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Demolition Permit Cost in Houston, TX (2026)

Demolition permit fees for the City of Houston, Texas (Harris County), pulled directly from the City-Wide Fee Schedule and the 2026 Building Code Enforcement (BCE) Permit Fee Schedule, fees effective January 1, 2026. Houston prints its demolition line by story rather than as a single flat fee: Demolition of a Building = $94.00 for the first story, plus each additional story. Because every Houston permit is also subject to a $33.56 administrative fee, a single-story residential teardown works out to about $127.56 all-in. The $94.00 already exceeds Houston's $91.06 minimum permit fee, so the minimum does not add anything. One honest limitation: the per-additional-story amount is not printed on the extracted schedule, so multi-story figures are not published here. Texas has no statewide permit levy.

Demolition - First Story
$94.00 (exact printed line)
Each Additional Story
Charged per story - amount not printed on schedule
Administrative Fee
$33.56 (applies to all permits)
Single-Story All-In
~$127.56 ($94.00 + $33.56 admin)
State Percentage Levy
None - Texas has no statewide permit levy
Fee Schedule Effective
Fees effective Jan 1, 2026 - current
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: The City of Houston, Texas (Harris County) residential building demolition permit fee as printed on the City-Wide Fee Schedule and the 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule - "Demolition of a Building" at $94.00 for the first story, plus each additional story, and the $33.56 administrative fee that applies to all permits. The $94.00 first-story figure and the $33.56 admin are exact from the published schedule. The $127.56 single-story all-in figure is direct arithmetic ($94.00 + $33.56).

The fee is by story, not by square footage: Houston charges the demolition permit per story. A single-story house or garage is the $94.00 first-story line; a two-story house adds one more story at a rate the extracted schedule does not print. The fee does not scale with square footage.

The per-additional-story amount is not published here: the schedule line reads "$94.00 first story + each additional story," but the extracted document does not give the dollar amount for each additional story. Rather than guess, this guide leaves the multi-story total unstated and directs multi-story teardowns to Building Code Enforcement for the exact figure.

The 25% plan review is not added: Houston's 25% plan-review fee is written for building permits where plans are submitted. A straightforward demolition typically does not carry a plan submittal, so no plan review is added here - confirm whether it applies to your scope.

This guide does NOT cover: utility disconnections and cut/cap charges (electric, water, sewer, and gas usually must be disconnected before demolition); asbestos survey and notification requirements (a state and federal requirement under Texas and EPA NESHAP rules, handled outside the city permit); septic-system abandonment; tree and floodplain review; the per-additional-story demolition amount; any plan-review fee if the department applies one; right-of-way and dumpster/roll-off placement permits; interior-only strip-out tied to a remodel (which is permitted differently); impact and utility-connection fees; and the contractor's actual teardown, hauling, and disposal costs.

Key Takeaways
  • Houston prints its demolition line by story: "Demolition of a Building" is $94.00 for the first story, plus each additional story. The $94.00 first-story figure is exact on the City-Wide / 2026 BCE Fee Schedule.
  • Every Houston permit is subject to a $33.56 administrative fee, so a single-story residential teardown is about $127.56 all-in ($94.00 + $33.56) - direct arithmetic from the schedule.
  • The $94.00 already exceeds Houston's $91.06 minimum permit fee, so the minimum does not add anything to a demolition permit.
  • The per-additional-story amount is not printed on the extracted schedule, so this guide does not publish a multi-story total - confirm two-story and taller teardowns with Building Code Enforcement.
  • Houston's 25% plan review is written for building permits with plan submittals; it is not added to a straightforward demolition here. Texas has no statewide percentage permit levy.
  • Bigger costs sit outside the permit: utility disconnections and cut/cap charges, a required asbestos survey, and the contractor's teardown, hauling, and disposal are all separate. For same-city context, see the Houston fence permit guide and all Houston permit fees.
Open the Permit Fee Calculator All Houston Permit Fees

Houston Demolition Fee Structure

The residential demolition permit is priced by story: $94.00 for the first story, plus each additional story at a rate the extracted schedule does not print. Every Houston permit is also subject to a $33.56 administrative fee, so a single-story teardown is $94.00 + $33.56 = $127.56 all-in. The $94.00 already exceeds Houston's $91.06 minimum permit fee, so the minimum adds nothing. The 25% plan review is written for building permits with plan submittals and is shown below as not added to a straightforward demolition. Every printed line in the table is exactly as published; the per-additional-story amount is marked as not printed.

Item Fee How It Is Calculated
Demolition of a building - first story $94.00 Exact printed line. Charged per story; the first story is $94.00. A single-story house or garage is this one line.
Each additional story Not printed The schedule charges each additional story but the extracted document does not print the dollar amount. Multi-story totals are not published here - confirm with the department.
Administrative fee $33.56 Non-refundable; applies to all permits. Added once, so a single-story demolition is $94.00 + $33.56 = $127.56.
Minimum permit fee $91.06 - not binding All permits are subject to a $91.06 minimum, but the $94.00 demolition line already exceeds it, so the minimum adds nothing here.
Plan review (25%) Not added Houston's 25% plan review is for building permits where plans are submitted. A straightforward demolition typically has none - confirm applicability with the department.
Utility cut/cap & asbestos survey Separate Electric, water, sewer, and gas disconnections and a required asbestos survey are handled outside this permit line. Not part of the $94.00.
State percentage levy None Texas has no statewide permit levy. Houston adds no percentage surcharge on the demolition line.

