BuildabilityHouston, Texas · pop. 2,300,419
What can you build in Houston?
Type an address in Houston, TX. Zoning context, flood, seismic, soil, radon, wildfire, utilities, and the sources behind each finding, in about twenty seconds.
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Local authority
How to verify zoning in Houston.
Houston has no zoning ordinance — the only major U.S. city without one. Development is governed instead by Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances (lot size, setbacks, parking, platting) and, critically, by private deed restrictions recorded against the subdivision, which the city will enforce but does not publish in one place. A title search is not optional here; it is the zoning check.
Sources 4
- MapMyCity Houston (opens in a new tab)
City of Houston
- Code
- PermitsHouston Permitting Center (opens in a new tab)
City of Houston
- ContactPlanning and Development Department (opens in a new tab)
City of Houston
Official determination: The Houston Planning and Development Department administers Chapter 42; deed restrictions are private covenants enforced through the City Legal Department and the courts.
How it works
Available data, one preliminary view.
Buildability geocodes the address, queries available flood, seismic, soil, radon, wildfire, and zoning context, and runs the published Buildability Score. Reports name the sources used and the items that still need local verification.
Building in Houston, TX.
Does Buildability make the official zoning decision in Houston?
No. Buildability organizes preliminary property context and links to local evidence.
What does the Buildability Score measure?
The preliminary score considers nine factors: zoning, flood, seismic, soil, radon, wildfire, utilities, terrain, and lot geometry. Availability and depth vary by address and source; City of Houston remains the local authority for project-specific decisions.
Start a property check in Houston.
The live Score is free on any address. The full report is $99, and reports never expire.
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Buildability Scores are an informational planning estimate from public data — not an appraisal, engineering opinion, or official zoning determination. Verify with your local jurisdiction before making a decision. Terms.