How to Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy (City of Houston)

Pretty much any time that a commercial building or an individual lease space is going to hold a new occupant, or if changes to the existing occupancy classification are made, a Certificate of Occupancy first has to be obtained.  You also need to be set up with power for the proposed use of the existing building.

All of the information in this article is also available in greater detail at https://www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/hpwcode1106#apply-online

Application

Things You'll Need or Might Need:

• Application for Occupancy Compliance Inspection
  • Form 1045A
    • For existing buildings or lease spaces
  • Form 1045B
    • For Live Work units and Residential Facilities
• Lease agreement(s)
• For apartments, condos, townhouses:
  • Current site map of all buildings
  • Smoke alarm letter

How to Apply

1.   Submit your completed Application for Occupancy Compliance Inspection (either Form 1045A or 1045B) via email to Occupancy.inspections[at]houstontx.gov
2.   When your application is received and processed, you'll get an email with a link and instructions as to how to pay online via iPermits.
3.   Make your payment. Once confirmed, an email with inspection date, QR code, and guidelines will be sent to your email.

Inspection

Things You'll Need or Might Need:

• You need to be set up with power for the proposed use of the existing building by the scheduled inspection date.
• Job card/ receipt on-site at the premises
• Approved ladder of adequate height
• Access to all areas of the space, including above-ceiling spaces, attics, and roofs with equipment.

How to Schedule

1.   Schedule online
   • Have your project number and scheduling PIN ON-HAND when you do this.
2.   Schedule by phone
   • Re-inspection or final inspections can be scheduled by phone at 832.394.8880
   • The inspection fee must be paid prior to inspection
3. Schedule via email
   • You can schedule the inspection via email at Occupancy.inspections[at]houstontx.gov

Your initial payment must be made the day that the application gets processed.  Otherwise, the inspection will be cancelled.

If you schedule and inspection and fail to show up or there is no one else there to meet with the inspector, the inspection will not happen and you'll have to pay a re-inspection fee.

This article has been shared by Direct Service, Construction and Design to specifically accommodate our intended clientele.  The intent of sharing this information is to better inform the public of these general topics, expand knowledge and safety for all and provide crucial information in regard to their MEP and building systems and/or assets. It is NOT our recommendation that any article recommendations or how-to scenarios be attempted by anyone other than a qualified or competent person.