Source: City of Houston City-Wide Fee Schedule and 2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule, fees effective January 1, 2026 (Ord. No. 2023-907), triple cross-verified in July 2026. The $94.00 first-story demolition line, the $33.56 administrative fee, and the $91.06 minimum permit fee are exact as printed. The per-additional-story amount is not printed on the extracted schedule and is not estimated here. The $127.56 single-story all-in is direct arithmetic ($94.00 + $33.56). Confirm the per-additional-story amount and whether any plan-review fee applies with Building Code Enforcement.

Worked Examples - Real Demolition Projects in Houston

Houston prices demolition by story, so the first-story figure is the same whether you are tearing down a garage or a single-story house. The examples below show the exact first-story line plus the administrative fee, and where a multi-story teardown requires a department quote. Every published figure is the exact printed line or direct arithmetic from it.

Example 1: Detached garage or single-story accessory building

A homeowner tears down an old single-story detached garage.

  • Demolition - first story: $94.00
  • Administrative fee: $33.56
  • All-in permit: $127.56

$94.00 line plus the $33.56 admin, direct arithmetic. Utility disconnections and hauling are separate.

Example 2: Single-story house teardown ahead of a rebuild

A full single-story house demolition - the same first-story line as the garage, because Houston prices by story, not square footage.

  • Demolition - first story: $94.00
  • Administrative fee: $33.56
  • All-in permit: $127.56

Same $127.56 as the garage - the permit does not scale with square footage. A house teardown carries much larger separate costs: utility cut/cap, asbestos survey, and disposal.

Example 3: Two-story house teardown

A two-story house demolition adds a second story to the permit.

  • Demolition - first story: $94.00
  • Each additional story: amount not printed on the schedule
  • All-in total: department quote required

The schedule charges each additional story but does not print the per-story amount, so this guide does not publish a two-story total. Ask Building Code Enforcement for the exact per-additional-story figure before budgeting a multi-story teardown.

When This Estimate May Not Apply

The $94.00 first-story line and the $127.56 single-story all-in cover a straightforward one-story demolition. Route your project to Building Code Enforcement before relying on these figures if any of the following applies:

  • Your structure is more than one story. Houston charges each additional story, but the extracted schedule does not print the per-story amount. Get the exact per-additional-story figure from the department for a two-story or taller teardown.
  • The department applies a plan-review fee. This guide does not add Houston's 25% plan review, because that percentage is written for building permits with plan submittals. Confirm whether it attaches to your demolition.
  • You are gutting the interior but keeping the building. An interior-only strip-out that keeps the structure standing is permitted differently from a building demolition. Confirm which permit applies.
  • Utilities are still connected. Electric, water, sewer, and gas usually must be disconnected before a teardown, and utility cut/cap charges are separate from the $94.00 permit.
  • The structure may contain asbestos. A pre-demolition asbestos survey and notification are required by state and federal (EPA NESHAP) rules for many structures - handled outside the city permit and not in this estimate.
  • The fees have changed since January 1, 2026. The figures come from the fee schedule effective January 1, 2026. Confirm the current amounts before budgeting.

The per-additional-story demolition amount, any plan-review fee, utility disconnections, asbestos survey and abatement, septic abandonment, right-of-way and dumpster permits, impact and utility-connection fees, and the contractor's teardown, hauling, and disposal costs are excluded from the figures on this page, and the page-standard disclaimer applies. Always verify current amounts with Houston Building Code Enforcement before budgeting.

Houston Demolition Permit Cost vs Other Verified Texas Cities

Texas cities price residential demolition differently. Houston prices by story and adds an administrative fee, while several other cities print a single flat fee. Scope differs, so each figure below notes its basis, and each department should be verified separately.

City Demolition Fee Basis Residential Demolition Permit
Houston, TX Per story + $33.56 admin $94.00 first story (~$127.56 all-in)
Frisco, TX Flat "demolition permit" line $50.00 flat
Lubbock, TX Flat line = $75 minimum fee $75.00 flat
New Braunfels, TX Flat line + 3% tech fee $100.00 (~$103-$139 all-in)

Scope note: Houston is the only city here that prices demolition by story and layers a $33.56 administrative fee on top, so its single-story all-in ($127.56) sits above the flat-fee cities - Frisco $50.00, Lubbock $75.00, and New Braunfels $100.00 (plus a 3% tech fee). For a multi-story Houston teardown the total is higher and requires a department quote. None of these include utility cut/cap, asbestos survey, or hauling. Compare the basis, not just the number, and confirm current figures with each department.

