What we handle — and what we don't yet.

City of Houston

Find out whether the job needs a permit, then get the homeowner plumbing form prepared and ready to file with the city.

• A permit is required for a replacement as well as a new install — swapping a like-for-like heater is explicitly not exempt.
• A homeowner can pull it themselves on their own homestead; otherwise it goes through a master plumber registered with the city.
• An inspection follows the work, and the permit does not stay valid indefinitely.

Your part: Book the inspection and be there for it.

For: Homeowner (own homestead) or licensed plumber

Form CE-1284 · Houston Public Works — Building Code Enforcement
Human-verified 2026-07-14

City of Houston

Contractor-filed trade permit, for the licensed pro who files under their own city registration.

For: Licensed plumber / RMP

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Re-roof and repair permitting for residential property.

For: Homeowner or roofer

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Height, setback and corner-visibility rules before you build.

For: Homeowner

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Approach, culvert sizing and right-of-way work.

For: Homeowner

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Residential wiring, service upgrades and panel work.

For: Homeowner or electrician

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

Texas — statewide

The registration almost everything else depends on — tobacco and vape permits both gate on it.

• This is the root registration — it has no prerequisite of its own, so it is the one to get first.
• There is no renewal cycle. It stays active as long as you keep filing the required sales-tax returns.
• Allow roughly two to three weeks for the Comptroller to process it, so start it before you need it.

For: Any business selling taxable goods

Form AP-201 · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Human-verified 2026-07-18

Texas — statewide

Certificate of formation for a Texas LLC, with the registered-agent consent prepared alongside it.

• The name has to contain “LLC”, “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company”, and be distinguishable from existing names.
• You need a registered agent with a Texas address who consents in writing — that consent form is prepared alongside the certificate.
• Filing creates a franchise-tax account automatically, and the annual report is due even in years you owe no tax.
• Only the Secretary of State can tell you whether a name is actually available. We cite the naming rule and point you at the official search — we never tell you a name is clear.

Your part: Run the official name search and choose the name; we prepare the filing around it.

For: New business owner

Form 205 · Texas Secretary of State
Human-verified 2026-07-22

Texas — statewide

The assumed-name certificate an incorporated business files with the state.

• Required whenever you trade under any name other than your legal one — and it has no prerequisite, so it can be filed on its own.
• File it before, or as, you start using the name.
• Since 2019 a registered entity files with the Secretary of State only — no county filing on top.
• It runs for a fixed term of up to ten years and then expires. We track that date so the name doesn’t lapse.

For: LLC / corporation trading under another name

Form 503 · Texas Secretary of State
Human-verified 2026-07-18

Harris County

The county assumed-name filing unincorporated businesses use instead — Form 503 does not cover them.

• Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk, not the state — Form 503 does not cover them.
• It is filed in each county where you actually do business.
• Every general partner signs.
• We fill the form but deliberately leave the signature and notary blocks blank — those are yours to complete in person.

Your part: Sign it in front of a notary and file it with the county clerk.

For: Sole proprietor / general partnership

Form D-02-07 · Harris County Clerk
Human-verified 2026-07-22

City of Houston

The gate between a finished build-out and legally opening — sequenced behind fire and building inspection.

For: Anyone opening or changing a space

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

Texas — statewide

Retail tobacco permitting per place of business, gated on an active sales tax permit, with its renewal tracked.

• You need an active sales tax permit for that location first — this one is blocked without it.
• It is per place of business, so a second store needs its own permit.
• Permits run on a fixed two-year cycle ending 31 May of an even year — not two years from your application date, so a late application buys you less time.

For: C-store / retail

Form AP-193 · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Human-verified 2026-07-19

Texas — statewide

A separate permit from tobacco, with its own application and its own renewal clock.

• Selling vapes needs this permit even if you already hold the tobacco one — they are two separate permits.
• It also requires an active sales tax permit for the location.
• It runs on the same fixed two-year cycle as the tobacco permit, and costs less where that location already holds one.

For: C-store / vape shop

Form AP-242 · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Human-verified 2026-07-19

Texas

Retailer alcohol licensing, gated on a current sales tax permit.

For: Restaurant / c-store

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Short-duration food service at an event or market.

For: Events / pop-ups

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Required registration before the alarm is monitored.

For: Any premises with a monitored alarm

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Ground and wall signs at your own place of business.

For: Storefront owner

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.

City of Houston

Temporary banner display windows and limits.

For: Storefront owner

Rules not yet human-verified — no form or fee published.