08/07/2026
Did you know you can walk into the Houston Permitting Center and walk out the SAME DAY with your permit?
A lot of homeowners β and even some contractors β don't know this option exists.
Since March 2025, the City of Houston has run the One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service. You bring paper plans to the Racetrack on the 1st floor, a reviewer looks at them in person, and if everything checks out you pay your fees and leave with the permit in hand. No ProjectDox. No waiting weeks on emailed comments.
π RESIDENTIAL β what qualifies:
β’ Additions UP TO 1,000 sq ft β with or without engineered structural plans
β’ Additions OVER 1,000 sq ft β with engineered structural plans
β’ Remodels
β’ Garage conversions
β’ Substantial remodels up to 75% demolition (with engineered structural plans)
β’ Foundation repairs, driveways and paving, flatwork
β’ Fire, storm, tree and vehicle damage
Read that second line again: a big addition is NOT disqualified. It just has to come with engineered structural plans.
π’ COMMERCIAL β a narrower list:
β’ Remodels up to 2,500 sq ft (no change of use, no conversions)
β’ Foundation repairs
β’ Fire, storm, tree and vehicle damage up to 50%
β’ Driveway approach repair or replacement (ROW work only)
β’ Existing paving and parking lots β 2" overlay and pothole repair only
β’ Repairs, re-roofs, roof overlays, interior demo of non-load-bearing walls
Heads up: commercial ADDITIONS are not on the walk-in list at all, and change of use, new Certificates of Occupancy, and suite expansions are excluded. Most restaurant and retail finish-outs won't qualify β those still go through the standard review.
β οΈ WHAT TRIPS PEOPLE UP:
β’ MondayβFriday, 8:30 AM β 3:30 PM only
β’ Paper plans ONLY β anything submitted electronically is excluded
β’ Two identical, complete, securely bound sets, printed to scale and easy to read
β’ Graph paper and lined paper will not be accepted
β’ The City does not offer copy services β show up ready
β’ Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing do NOT participate in walk-in review. If your scope pulls in MEP, it's out.
β’ New single-family homes, house raisings, and solar panels don't qualify
Show up with an incomplete or non-compliant set and you leave with correction comments instead of a permit β and you're making the drive again.
That's where we come in. LCJ Design produces permit-ready construction documents β architectural, MEP, structural coordination and site β drawn to clear review the first time.
Planning an addition or remodel in the Houston area? Let's get it drawn right.
π 346-336-2300
βοΈ [email protected]
