West University Place, Texas Building Permit Guide

In West University Place, the City’s permit office in the Public Works Department’s Community Development division issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, tree, fence and driveway permits. You must apply in person at 3826 Amherst Street (713-662-5833), because the City needs original signatures, licence checks and payment; simple jobs can be issued over the counter, while plans that need zoning, setback or pervious-area review take about 10 to 15 business days.

What requires a permit in West University Place?

No one may build, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish any building or structure in the City, fences and storage buildings included, without a permit. Raising the grade and pre-development site work need one too. The permit office lists these common jobs:

Who issues permits in West University Place?

All permits are issued by the City at its Public Works building. The permit office reviews plans for zoning, setbacks, pervious area, structure, energy and fire safety, and City inspectors check the work. Chuck Sandifer is the permit contact, and City documents name Charles Sandifer as Chief Building Official. The Planning Division handles zoning, plats and Zoning Board of Adjustment cases, and the Building and Standards Commission hears appeals and variances under the building chapter of the City Code. West University Place is in Harris County.

Forms, registration and homeowner permits

The City does not accept applications by fax or email. Most contractors must register with the permit office before starting work: registration costs $100 for one year (electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors do not pay it) and needs driver’s licences for the owners or officers, any state licence, and a certificate for at least $300,000 of general liability insurance naming the City as certificate holder.

• Property Owner’s Affidavit: a homeowner doing the work on their own homestead without a contractor files this notarised form instead of registering; any subcontractors must be licensed.
• Affidavit for Reissuance of Expired Permit: lets the homeowner revive an expired permit; the transfer fee is $100 or 50% of the original renewal fee, whichever is less.
• Building Site Designation Form: signed and notarised original, required for new construction.
• Truss Plan Deferred Submittal form and Temporary Release Letter for utilities.
• Low Impact Exception Application and Tree Disposition form for the Urban Forester.

Permits run for set terms under the City Code: 60 days for demolition or house moving, 90 days for fences, driveways and tree permits, 180 days for small remodels under 485 sq ft, pools, spas, accessory structures and trade permits, and 360 days for other building permits. A renewal must be filed at least 5 days before the permit expires.

West University Place permit fees

The building permit and plan checking fees are calculated by staff when the application is reviewed, and paid fees are not refunded. Work started before the permit is issued is charged a premature work fee equal to 100% of the permit. The fixed fees printed on the City’s current application forms are:

The application and plans are held for 180 days; if no permit is issued in that time they are discarded.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits

Each trade has its own application with a $100 application fee on top of the item charges:

These electrical figures come from page 1 of the July 2026 form; page 2 of the same PDF still shows an older, lower table with a $40 application fee. Local electrical rules ban aluminum wiring, set 12-gauge as the smallest conductor and require at least a 150-amp main on new homes, and every wall that carries drain, waste and vent piping must be framed with 2x6 lumber. Fire sprinkler and alarm systems need a fire system permit.

New home and addition submittals

The City’s Plan Submittal Checklist for new construction asks for:

• Tree disposition form and tree survey
• Two sets of drainage plans with two Standard Base Level Certifications sealed by a surveyor or engineer, plus a FEMA elevation certificate in AE and shaded X flood zones
• Signed building permit application and two complete plan sets, no larger than 24 by 36 inches
• Notarised Building Site Designation Form, sealed property survey and site plan
• Table of framed, pervious and open areas (framed area may not exceed 80% on single-family sites)
• Electrical load analysis and gas riser diagram
• Soils report, sealed foundation calculations and sealed truss plans, with the engineers’ errors and omissions insurance naming the City
• 2021 IECC energy compliance certificate and a separate sealed 136 mph wind load certification
• Temporary utility release letter
• Eight stamped, unsealed letters to neighbors (three in front, three behind and one on each side) and one to CenterPoint Energy; the City mails them before issuing the permit

Additions and alterations get a customised list from the permit office. Separately, the City Code requires contractors on jobs worth over $10,000, or with substantial outdoor work, to notify adjoining and facing owners or post a site sign naming the contractor and the site clean-up rules.

How to get a West University Place permit

Inspections in West University Place

Request inspections through the City’s online form or the inspection line, no more than a day ahead. Requests in by 4:30 p.m. are inspected the next day, in a morning window of 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. or an afternoon window of 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.; the City cannot give exact times. Give the address, permit number, your name, company, phone, email, inspection type and AM or PM.

The inspection card sets the order for a new home:

• Pier holes (third party and City), in-ground plumbing and foundation steel, with a form survey the day before; an engineer’s foundation certificate is needed before construction continues
• Wind clips and straps, plumbing top-out with a gas pressure test, and mechanical and electrical rough-ins, all before the framing inspection
• Framing, with the engineer’s framing and height certificate before anything is covered; energy code rough-in by a third party
• Tree disposition final by the Urban Forester
• Building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and drainage finals, with a final survey and topographic survey delivered the day before

Local West University Place rules

Height: a principal building may be no more than 35 feet above the standard base level elevation, and a rear yard structure no more than 25 feet, confirmed by an engineer’s or surveyor’s height certificate.

Site fencing: the plan requirements call for a temporary fence at least 6 feet high on each side, the rear and 75% of the front yard during construction, and it may not be removed without the Building Official’s written permission.

Demolition: removal, disposal and grading must be finished within 10 days of starting work, and when a house comes down its driveways, sidewalks and curb cuts go too unless they will be reused.

Right-of-way work: utility work in the street needs a ROW and Low Impact construction permit from Public Works, and the City marks its own underground utilities.

Deed restrictions: a City permit does not waive any deed restriction on the lot.

Texas building code

Texas has no single statewide building code: state law makes the International Residential Code the base code for homes in cities and the International Building Code the base for commercial buildings, with each city choosing the edition and its own amendments, while the National Electrical Code and the energy code apply statewide. Outside city limits most counties issue no building permits for homes. Texas building code rules

West University Place official resources

• West University Place Permits
• Permitting and plan review process
• Applications, forms and contractor registration
• Request an inspection
• Adopted building codes
• Plan Submittal Checklist (PDF)
• Residential plan submission requirements (PDF)
• New Homes and Additions Information Packet (PDF)
• Inspection card (PDF)
• Property Owner’s Affidavit (PDF)
• Electrical permit application (PDF)
• Plumbing permit application (PDF)
• Mechanical permit application (PDF)
• Driveway, sidewalk and drainage permit application (PDF)
• Water tap and new meter application (PDF)
• Right-of-way application process
• West University Place Code of Ordinances

West University Place permit FAQs

Can I apply for a West University Place permit online or by email?

No. Applications must be filed in person at 3826 Amherst Street because the City needs original signatures, licence verification and payment.

How long does plan review take in West University Place?

Simple permits can be issued over the counter. Plans that need zoning, setback or pervious-area review usually take 10 to 15 business days when complete.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof?

Yes, unless the area of roof affected is less than 200 sq ft.

How much is a fence permit in West University Place?

A $100 application fee plus $1 per linear foot of fence or wall.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in West University Place?

Yes, for work on their own homestead done without a contractor, by filing the notarised Property Owner’s Affidavit with the application. Any subcontractors must be licensed.

When will my inspection happen?

Requests made before 4:30 p.m. are inspected the next day, in a morning or afternoon window.

Simplify West University Place permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Texas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about West University Place permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.