What's Required in Houston
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertop repair or replacement, and similar finish work need no permit (Residential Permitting 101)
- Drywall repair on non-fire-rated walls up to 100 sq ft aggregate is exempt
- Any repair, replacement, alteration or installation of plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment requires a permit (Top 10 sheet)
- Plumbing permits: registered master plumber (TSBPE) or the homeowner homestead permit; fixtures $34.24 for 1-3, $11.41 each after, $97.56 minimum
- Electrical permits: only TDLR-licensed master electricians registered with the city; outlets and fixtures $1.34 each, range receptacle $4.70, $91.06 minimum
- Mechanical permits: TDLR Class A or B licensed A/C contractor registered with the city; alterations 2% of valuation + $47.00, $91.06 minimum
- A floor-plan change is a remodel requiring a residential remodel permit with plan review; fee by square footage + 25% plan review
- Each permit carries the $33.56 administrative fee; permits valid 6 months
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Houston?
Only for the parts that touch pipes, wires, ducts or walls. Houston Public Works' Residential Permitting 101 guide lists painting, tarping, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, and counter tops repair and replacement and similar finish work as minor repair and maintenance that needs no building permit, along with drywall repair on non-fire-rated walls up to 100 square feet. The Building Code Enforcement Top 10 sheet then draws the other line: any work to repair, replace, alter or install mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment requires a permit, and the guide defines a remodel as an alteration or change to the floor plan of an existing building. So a new sink location, a new circuit, a relocated range hood duct or a removed wall each bring a permit, while new cabinets, counters, backsplash and floors do not.
Houston Kitchen Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets, countertops, backsplash tile, paint, flooring | None | Residential Permitting 101, minor repair exemption (1) |
| Drywall repair on a non-fire-rated wall, up to 100 sq ft | None | Residential Permitting 101, minor repair exemption (2) |
| Replacing or relocating the sink, dishwasher line or gas range connection | Plumbing permit by a registered master plumber, or the homeowner homestead permit | HPC Plumbing Fixture Permit; Homeowner's Plumbing Permit |
| New circuits, outlets, under-cabinet lighting, range receptacle | Electrical permit by a registered master electrician | HPC Electrical Outlet and Fixture permits |
| New or rerouted range hood or HVAC duct | Mechanical permit by a registered state-licensed A/C contractor | HPC Alteration of HVAC (HPWCODE 1019) |
| Removing or moving a wall, opening the kitchen to another room | Residential remodel permit with plan review | HPC Residential Remodel Permit (HPWCODE 1135) |
| Extending the kitchen into a new addition | Residential addition permit with plan review (10 business days) | HPC Residential Addition Permit (HPWCODE 1134) |
How Much Does a Kitchen Permit Cost in Houston?
Each permit stands on its own on the 2026 Building Code Enforcement fee schedule, and each carries the $33.56 administrative fee. Plumbing fixtures are $34.24 for one to three and $11.41 each after that, against a $97.56 plumbing minimum, so a sink and dishwasher come to $97.56 plus admin, about $131. Electrical outlets and fixtures are $1.34 each and a range receptacle $4.70, against a $91.06 electrical minimum, so a typical kitchen wiring permit is about $125. A mechanical alteration is 2 percent of the job cost plus $47.00 with the same $91.06 minimum. A remodel permit for a floor-plan change is priced on the residential square-footage table (Texas HB 852 bars valuation-based residential fees): for wood-frame construction, $47.00 base plus $5.36 per 8.17 square feet after the first 57.16, with the $91.06 minimum, plus 25 percent plan review and the admin fee, so a 250-square-foot kitchen remodel that moves a wall is about $253 for the building permit. All three trades plus the remodel permit therefore land around $500 for a full gut, before the contractors' own prices.
Who Pulls Which Permit in Houston
The building permit may be purchased by the owner, agent or contractor; Houston does not license general contractors. Trade permits are issued after the building permit and only to registered licensees: electrical permits solely to master electricians licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, plumbing permits to master plumbers licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and mechanical permits to air conditioning contractors holding a TDLR Class A or B license, each registered with the city. Two homeowner exceptions exist: a homeowner who owns, occupies and has homesteaded the property may pull a homeowner's plumbing permit ($86.39 plus admin, $116.11 total) for work they do themselves, and the guide notes that a homeowner may in some instances obtain the mechanical permit. There is no homeowner electrical permit.
Plans and Inspections
A remodel permit is filed in iPermits with a floor plan of the existing building showing the affected area in detail, wall sections to establish bearing and non-bearing walls, materials, and energy code compliance (prescriptive or a REScheck report), plus the Declaration in Support signed by the owner and validated against HCAD records. Processing is listed at 1 to 15 business days. Inspections are completed the next business day after the request, and permits are valid for six months.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Houston
Sort the scope
Finish work (cabinets, counters, tile, paint, floors): no permit. Plumbing, electrical, duct and wall changes: permits.
Pull the building permit first if walls move
Residential remodel permit in iPermits with floor plan, wall sections and energy compliance; owner, agent or contractor may apply. Trade permits are issued after it.
Plumbing
Registered master plumber pulls the fixture permit ($97.56 minimum + $33.56 admin), or the homeowner homestead permit ($116.11 total) for DIY work.
Electrical and mechanical
Master electrician pulls the electrical permit ($91.06 minimum + admin); a licensed A/C contractor pulls the mechanical permit for duct changes.
Inspections
Each trade and the building permit are inspected; requests are completed the next business day. Keep permits and plans on site.