Texas — Harris County
Permitting built for a city with
no zoning — Houston’s deed
restriction reality
Houston has no zoning code. Deed restrictions, Chapter 42 standards, and
floodplain rules are what actually control your site. JDJ runs that research
and the Houston Permitting Center submittal in parallel.
Governing Framework
No zoning — Chapter 42 + deed restrictions
Department
Houston Permitting Center (HPC)
Portal
iPermits (permits.houstontx.gov)
Have a site in Houston?
Tell us what you’re trying to build — we’ll pull the deed restrictions
and map your HPC submittal path.
How Houston Regulates Development
The framework, in JDJ’s words
Every Texas city on this site uses its own code, department names, and review process.
Here’s Houston’s — the terms you’ll see throughout your project.
Here’s Houston’s — the terms you’ll see throughout your project.
Houston Service Offerings
What JDJ handles in Houston
Without zoning, Houston’s real land use controls live in privately recorded deed restrictions and Chapter 42. JDJ treats deed restriction research as core due diligence, not an afterthought.
Out of scope by design: Tax incentive programs (TIRZ, Chapter 380 agreements, LIHTC) are intentionally excluded from JDJ’s Houston scope and referred out to specialists.
Local Terminology
Houston’s terms, decoded
The vocabulary you’ll hear from city staff, in plain English.