Next Step

See Houston's full residential fee schedule, or price other Houston projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Houston prices a building demolition by story: $94.00 for the first story on the City-Wide / 2026 BCE Fee Schedule. Because every permit is subject to a $33.56 administrative fee, a single-story residential teardown is about $127.56 all-in ($94.00 + $33.56). The $94.00 already exceeds the $91.06 minimum permit fee, so the minimum adds nothing. Fees are effective January 1, 2026.
Higher than a single story, but this guide does not publish an exact figure. The schedule reads "$94.00 first story + each additional story," and the extracted document does not print the dollar amount for each additional story. Rather than guess, we direct multi-story teardowns to Houston Building Code Enforcement for the exact per-additional-story amount before budgeting.
Houston's fee schedule states that all permit fees are subject to a $33.56 non-refundable administrative fee. It is a standard add-on to every permit, so a single-story demolition is $94.00 + $33.56 = $127.56. The schedule also sets a $91.06 minimum permit fee, but the $94.00 demolition line already exceeds it, so the minimum does not add anything.
No. Houston prices demolition by story, not by square footage, so a small single-story garage and a large single-story house are both the $94.00 first-story line (plus the $33.56 admin). Square footage does not change the demolition permit fee; the number of stories does.
This guide does not add one. Houston's 25% plan-review fee is written for building permits where plans are submitted for review, and a straightforward demolition typically has no plan submittal. Whether a plan-review fee applies to your specific demolition is a determination for Building Code Enforcement - confirm before filing.
Most of the real teardown cost. The permit does not include utility disconnections and cut/cap charges (electric, water, sewer, gas), a required pre-demolition asbestos survey, septic-system abandonment, right-of-way or roll-off dumpster permits, or the contractor's demolition, hauling, and disposal. The per-additional-story amount and any plan-review fee are also outside the $127.56 single-story figure. Budget those separately.
Often, yes - but that requirement comes from state and federal rules (Texas asbestos regulations and the EPA NESHAP program), not from this city fee line. Many structures must be surveyed for asbestos and, where present, have it abated before demolition, with notification filed. It is a separate process and cost outside the Houston permit. Confirm the current requirements with the appropriate agency and your contractor.
They come from the City-Wide Fee Schedule and the 2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule, with fees effective January 1, 2026 (Ord. No. 2023-907), triple cross-verified in July 2026 - so the schedule is current. Confirm the current amounts, the per-additional-story figure, and any plan-review treatment with Building Code Enforcement. See all Houston permit fees and all Texas cities.

Who to Contact

Department City of Houston - Houston Public Works, Building Code Enforcement
Location Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77002 (Harris County)
Ask them The exact per-additional-story demolition amount for a multi-story teardown, whether any plan-review fee applies to your demolition, which utility cut/cap steps are required, and what asbestos-survey steps apply
Fee schedule Houston City-Wide Fee Schedule (Building Code Enforcement), fees effective January 1, 2026

Sources

Official Sources - Recorded September 2026
  • City of Houston - City-Wide Fee Schedule (Building Code Enforcement) Houston, TX (Harris County) official fee schedule application (.gov), fees effective January 1, 2026 (Ord. No. 2023-907). Primary source for the $94.00 first-story demolition line, the $33.56 administrative fee, and the $91.06 minimum permit fee. Cross-verified against the 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule PDF in July 2026 Verified
  • Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 Texas statute (.gov) confirming municipal building- and demolition-regulation authority and that Texas imposes no statewide percentage building-permit levy. Context for the "no statewide levy" statement. Verified September 2026.
Always verify current demolition permit fees directly with the City of Houston, Building Code Enforcement before budgeting or filing. The figures on this page come from the City-Wide Fee Schedule and the 2026 Building Code Enforcement Permit Fee Schedule, fees effective January 1, 2026. The schedule prints "Demolition of a Building" at $94.00 for the first story, plus each additional story (amount not printed on the extracted schedule), and a $33.56 administrative fee applies to all permits - so a single-story teardown is about $127.56 all-in. The $94.00 already exceeds the $91.06 minimum permit fee. Multi-story totals, any plan-review fee, utility disconnections, an asbestos survey, and hauling are separate and must be confirmed with the department. Texas has no statewide levy.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by the City of Houston Building Code Enforcement at the time of application. The $94.00 first-story "Demolition of a Building" line, the $33.56 administrative fee, and the $91.06 minimum permit fee are as printed on the City-Wide Fee Schedule and the 2026 BCE Permit Fee Schedule, fees effective January 1, 2026 (Ord. No. 2023-907). The $94.00 first-story figure and the $33.56 admin are exact; the $127.56 single-story all-in is direct arithmetic ($94.00 + $33.56). Houston prices demolition by story, not square footage; the per-additional-story amount is not printed on the extracted schedule and is not estimated here, so multi-story totals require a department quote. The $91.06 minimum permit fee does not add to the $94.00 line because the line already exceeds it. Houston's 25% plan review is written for building permits with plan submittals and is not added to a straightforward demolition here - confirm applicability with the department. Utility disconnections and cut/cap charges, a required asbestos survey and any abatement, septic abandonment, right-of-way and dumpster permits, impact and utility-connection fees, and the contractor's teardown, hauling, and disposal costs are separate and excluded. Verify all fees directly with the department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.