Welcome to Platting

Harris County is the 3rd most populous county in the United States; it is paramount to remain strategically organized and equipped to offer the very best service possible to our constituents, the development community and municipal partners. As a regulatory agency, it is our goal to assist the development community in envisioning, creating and building vibrant and sustainable developments for all residents of Harris County. We trust that this online tool will be of assistance to anyone looking to develop within Harris County.

The Platting Staff is charged with enforcing the Regulations of Harris County, Texas for the Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure as amended from time to time by the Harris County Commissioners' Court. Our knowledgeable and professional staff is dedicated to doing everything possible to ensure that all subdivision related projects are handled in a professional, courteous and timely manner.

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

Several municipalities have extended their development ordinances to require municipal review and approval of subdivision of land within their extraterritorial jurisdictions in unincorporated Harris County. Below are links that will take you to each of their planning home pages for further development guidelines:

Subdivision of land in certain areas (No ETJ) is solely reviewed and approved by Harris County Platting Group. Area Map

Policy Affecting CPC-101 Expirations

If an applicant has a plat mylar in our possession and there is a risk that it will not be promoted to Commissioners’ Court prior to the expiration of the CPC-101, an Extension of Approval (EOA) must be filed in a timely manner with the City of Houston.

Chapter 42 allows for a single one year extension. Accordingly, if your final plat has not been promoted to Commissioners’ Court for approval prior to the expiration of your EOA, you will be notified in writing and your plat will be returned to the City of Houston for further disposition. Should this happen, you will be required to submit a new plat application with the City of Houston.


Requirements of 30§TAC 285 

In accordance with the requirements of 30§TAC 285 and the Rules of Harris County, Texas for On-Site Sewage Facilities, an On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) Subdivision Planning Report is required prior to approval of plats not located within a known service area for public sewer services.

Please refer to  OSSF Subdivision Planning Report for more information. 


Plat Search
Plat Requirements

Applicant Advisory

1. Paperwork can be dropped off during regular business hours once the plat shows "working plat" on our website. However, the items are not considered complete until they are reviewed by the Assigned Planner and checked off. All documentation should be submitted electronically to
platting@harriscountytx.gov.

2. After review, you must make an appointment with the Assigned Planner to come in and make corrections to the Mylar. Department policy requires you to bring all outstanding items with you at this time to eliminate multiple appointments for one plat.

3. Mylar cannot be taken from our office once a municipality and/or the County Engineer has signed off.

4. Appointments made on Thursday and Friday of a deadline week does not automatically ensure that the plat will be promoted to the next Commissioners' Court agenda. Please give yourself and the Planners sufficient time for review to avoid delays.

Title Report

Current within 60 days of effective date
Signed by Title Examiner
Original not required

Original Tax Certificate

One per each account number
Signed and/or sealed by TAC
Original required

Utility Service Plan Application with Attachments

Signed and dated
Applicable attachments

Letter from Tax Assessor
(subdivision name duplication letter)

Obtained through the Harris County Tax Office (original not required)
Send request to fax: 713-368-2219

Financial Surety

"Financial Surety Worksheet" will be completed by Assigned Planner.
Completed form shall accompany your payment
Make checks payable to: Harris County
Cashier's office location: 10555 Northwest Freeway, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77092

Administrative Fee

"Financial Surety Worksheet" will be completed by Assigned Planner.
Completed form shall accompany payment
Make checks payable to: Harris County
Cashier's office location: 10555 Northwest Freeway, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77092

Approved Construction Plans

Approved construction plans on file with Harris County Engineering Department
Provide the Harris County Project Number

$600 Plat Fee

The plat fee payment form is generated by the Assigned Planner and is required for payment
Make check payable to: Harris County
Cashier's office location: 10555 Northwest Freeway, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77092

NEW Digital Platting Requirements

Other Requirements and/or Corrections

Additional Requirements and/or Revisions as noted by the Assigned Planner to be addressed during your assigned plat review appointment

Platting Notes

Site Note for plats of Reserves:

Site drainage plans for the future development of this reserve must be submitted to the Harris County Flood Control District and Harris County Engineering Department.

