Houston Construction and Repair Guide from BPC Development

Planning a project in Houston? This page covers what is local about building here: who issues your permit, what the ground and drainage are like, how storms affect the work, and which BPC Development services fit Houston homes and businesses. BPC Development LLC is a general contractor serving Greater Houston, TX. Call or text (281) 301-4737.

Who issues permits in Houston

Inside Houston city limits, building permits, plan review and inspections run through the Houston Permitting Center. Houston is known for having no traditional zoning code, so deed restrictions and civic-club rules often decide what you can build on a lot, and those are worth reading before a design is drawn.

Before you sign a contract, confirm two things: whether your address is inside city limits, and whether an HOA, MUD or community association has its own approval step. A permit from the Houston Permitting Center does not replace HOA approval, and HOA approval does not replace a permit. For a deeper walkthrough of permit steps, see our Houston remodel permit guide.

Soil under Houston homes

Most of the Houston region, Harris County included, sits on expansive clay that swells after rain and shrinks in drought. That cycle is what cracks slabs, tilts driveways and racks door frames. Soil changes from lot to lot, so look up your parcel in the USDA Web Soil Survey for its mapped soil type and shrink-swell rating before designing a slab, patio or addition. Our article on Houston clay soil and foundations lists the warning signs.

Houston drainage and flood risk

Buffalo Bayou, Brays Bayou, White Oak Bayou, Sims Bayou and Greens Bayou all drain different parts of the city, which is why two homes a few miles apart can have very different flood exposure. The official flood map for any Houston address is on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and the Harris County Flood Control District publishes local rules and projects. If your lot is in a mapped floodplain, expect elevation and fill questions on any addition or new slab.

Houston storm prep

Wind and hail are a yearly reality across Harris County. Follow the NWS Houston/Galveston office for official alerts. Before the season, clear gutters, trim limbs over the roof, and fix loose flashing; after a storm, document everything before repairs start. If you are weighing a fix against a new roof, read roof repair vs replacement.

What Houston property owners ask us to build and fix

Houston housing stock runs from older pier-and-beam bungalows in close-in neighborhoods to newer slab-on-grade tract homes farther out. Older homes tend to need leveling, rot repair and updated framing before a remodel; newer ones more often call for kitchen updates, driveway replacement and roof work after storms. Commercial work inside the city leans toward tenant buildouts, second-generation restaurant and retail spaces, and office refreshes.

Because Houston is so large, the same project can look different from one side of town to the other: an inner-loop bungalow may need sill-plate and pier work before a kitchen goes in, while a suburban slab home may just need cabinets and counters. Commercial owners also need to plan for city plan review on buildouts, which our buildout permit guide explains. For landlords and investors, Houston's rental stock means steady make-ready and turn work: paint, flooring, fixtures and small repairs done between tenants so units do not sit empty.

Services that fit Houston best:

• Commercial buildouts. Tenant improvements for office, retail and medical space, from demo through finishes, coordinated with the landlord's work letter. See our tenant improvement guide.
• Foundation repair. Slab and pier-and-beam leveling and structural work. We look at cracks, door fit, floor slope and drainage on site, then explain whether it is cosmetic or structural. See what drives foundation repair cost.
• Kitchen renovations. Cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting and layout changes. Moving plumbing, gas or walls usually triggers a permit, so we plan that up front. Our kitchen remodel planning guide covers the decisions in order.
• Roof repair. Leaks, missing or creased shingles, flashing failures and storm damage. We document damage with photos so you have a record for any claim conversation.

BPC also handles home renovations, home remodeling, roof installation, foundation pouring, driveway installation, deck and patio construction, and general contracting for multi-trade jobs. See a related guide: houston remodel permit guide.

Before you call: a Houston checklist

• Confirm on the appraisal district record whether the parcel is inside Houston city limits or unincorporated.
• Note your flood zone and any elevation certificate.
• Read HOA or deed restrictions for exterior work.
• Photograph cracks, leaks, ponding water or storm damage.

Rental, retail or office owners should add lease and tenant dates, because the permit path can drive the schedule more than the build does.

Before excavation anywhere in Houston, including post holes for a patio cover, the underground utilities need to be marked through Texas811. It is a simple request, it is free to the person digging, and it avoids cutting a line that serves the whole street.

Working with BPC on a Houston job

We start with a free visit to the property, confirm who permits the work, and put the scope in writing. Where a permit is needed, the schedule is built around the inspections. The job ends with a walkthrough together.

Houston FAQ

Who issues my permit if I live in Houston?

The Houston Permitting Center handles building permits for addresses inside the city limits. If your address is in an unincorporated pocket with a Houston mailing address, the county may be the permitting authority instead, so confirm your jurisdiction first.

Does Houston really have no zoning?

Houston does not use a traditional land-use zoning map, but deed restrictions, setback rules and the building code still apply. Ask us to read the restrictions with you before you pick a design.

Do you give prices on this page?

No. Every property is different, so pricing comes after a free on-site estimate.

What area do you serve?

BPC Development serves Greater Houston, TX, including Houston. Call or text (281) 301-4737.

Planning a project in Houston?

BPC Development serves Houston and the rest of Greater Houston, TX. Call or text (281) 301-4737 to set up a free on-site estimate.