Who issues restaurant permits in the Houston area

The office that approves a restaurant depends on the official city limits and county where the address sits, not the city name in the mailing address. In the Houston area those can differ. Ask the right office before you sign a lease: several of these offices recommend contacting them first.

This guide lists the first office to contact in six markets for a certificate of occupancy, a food permit and land-use rules. It is a starting point, not legal advice or approval of a property.

Restaurant permit offices at a glance

Market	Occupancy and building	Food permit	Land use
Houston	Houston Permitting Center	Houston Health Department	No zoning; deed restrictions can apply
Sugar Land	City of Sugar Land Permits and Inspections	City of Sugar Land Food Inspection	Zoning applies
Katy	City of Katy Permits and Inspections	Harris County Public Health	Zoning applies
Pearland	City of Pearland Permits and Inspections	City of Pearland Health Services	Zoning applies
Pasadena	City of Pasadena Planning and Permits	City of Pasadena Health Department	No zoning; deed restrictions can apply
The Woodlands	Montgomery County, or Harris County in Creekside Park	Montgomery County Environmental Health, or Harris County Public Health	No city zoning; Township commercial covenants apply

First, confirm which jurisdiction you are in

City limits, not postal names. A Houston, Katy or Pearland mailing address can sit outside city limits, in unincorporated county land or a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Those areas usually follow county rules instead.
County. Several of these cities cross county lines. The county decides which appraisal district, flood resources and sometimes food office apply.
When unsure about food permits, the Texas Department of State Health Services publishes a retail food jurisdiction resource.

Opening a restaurant in Houston

A certificate of occupancy is required before a commercial building or lease space is occupied, or when its use changes. Apply through the Houston Permitting Center.
Food establishment plans go to the Permitting Center, where the Health Department's plan review section reviews them. Plans are usually required for new construction, a space that was not previously a food business, or a remodel that changes walls, equipment or the scope of service. See opening a food establishment.
Taking over an existing restaurant? The Health Department asks you to contact it before you purchase or lease. You can request the establishment's file through a public records request or schedule an inspection.
The city says it does not have zoning, but development rules such as parking and setbacks still apply, and private deed restrictions can limit how a property is used.
An address can be inside Houston city limits but in Fort Bend or Montgomery County. Use that county's appraisal district and flood resources for parcel and flood questions.

Opening a restaurant in Sugar Land

The city's Food Inspection program issues food establishment permits, reviews plans for new and remodeled food businesses and conducts the pre-opening inspection. Apply online through the city's opening a restaurant page.
Construction and remodel plans go through the city's Permits and Inspections Department. Food Inspection approval does not replace approval from other city departments.
Buying an existing food business? The city asks buyers to contact Food Inspection before the purchase to discuss the change of ownership.
Sugar Land has zoning. Confirm the district allows a restaurant at the exact address; the city's planning FAQ is a starting point.
Sugar Land handles its own food permits. Fort Bend County and Houston Health are not the default for an address inside city limits.

Opening a restaurant in Katy

A certificate of occupancy is required before occupying or doing business in a building or lease space. The city recommends a free preliminary walk-through inspection for building and fire code compliance before lease agreements are signed.
The city's Planning Department checks that the zoning district suits the business as part of the certificate of occupancy review.
Food establishments need approved plans from Harris County Public Health before city inspectors review them. Harris County Public Health lists the City of Katy among the cities where it inspects and permits retail food establishments.
City of Katy limits are much smaller than the area most people call Katy. A Katy mailing address or ZIP code, including Cinco Ranch and other unincorporated areas, may fall under county offices instead. The city also spans Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties, so confirm the county for parcel and flood questions.

Opening a restaurant in Pearland

Pearland Health Services reviews plans for new food businesses, inspects restaurants and issues food permits.
Permits and Inspections requires construction permits for new buildings, remodels and repairs, and for installing a Type I or II vent hood.
Pearland has zoning. The city's interactive map can show whether a property is inside city limits; confirm zoning compliance for the exact address with the city.
Most of Pearland is in Brazoria County, with parts in Harris and Fort Bend counties. Pearland's extraterritorial jurisdiction is outside city limits.

Opening a restaurant in Pasadena

The Pasadena Health Department inspects food establishments and issues annual food permits. Houston Health and Harris County Public Health are not the default inside city limits.
Pasadena is a non-zoned city, but land development regulations still apply. If you need it in writing, the Planning Department provides a No Zoning Letter for a specific property.
Check deed restrictions for the property. This guide covers Pasadena, Texas, not Pasadena, California.

Opening a restaurant in The Woodlands

The Woodlands is a special-purpose district, not an incorporated city. County offices handle permits and food safety.
Most of The Woodlands is in Montgomery County: commercial permitting goes through the Montgomery County Permit Department and food permits through Montgomery County Environmental Health.
Creekside Park is in Harris County. Start with Harris County Engineering for permits and Harris County Public Health for food permits.
There is no city zoning, but the Township administers covenants and standards, including commercial covenants that apply to all commercial properties and the Commercial Planning and Design Standards.
A The Woodlands mailing address can be in Shenandoah, Oak Ridge North or another city with its own offices.

Statewide items to check

Alcohol: licenses and permits come from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, separate from local food permits.
Sales tax: Texas sales tax permits come from the Texas Comptroller. Harris County Public Health, for example, asks for the taxpayer ID during permitting.
Food trucks: since July 1, 2026, mobile food vendors are licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services instead of local health departments. Cities still enforce local rules such as zoning and approved locations.

Questions to settle before you sign a lease

Is the address inside the city limits you expect, and which county is it in?
Does the space have a certificate of occupancy for restaurant use, or will a change of use need one?
Will your build-out need plan review for food service, building, fire or vent-hood work?
If you are taking over a restaurant, what does the health department's file or pre-opening inspection show?
Do zoning, deed restrictions or covenants allow your concept, signs and hours?

Record each answer with its source and date in the free restaurant location checklist. Then check what each site's rent and costs mean for required sales with the restaurant break-even calculator. Dandely reports name the relevant office for questions a source cannot answer; see report coverage for the exact boundaries.

Method and update notes

Prepared by Dandely on November 11, 2026. Each office and statement was checked against that office's own public web page on that date. Requirements, fees and web addresses change; confirm with the office for your exact address. Dandely is operated by Kagi LLC and is not affiliated with any of these agencies. To report an outdated link, email support@dandely.com.