Private Street PAE/PUE note:

This subdivision contains one or more permanent access easements that have not been dedicated to the public or accepted by the City of Houston or any other local government agency as public rights-of-way. The City of Houston has no obligation, nor does any other local government agency have any obligation, to maintain or improve any permanent access easement within the subdivision, which obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the owners of property in this subdivision.

NEW NOTE (per 11/15/05 regulations):

Detention is not required if the developed area is limited to the first 150 feet or the total impervious developed area does not exceed the area calculated by multiplying the 150-foot lot depth by the lot width adjacent to the public road.

Landscaping Regulations of Harris County for Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure:

This plat requires compliance with landscaping requirements prior to occupancy of structures as mandated in Regulations of Harris County, Texas for the Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure. 

Drainage Note for Reserves without

Drainage Note for Reserves without Civil plans. (to Public R.O.W.)

Site drainage plans for the future development of this reserve must be submitted to the Harris County Flood Control District and the Harris County Engineering Department.

Drainage Note for Lots without Civil plans. (to Public R.O.W.)

Detention is not required if the developed area is limited to the first 150 feet or the total impervious developed area does not exceed the area calculated by multiplying the 150-foot lot depth by the lot width adjacent to the public road.

Drainage Note for Plats without Civil plans. (to PAE/PUE/Access Esmt):

Detention will be reviewed/provided for each individual residential lot at time of permitting.

SWQ Note for Plats with 5 acres or more

Any new development within the subdivision plat shall obtain a Storm Water Quality Permit before the issuance of any development permits

Harris County Landscape Note

THis plat requires compliance with landscaping requirements prior to occupancy of structures as mandated in Regulations of Harris County, Texas for the Approval and Acceptance of Instructure.

ROW Widening Dedication Note

This (__) Acres / (__) Sq Ft is hereby dedicated to the public for R.O.W. purposes.

Private Water wells (provide notes in Red) (Existing / Proposed) Public well easements must be shown on the plat; per HC approved civil plans. Public water well easement overlapping onto adjacent properties must be recorded. Provide docs.

A private pressure cemented Water well cannot be constructed within 50 feet of the property line. A private Non-pressure cemented Water well cannot be constructed within 100 feet of the property line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there Zoning in Harris County?
A: No. There is a No Zoning Letter updated at the beginning of every year by the Manager of Permits.

Q: Do I need to plat my property?
A: The division of property is addressed in the Texas Local Government Code Chapters 212 for a municipality and Chapter 232 for the County, including but not limited to, the Regulations of Harris County, Texas for the Acceptance of Approved Infrastructure. For this reason, we advise that you make an appointment with a Platting staff member to discuss whether platting is required or email the Planner of the Day at 

platting@harriscountytx.gov

Q: How do I get Tax Certificates?
A: If your taxes are collected by Harris County, you may go to their website at http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/forms/taxcertrequest.pdf to complete their form and then fax your request to 713-368-2129. They will call you when the tax certificate is ready and the cost is $10 per account number.
For ISD and MUD tax certificates, you may go to their website at http://www.hcad.org/resources/jurlist.asp to locate and contact the TAC for their specific requirements; most will accept a simple one line letter with the HCAD account number faxed to them.

Q: Will Harris County issue permits to an applicant prior to recording the plat?
A: Yes, only those applicants that can provide a CPC 101 (final), approved plans, and evidence that the property will be serviced by a MUD. Those sites being serviced by individual septic and water well do not qualify.

Q: ABC Subdivision has a final CPC 101 form and it is currently set for next week's Commissioners' Court Agenda. Can I issue a development permit?
A: Yes, only those applicants that can provide a CPC 101 (final), approved plans, and evidence that the property will be serviced by a MUD.

Q: ABC Subdivision has a final CPC 101 form and it is currently set for next week's Commissioners' Court Agenda. Can I issue a septic permit?
A: No. If the property will be serviced by a private well and septic, the plat will have to be recorded prior to issuing a permit.

