HAA Blog
New Law Affects Plumbing Permits and Registration
Posted by Will Alfaro
on Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Licensed Plumbers will see changes in how their permits are processed across the state starting today (September 1, 2009). SB 1354, passed unanimously during the 2009 Texas legislative session.
The bill changes definitions for some in the plumbing field. In addition, it changes how municipalities and counties are allowed to license plumbers and sell permits. Insurance for plumbers must now be verified by the jurisdiction.
The information below was provided by the City of Houston’s Public Works and Engineering Department in the latest “Code Update Newsletter.”
Recent State Law Changes Affecting Licensed Plumber Registration and Permit Sales
The City of Houston Code Enforcement Office will no longer charge a fee for Licensed Plumber registration as per SB 1354 recently approved in the State of Texas Legislature which becomes effective on September 1, 2009.
In addition, the following administrative procedures will be required when registering a Plumbing License or applying for a Plumbing Permit.
The registration procedures for a Plumbing License will remain the same to ensure that credentials are verified for purchasing plumbing permits and the maintenance of records, but without the collection of a plumbing license registration fee.
The procedure for processing a plumbing permit application will change slightly due to the new state law requirements for insurance verification. Before processing an application for a plumbing permit, the City will be required to verify insurance coverage on the State of Texas website for each purchase. This process may cause delays in the normal processing of permits. In the event the state website is down, the City will be required to verify the insurance by telephone.
As a courtesy, the permit applicant will be allowed to leave the application for processing and the permit will be faxed back to the applicant. Also, please note the following services offered for your convenience:
Online Permits (registration required)
Fax Permits (Advanced Pay Account required)
Satellite offices at:
Kingwood Office:
3915 Rustic Woods Dr. Kingwood, TX 77345
Phone: 281-361-9580
(Full Service) (Click here for Map)
Dacoma Office:
3825 Dacoma St. Houston, TX 77092
Phone: 713-686-6224
(Trade Permits and Plan In-take) (Click here for Map)
For questions, please contact Plumbing Inspections at 713-535-7700 or contact the Customer Assistance and Code Development Office at 713-535-7733 for information on the other permit services.
HAA members can make use of the HAA Public Affairs Department for questions or issues related to the code. Contact HAA at 713-595-0300 and ask for Andy or Aimee.