 Fannin St., 1st Floor Lobby, Houston, TX 77002
- Phone: (713) 274-3900
- Email: Residential@harriscountytx.gov
Patio Permit in Harris County compared with nearby Texas localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Texas schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Permit required | Any size | ...(paving, storage sheds, pools, Additions and remodels, etc.)": Permit Fee... | |
| Arlington | It depends | height of an uncovered patio above grade at any point | ...Residential Construction: "Patio Cover, Screened Porch, Gazebo & Decks*... | |
| Austin | It depends | at-grade sidewalks, driveways, and concrete flatwork outside the public right-of-way are exempt; a covered patio or attached patio cover requires a residential building permit | Not published | |
| Corpus Christi | It depends | Every attached patio cover or carport needs a permit regardless of size; a detached patio cover or carport needs one once it is larger than 200 square feet. | ...Residential Construction - New, Remodels, and Additions: Building Permit $0.461 per... | |
| Dallas | It depends | detached patio covers of 200 sq ft or less on single-family or duplex premises are exempt; attached patio covers and those over 200 sq ft require a permit | ...Repairs schedule (Table B-I), value of work times 0.009652 times 1.33 with a $175... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Harris County, a permitted patio cover follows the same footing, frame, and final inspection sequence used for any small accessory structure, since the posts and roof framing have to be checked before they are covered and again once the work is done. An at grade patio slab that qualifies as exempt flatwork usually needs no building inspection at all, because inspections only attach to work that required a permit in the first place.
- In Harris County: a footing inspection once the excavation, forms, and any reinforcing steel are in place but before concrete is poured, confirming the posts supporting a patio cover will bear on adequate footings (IRC R109.1.1).
- In Harris County: a frame inspection after the rafters, beams, posts, and any required rough in work are in place but before the roof sheathing or covering material conceals them, since a solid patio cover roof cannot be signed off once it is covered without this check (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Harris County: a final inspection once all permitted work, including roofing and post anchorage, is complete, which the code requires before the structure may be used (IRC R109.1.6).
- In Harris County: an at grade concrete or paver patio that qualifies as exempt flatwork under the permit rules is not subject to any of these inspection stages, since the inspection sequence only attaches to work that required a permit in the first place (IRC R105.2).
- In Harris County: each inspection has to be requested by the permit holder rather than happening automatically, and the approved plans and permit card need to be on site and available when the inspector arrives (IRC R109.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Harris County permit portal or by phone at (713) 274-3900.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 (Inspections). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Patio Permit checklist for Harris County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before pouring or paving a patio anywhere in unincorporated Harris County.
- Budget the fee. OCE Permits Fee Schedule (effective 10/01/2025), Residential Development, "Accessory Structures - All Other Structures (paving, storage sheds, pools, Additions and remodels, etc.)": Permit Fee $35.00; Inspection Fee $0.00 outside the SFHA or $73.00 inside the SFHA; Total Fees $35.00 outside or $108.00 inside the SFHA. Note 4: "All permit applications submitted to abate violation(s) shall be subject to a double fee.". Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Harris County, applying for a patio permit means submitting a site plan and framing plans for a roofed patio cover, since a cover is treated as its own permitted structure regardless of size. A plain concrete or paver patio slab at or near grade is, by contrast, often exempt from that same building permit requirement. Start at the Harris County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department). Phone: (713) 274-3900. Address: 1111 Fannin St., 1st Floor Lobby, Houston, TX 77002.
- Plan for inspections. In Harris County, a permitted patio cover follows the same footing, frame, and final inspection sequence used for any small accessory structure, since the posts and roof framing have to be checked before they are covered and again once the work is done. An at grade patio slab that qualifies as exempt flatwork usually needs no building inspection at all, because inspections only attach to work that required a permit in the first place.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a patio permit in Harris County?
- Harris County requires a permit for all "development" in its unincorporated area, and its definition of development names paving explicitly; there is no size exemption for paving. A paved (for example concrete) patio is therefore a residential development permit item from the Office of the County Engineer, inside or outside the floodplain. A covered patio is also a structure, which the 150 sq ft accessory-structure exclusion may reach outside A and V flood zones. Always confirm with the Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department) before starting.
- How much does a patio permit cost in Harris County?
- OCE Permits Fee Schedule (effective 10/01/2025), Residential Development, "Accessory Structures - All Other Structures (paving, storage sheds, pools, Additions and remodels, etc.)": Permit Fee $35.00; Inspection Fee $0.00 outside the SFHA or $73.00 inside the SFHA; Total Fees $35.00 outside or $108.00 inside the SFHA. Note 4: "All permit applications submitted to abate violation(s) shall be subject to a double fee.". See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a patio permit in Harris County?
- You can apply through the Harris County permit portal or contact the Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a patio permit themselves in Harris County?
- Under Texas law (Tex. Occupations Code 1305.003(a)(6), 1301.051; Tex. Local Government Code 233.157(c)): Texas licenses individual construction trades rather than general contractors, so no state statute requires a license to act as your own general contractor on your own house. For electrical work, the state licensing law does not apply to work performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in it, but only where no municipal ordinance specifically regulates that work, so city electrical licensing and permit rules still control inside city limits (Occupations Code 1305.003(a)(6)). For plumbing, a property owner does not need a state license to perform plumbing in the owner's homestead (Occupations Code 1301.051). In opt-in counties' unincorporated areas, an individual who builds their own house or acts as their own contractor is exempt from the Class C misdemeanor penalty for inspection notice failures if they intend to use the home as their primary residence (Local Government Code 233.157(c)). None of these exemptions waive local permit or inspection requirements where they apply. Confirm how Harris County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Harris County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
OCE Permits Fee Schedule (effective 10/01/2025), Residential Development, "Accessory Structures - All Other Structures (paving, storage sheds, pools, Additions and remodels, etc.)": Permit Fee $35.00, for every permit type below. The fee column shows what differs by project.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence Permit | It depends | location of the fence inside or outside the special flood hazard area (floodplain); no height or length trigger is published | Inspection Fee $0.00 outside the SFHA or $73.00 inside the SFHA |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Any size | Inspection Fee $0.00 outside the SFHA or $73.00 inside the SFHA |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a residential accessory building or structure; the size exclusion does not apply in A or V flood zones | Inspection Fee $0.00 outside the SFHA or $73.00 inside the SFHA |
Patio Permit in other Texas localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Harris County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this patio permit page for Harris County was verified. 2 official sources: oce.harriscountytx.gov, oce.harriscountytx.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Harris County Office of the County Engineer, Permits Division (formerly the Harris County Engineering Department). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page