Concrete Permits and HOA Rules Around Houston: Who Approves What

Quick answer

Who approves a Houston-area concrete project depends on where you live. Inside the City of Houston, Houston Public Works permits driveways and sidewalks. In unincorporated Harris County, the county engineer handles driveways and culverts. Suburbs like Katy and League City run their own permits, and HOAs or The Woodlands Township often require approval too. Texas has no statewide concrete contractor license.

Last updated October 22, 2026

Greater Houston is a patchwork. A driveway on one side of a street may be permitted by a city and the house across the road by the county, and almost every subdivision has deed restrictions or an HOA with its own approval process. Getting the approvals sorted before the pour saves delays, fines and the expensive outcome of being told to tear out new concrete. This guide explains who usually approves what.

Step one: city or county?

Start by finding out whether your property is inside a city's limits. Many addresses that say Katy, Cypress, Spring or Humble are actually in unincorporated Harris, Fort Bend, Waller or Montgomery county, served by MUDs rather than a city. Your property tax statement or county appraisal district record usually shows which taxing entities you fall under. That answer decides which office issues driveway and right-of-way permits.

Inside the City of Houston

Houston Public Works issues a residential driveway, sidewalk or curb and gutter permit through the Houston Permitting Center. According to the city, it covers building a new driveway or sidewalk, replacing an existing driveway, sidewalk or curb and gutter, and extending a driveway. The application calls for dimensioned site plans and a copy of your survey, and plans have to follow the traffic-approved site plan. Inspections are required before and after the concrete is placed, and on streets with open ditches the culvert has to be in before inspection. Fees and processing times are listed by the city and can change, so check the current details before you apply.

Houston is known for not having traditional zoning, but that doesn't mean anything goes. Many neighborhoods have deed restrictions that control things like driveway placement and materials, and those restrictions can be enforced. Check yours before you design a new driveway or parking pad.

Unincorporated Harris County

Outside city limits in Harris County, which includes much of Cypress and Spring, the Harris County Office of the County Engineer reviews driveway and culvert work in county right-of-way. Its minor site development application covers small improvements to developed sites and new driveway permits, with a site plan showing property lines, existing and proposed driveways and culverts, and distances to the nearest property lines. Inspections are required, and the county says driveway permits are valid for six months. Lots in the floodplain don't qualify for that minor review, so expect more steps there. County precincts may also have their own rules for culverts; Precinct 2, for example, notes that the Permits Division sets the required culvert pipe size and material.

Suburban cities

Each city runs its own process, and the rules differ:

Katy: the city's Permit and Building Services division lists sidewalks, driveways and patios among work that needs a permit, along with storage buildings and pools, and its forms include a flatwork and culvert permit application. The city has adopted the 2021 International Building Codes.
Sugar Land: permits run through the city's Permits and Inspections office, which enforces the 2021 International Codes.
Pearland: the city asks contractors to provide a certificate of insurance naming the City of Pearland before permits are issued.
League City: the building department lists a Driveway/Flatwork permit and a separate Foundation Repair permit in its fee schedule.

Other cities in the region have their own versions. If you're not sure, call the city's permit office with your address and a short description of the work.

The Woodlands Township

The Woodlands is unincorporated, but it isn't a free-for-all. The Woodlands Township administers detailed covenants, and each village has an elected Residential Design Review Committee that reviews modifications. The township's Residential Development Standards include rules that apply directly to concrete:

Driveways must be concrete or other masonry; asphalt isn't permitted.
Driveway extensions and other added paved areas must be applied for and approved before installation.
For two-car garages, driveway width is limited, and contrasting borders such as stained or patterned concrete can't exceed 18 inches in width.
Front walkways are generally limited to four feet wide.
Patios and paving can't extend into easements, and total hard-surface area is capped by lot.
Improvements in the street right-of-way also need approval from Montgomery County or Harris County; township approval doesn't count as county approval.

Standards are updated from time to time, so read the current version or call the township before you get quotes.

HOAs and deed restrictions everywhere else

Most master-planned communities in Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, Pearland and League City have an architectural review process. Typical rules cover driveway width and extensions, materials and colors, patio placement relative to easements, and how much of a lot can be paved. Submit plans early, get approval in writing, and give a copy to your contractor. Recent changes in Texas law have affected how some HOAs handle application deadlines, so ask your association about current timelines.

Does Texas license concrete contractors?

No. Texas doesn't issue a statewide license for general contractors or concrete contractors. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work is licensed by the state, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation oversees a number of trades. For concrete, cities and counties do the regulating through permits, inspections and, in some places, contractor registration or insurance requirements. That puts more weight on your own checks: ask for a certificate of insurance, references, and photos or addresses of similar work, and get the scope in writing.

Call before you dig

Texas 811 coordinates utility locates before excavation. Driveway tear-outs, footings, post holes and drainage trenches all qualify. Your contractor will usually make the request, but confirm it, and remember that private lines such as sprinklers and yard lighting aren't marked by utilities.

Who pulls the permit?

Many contractors handle permits as part of the job, and that's often easiest. Still, the property owner is usually the one who answers for unpermitted work later, for example when selling the house. Ask who will apply, whether fees are in the quote, and who schedules inspections. Keep copies of approved permits and HOA letters with your home records.

A quick checklist

Confirm whether you're in a city or unincorporated county.
Read your HOA, township or deed restriction rules.
Find your survey and note easements.
Ask each contractor how they handle permits, culverts and inspections.
Get HOA approval in writing before the pour is scheduled.
Confirm a Texas 811 locate request before digging.

For project details, see our pages on concrete driveways and sidewalks and walkways. When you're ready, request a concrete contractor and mention your community or HOA so the contractor can plan around its rules.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I'm in the City of Houston?

Many addresses with a Houston mailing address are outside city limits. Your property tax statement or appraisal district record shows your taxing entities, or you can ask the Houston Permitting Center with your address.

Do I need HOA approval just to widen my driveway?

In most master-planned communities, yes. The Woodlands' standards, for example, require driveway extensions to be applied for and approved before installation. Check your association's rules and get approval in writing first.

Who issues driveway permits in Cypress or Spring?

Most of Cypress and much of Spring are unincorporated Harris County, where the Harris County Office of the County Engineer handles driveway and culvert permits. Parts of Spring are in Montgomery County, which has its own process.

Sources and further reading

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