Learn
The basics
Permits protect safety (electrical, gas, combustion, refrigerant) and your investment (insurable, resaleable, code-compliant). Who issues them depends on where your home sits.
- When it applies: HVAC changeouts, new ductwork or gas lines, water-heater replacement, panel work, re-roofs, and additions usually need a permit; minor like-for-like repairs often don't.
- Licensing: Texas HVAC contractors are licensed by TDLR. Strive holds TX HVAC Lic #74930C — always verify a contractor's license before regulated work.
- Failure modes: Skipping permits risks stop-work orders, failed inspections, denied insurance claims, and resale problems (Texas sellers must disclose unpermitted work).
Compare
Your options
Jurisdiction matters — Greater Houston spans many Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).
City of Houston
Permits via the City of Houston Permitting Center; a licensed contractor typically pulls them. [GATHER: code edition, fees, timeline.]
Unincorporated counties (Harris/Fort Bend/Montgomery/Galveston)
Texas counties have limited residential building-permit authority — rules differ materially. [GATHER: confirm per county.]
Suburban cities (Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands area, Cypress, Spring…)
Each city's building department sets its own process and fees. [GATHER: per-city specifics.]
We consolidated 40+ cities into this regional guide rather than thin per-city pages; confirm specifics with your AHJ.
Act
Not sure if your project needs a permit? We'll tell you.
Licensed (TX HVAC Lic #74930C), insured, EPA certified. [GATHER: confirm Strive pulls permits + real permitted-job examples by jurisdiction.]
- Do you handle the permit?
- [GATHER: confirm] — where we pull permits, we handle the paperwork and coordinate inspections.
- What if prior work wasn't permitted?
- We can assess inspection-readiness and help bring work up to code.
Educational only — not legal or code advice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time; confirm specifics with a licensed professional or your local building department. Reviewed by [GATHER: reviewer] · Last updated June 17, 2026.