Public Works /Building in Deer Park

Building a house in the City of Deer Park does not have to be complicated. Downloadable permit forms are available online in our E-Government area. A building permit form can also be obtained from the Public Works Department located in City Hall.  Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am  to 5:00 pm. To obtain a permit one complete set of plans along with a site plan, electrical load analysis and electrical one-line drawing of the electrical service will be required to be submitted for review.  After approval you will be provided with an approved set of plans. After the building permit is issued, permits for electrical and plumbing systems of a new dwelling may be issued. Inspections are required on all permits issued by the Public Works Dept.  After all inspections have been completed and finalized, the Public Works Department will call Entex to set your gas meter so that the new dwelling may be occupied. For further information on building a house, please call the Public Works Dept. at 281-478-7270.

Building Permits
Building permits are required to erect, enlarge, alter, remove, demolish, or repair a structure in the City of Deer Park.  This includes everything from fences and garages to commercial construction, and additions.  Electrical permits are required for the installation of new electrical service equipment, existing service relocations, service increases, as well as fixed appliances and equipment connections. Plumbing permits are required for all plumbing work including water service, drains, water mains, sewage disposal systems, and related fixtures and appliances. Building permit fees are based upon valuation of the work to the cost of construction.  The permit fee for an electrical or plumbing  permit is based upon the actual electrical or plumbing work performed. Permit or fee information may be obtained from Public Works Department at 281-478-7270. (Building and Permit Forms)

Building Inspections
Inspections are required after obtaining building, electrical, or plumbing permits.  There are four types of building inspections required in new construction.  They are foundation inspections, framing, flatwork & driveway inspections, and final inspections. The four types of plumbing inspections are a ground inspection, sewer inspection, cover inspection and a final inspection.  Electrical inspections will consist of a t-pole inspection, cover inspection, service final inspection and a final inspection. The building, plumbing and electrical final inspections must all be approved prior to us releasing your gas meter inspection to Entex for a meter. Inspections may be obtained by calling the Public Works Department at 281-478-7270.  All inspections are guaranteed to be made no later than 72 hours after it is requested. It is recommended that when requesting inspections, the name of the contractor, the type of inspection, the permit number, and the proper address be furnished to expedite the inspection process. After an inspection has been completed, a sticker will be left on the premises whether subject inspection was approved or disapproved.  These stickers are usually placed in a central location.  To find out if an inspection has been made you must check job site for sticker, do not call our office for this information unless there is a problem.  For more information, call 281-478-7270.

Fences
The Building Ordinance regulates the height & location of fencing. The height of a fence in a residential or commercial district is restricted to 6 ½ feet at the highest point of ground elevation, at no point is the fence allowed to exceed 6 ½ feet.  Fences or masonry walls shall not encroach upon the front building line. Fence arms and/or barbed wire is not allowed in residential or commercial zoned properties except in the case of controlling livestock. Security fences in industrial zoned districts are not to exceed  8' in height at any point. Barb wire fence arms are permitted so long as they project into owner's property. No electric charged fences are allowed at all within the City.

No fence or masonry wall shall be constructed until a building permit has been issued by the Public Works Department.  To obtain a permit,  a site plan, to scale, is required and if constructing a masonry or brick fence then a footing detail is required along with a detail of construction. For additional information call the Public Works Department at 281-478-7270.

Storage Sheds
A building permit is required for any storage building. To obtain a building permit, please come to the Public Works Dept. and bring a site plan drawn to scale showing location of the proposed building, all existing buildings and their distances from the property lines, as well as construction plans. All buildings must be a minimum of 3 feet off all property lines and not encroaching any utility easements unless an encroachment of easement is applied for. Also, height of all storage buildings cannot exceed 15 feet. If you have any questions regarding the construction of a storage building or pertaining to setback requirements or easement encroachments, please call Public Works at 281-478-7270.