Q: What is a Letter from Tax Assessor and how do I request one?
A: This is the documentation that Harris County uses to ensure that this proposed plat name is not in conflict with any other previously recorded subdivision. This requirement applies only to the first section of multi-section subdivisions and is not applicable to street dedication plats designated by a street name. You may email your request to subdivision.name@tax.hctx.net or fax your request to 713-368-2219.

Q: Where can I find the Subdivision Platting Recordation Dedicatory Acknowledgements and Certifications?
A: For the City of Houston, please refer to: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Forms For the County, please refer to our Regulations as posted on this website.

Q: What is the purpose of the Utility Plan Application that is listed on the Recordation Checklist?
A: This fully completed document together with the applicable attachments allow us to confirm that there has either been capacity extended by a utility district, a new district is being formed or that the development will be served by a well and/or septic.

Q: What is an On-site Sewerage Facility Subdivision Planning Report?
A: This was formally referred to as a Feasibility Study. It is a report prepared by a Registered Sanitarian and submitted to the Harris County Wastewater Department for approval. When approved, that department will notify us and provide a project number should be attached to the Self Selection worksheet.

Q: Where can I obtain a copy of a previously recorded plat or a recorded easement?
A: The Harris County Clerk’s Office (713-274-8600), however, you must have recording information when you place the order for reproduction.

Q: When do I make an appointment with the Platting Staff to review my plat for recordation?
A: Once your plat has been assigned to a Planner and their review has been completed, he/she will email you a notice that the review is complete, the fees are ready to be paid and their contact information is provided. You must have the Plat Fee Payment Form with you when you come to pay the review fee.

Q: Who are the payments made payable to and where are they to be paid (recordation, surety or administrative)?
A: Payable to: Harris County  They can be paid in person or mailed to: 10555 Northwest Freeway, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77092

Q: I have overpaid my surety or administrative fee, how do I obtain a refund?
A: All refunds are handled through the Office Administrator, Debbie Bledsoe. You must first send a letter requesting the refund to the manager of Planning and Development with a copy of the following items:
- The Financial Worksheet that the original payment was paid from
- The Harris County receipt for original payment
- Revised Financial Worksheet showing the appropriate amount that should have been paid.
This must be approved by Ms. Bledsoe before it will be presented to Commissioners' Court for consideration.

Q: Where can I find a schedule of the appropriate deadlines and when the Harris County Commissioners Court meets to consider plats?
A: Please refer to our deadlines under Commissioners’ Court & Platting Deadlines

Q: After the Commissioners Court has approved my plat, when can I officially record my plat?
A: The Clerk's office will contact you in 1-3 business days to let you know the plat is ready for filing and what your filing fee will be. They do allow you to pay by Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Q: Why does Harris County require two (2) signatures on the plat or written authorization for a sole signatory?
A: Harris County is not privy to the way that a company, corporation, LP, LLC, etc. is structured, therefore, in order to confirm that this legal document has been executed in accordance with the entity's creation documents and/or amendments it must be attested to by an officer or a letter written on company letterhead that the person executing same is authorized to act solely on behalf of that entity.

Q: If I plat an unrestricted reserve, will I have to replat when I go to develop that property?
A: If the unrestricted reserve has a one foot reserve restricting ingress and egress, yes, you will have to replat to remove it. If there is no one foot reserve restricting ingress and egress then you will not have to file a replat to develop otherwise, contact the Planner of the Day at platting@harriscountytx.gov

Q: I would like to plat a reserve and sell this property; do I still have to provide construction
A: If there are no immediate plans for construction of improvements on said reserves, then a note shall be placed on the face of the plat stating: Site drainage plans for the future development of this reserve must be submitted to the Harris County Flood Control District and the Harris County Engineering Department. 

Commissioners' Court & Platting Deadlines

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Contact Information

Platting Manager:
Julian Boxill
julian.boxill@harriscountytx.gov

1111 Fannin St., 8th Floor

Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713-274-3932
Email: platting@harriscountytx.gov

Harris County Permits Directory

Traffic Design and Operations Support
Fred Mathis, Jr. P.E.
713-274-3770
fred.mathis@harriscountytx.gov

trafficpermits@harriscountytx.gov

Planner of the Day

Platting Exception Request

 

All Regulations,
Documents & Forms