Houston, Texas
Architectural drafting and permit drawings for the Houston area.
CADTRI provides remote architectural drafting and permit support for homeowners, contractors, and architects working in Houston and Harris County, drafted to the City of Houston's local code amendments and floodplain requirements.
Serving Houston
A city without zoning, and a floodplain code that matters.
Houston's lack of traditional zoning and its post-Harvey floodplain rules both shape what a permit-ready drawing set needs to show. We confirm both before drafting begins.
Jurisdiction
City of Houston / Harris County
Land Use
No Traditional Zoning
Floodplain
Chapter 19 Elevation Rules
Local Code and Jurisdiction
Houston permitting at a glance.
No zoning code doesn't mean no land use review, it means a different one. Floodplain designation, meanwhile, can change a project's foundation design entirely.
Houston / Harris County Permitting Factors
| Factor | What Applies in Houston |
|---|---|
| Governing Building Code | Texas has no statewide building code. The City of Houston adopts International codes with local amendments that apply within city limits. |
| Land Use Review | Houston is the largest U.S. city without traditional zoning. Land use is controlled through deed restrictions and other private and municipal tools rather than a zoning code, which changes how a project's use is reviewed. |
| Reviewing Department | Houston Permitting Center (City of Houston Public Works) within city limits; Harris County Permits Office for unincorporated areas. |
| Floodplain Requirements | Chapter 19 of the Houston code requires new construction and substantial improvements in flood-prone areas to be elevated above base flood elevation, with additional freeboard adopted after Hurricane Harvey. |
For accessory dwelling unit rules across Texas cities, read ADU permits in Texas: the 2026 city-by-city guide.
Services for Houston Projects
The drawing packages we deliver most in Houston.
From a commercial tenant improvement near downtown to a backyard pool permit in the suburbs, these are the services requested most across the Houston area.
Areas We Serve
Houston and the surrounding area.
Remote drafting means the same jurisdiction-specific process applies whether your project is inside the Loop or out in Sugar Land.
How We Work
Remote drafting, floodplain-aware drawings.
We don't have a Houston storefront. What we have is a process built around getting the land use review and flood zone right before a single line is drawn.
Project Intake and Jurisdiction Confirmation
We confirm whether your property falls under City of Houston or Harris County review, and whether deed restrictions or floodplain designation affect the project's scope.
Drafting to Houston's Local Amendments
Drawings are produced to the current code edition adopted by the City of Houston, including floodplain elevation requirements where they apply.
Floodplain and Site Coordination
For properties in a designated flood zone, finished floor elevation and foundation design are coordinated against Chapter 19 requirements before the set is finalized.
Delivery and Plan Check Support
Completed drawings are delivered ready for submission, and we remain available to respond to plan check correction comments through approval.
Frequently Asked
Houston permitting, explained.
- Does CADTRI have a physical office in Houston?
- No. CADTRI is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and delivers architectural drafting and permit support remotely to clients throughout the Houston area. Every project still starts with jurisdiction-specific research into City of Houston or Harris County requirements.
- Is Houston zoned?
- No. Houston is the largest U.S. city without traditional zoning. Land use is controlled through deed restrictions and other municipal tools instead, which means a project's allowed use is checked differently than in most other major cities.
- What floodplain requirements apply in Houston?
- Chapter 19 of the Houston code requires new construction and substantial improvements in flood-prone areas to be elevated above base flood elevation, with additional freeboard requirements adopted after Hurricane Harvey. We confirm flood zone status before drafting begins.
- Which department reviews my permit in Houston?
- The Houston Permitting Center, part of City of Houston Public Works, reviews projects within city limits. Projects in unincorporated Harris County go through the Harris County Permits Office instead.
- Are ADUs permitted in Houston?
- Yes. Houston is one of the more permissive Texas cities for accessory dwelling units, in contrast to cities like Dallas, which requires zoning overlays, or San Antonio, which mandates owner-occupancy.
- Does Houston require hurricane wind-load documentation like Florida?
- Houston is hurricane-prone as a Gulf Coast city, but it is not subject to Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone impact-glazing mandates. Wind design follows standard ASCE 7 and IBC engineering requirements instead.
From the Blog
Go deeper on Texas permitting.
ADU Permits in Texas: The 2026 City-by-City Guide
Austin and Houston are permissive. Dallas requires overlays. San Antonio mandates owner-occupancy.
Read ArticleADU Permit Rules in Texas by City
Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio compared for accessory dwelling unit requirements.
Read ArticleGarage Conversion Permits in Florida and Texas
Requirements, cost, and timeline for converting a garage into livable space.
Read Article