City business license guide
Last updated: October 8, 2026
Starting a business in Houston is not as simple as getting one card called a business license. Your business may need a city permit, Certificate of Occupancy, health or fire approval, county assumed-name filing, Texas tax account, state license, or employer registration. The answer depends on what you do, where you do it, and how customers, workers, food, vehicles, or inventory are involved.
Bottom line
Houston does not use one blanket business license for every business. The city uses specific permits, licenses, certificates, and inspections. The Houston Permitting Center handles many building and occupancy steps, while the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department handles many regulated business licenses. Texas also has no single statewide general business license, but state tax, entity, employer, professional, food, and industry rules may still apply.
Quick start: what to check first
- Confirm the exact address. Check Houston city limits and the county. A Houston mailing address does not prove the site is inside the city.
- Describe the activity. A home office, restaurant, food truck, contractor, short-term rental, salon, street vendor, or online seller can follow different routes.
- Check the site before a lease. Commercial space may need the right Certificate of Occupancy plus building, fire, sign, health, or other approvals.
- Check the name and Texas filings. The assumed-name route depends on business structure. Taxable sales and hiring can trigger separate state registrations.
See our Texas business license guide and business license vs LLC vs DBA vs seller’s permit guide for the broader state and terminology layers.
Houston business changes: April 1–October 1, 2026
- Mobile food licensing moved to the state. Houston stopped accepting new mobile-food-unit plan reviews on May 15. Beginning July 1, 2026, mobile food vendors must use the Texas Department of State Health Services statewide license. Houston’s former mobile-food permits and medallions are no longer the operating license.
- Temporary food applications gained an advance deadline. Effective June 1, 2026, Houston temporary food applications must be submitted at least 14 days before the event. Applications submitted later are not reviewed.
- Texas business filings moved to SOSPortal. The Texas Secretary of State launched SOSPortal on September 29, 2026, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filing, searching, and ordering.
Houston business license facts
| City | Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Main city permit hub | Houston Permitting Center and the Houston Permit Portal |
| Regulated business licensing | Administration and Regulatory Affairs business licensing |
| General city business license? | No single citywide general license applies to every business. Houston uses activity- and site-specific permits, licenses, certificates, and inspections. |
| Land-use note | Houston says it does not have traditional zoning, but development rules, building codes, parking, deed restrictions, health rules, fire rules, and occupancy rules still matter. |
| Counties | Houston is primarily in Harris County; portions of the city are in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Verify the exact address before using county filing instructions. |
What does this mean for me?
Do not ask only, “Do I need a business license?” Ask which city, county, state, and federal steps apply to your exact activity and address. Houston uses specific terms such as Certificate of Occupancy, food permit, sign permit, street vendor permit, short-term rental registration, fire permit, and ARA activity-specific licenses.
Do not buy a generic “Houston business license” package without knowing the filing name. A private service cannot replace the government approval that actually applies.
City, county, state, and federal layers
| Layer | What it may cover | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| City of Houston | Occupancy, building, signs, fire, food, events, vending, short-term rentals, and regulated activities | Houston Permitting Center, Permit Portal, ARA |
| County | Many unincorporated-business DBAs, appraisal matters, and permits where county jurisdiction applies | Harris County Clerk or the correct county office |
| Texas | Entity filings, tax, employers, mobile food, and professional or industry licenses | Secretary of State, Comptroller, DSHS, TWC, TDLR, TABC |
| Federal | EIN, federal tax/payroll, and regulated industries | IRS EIN and the relevant regulator |
City of Houston requirements
Houston does not use one license for every business
The City of Houston’s ARA business licensing page lists regulated activities instead of one blanket license. Current categories include alcohol-related local steps, coin machines, dealer activities, donation boxes, game rooms, noise and sound permits, street vendors, common markets, secondhand resellers, metal recyclers, and vehicles-for-hire. Many ARA filings use the Houston Permit Portal.
Certificate of Occupancy
For commercial space, check the Certificate of Occupancy before opening or spending on a buildout. Houston says a commercial building or individual lease space needs a valid certificate before occupancy, and a new path may apply when the occupancy classification changes. The certificate must match the actual use. If needed, review the city’s occupancy inspection process.
No zoning does not mean no land rules
Houston says it does not have traditional zoning, but development, building, parking, access, setback, floodplain, fire, health, sign, and occupancy rules still apply. Review the Planning Department’s development regulations. Private deed restrictions, leases, and HOA rules can also limit a business.
Home-based businesses: Texas law limits city authority
Texas Local Government Code §229.902, effective June 12, 2025, protects a qualifying no-impact home-based business. A municipality may not prohibit it or require a municipal license, permit, or rezoning merely to operate the home business.
The protection has limits. The business must meet statutory conditions on occupancy, parking and traffic, street visibility, and noise. Generally applicable fire, building, health, sanitation, traffic, waste, pollution, and noise rules can still apply, as can deed/HOA restrictions and excluded activities.
Food establishments, mobile food, and temporary events
Restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and other fixed food businesses should use Houston Health Department’s opening a food establishment path. Occupancy, construction, grease/wastewater, fire, and sign requirements may be separate.
Mobile food changed in 2026. Beginning July 1, Texas DSHS became the licensing authority for mobile food vendors. Houston’s former local mobile-food permits and medallions no longer serve as the operating license. Start with the Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendor page, then use Houston’s mobile-food guidance for local inspection and operating requirements. LP-gas units should also check the Houston Fire Marshal.
For temporary food events, use Houston’s Temporary Food Permits page. Effective June 1, 2026, applications must be submitted at least 14 days before the event. The page lists $52 for one event lasting one to 14 consecutive days. A temporary food permit does not substitute for the DSHS mobile-food license after June 30.
Our food truck license guide explains the broader layers; the current DSHS and Houston pages control the actual steps.
Signs, alcohol, vending, fire, and short-term rentals
Before ordering a sign, check Houston Sign Administration. Alcohol sellers should check both TABC and Houston ARA. Street vendors and other regulated activities should use ARA and the current city portal. Food trucks using LP gas should review the Houston Fire Marshal food-truck page.
Short-term rentals inside city limits use Houston’s STR registration system. The city says that on January 1, 2027, it will begin notifying booking platforms to remove Houston listings without a Certificate of Registration.
County requirements
Houston is primarily in Harris County, but portions are in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. A Houston postal address can also be outside city limits. Verify both city-limit status and county before using a county rule.
Assumed names, also called DBAs
The Harris County Clerk files assumed names for unincorporated businesses. Texas filing entities such as LLCs and corporations generally use the Secretary of State assumed-name route. A DBA is only a name filing; it does not create an LLC or replace permits. Use the Texas name filing FAQ to match the route to your structure.
Business personal property changed for the 2026 tax year
Texas raised the exemption for income-producing tangible personal property to $125,000 for 2026 and changed the rendition framework. HCAD’s current rendition guide explains when a full rendition is required and when a business at or below the threshold may use the certification path. If a rendition is required, the normal timely filing date remains April 15.
County permits outside Houston city limits
For a site outside Houston city limits, county development or fire rules can matter. Harris County’s Permits Division covers permits in its jurisdiction. Do not assume a business inside Houston needs a separate county general business license merely because it is in Harris County.
Texas requirements
No general Texas business license
Texas does not use one general statewide business license for every business. State licenses depend on the activity, and city or county obligations remain separate.
Entity and assumed-name filings now use SOSPortal
For an LLC, corporation, limited partnership, or similar filing entity, start with Texas Secretary of State Business Services. On September 29, 2026, the state launched SOSPortal, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filing, searching, and ordering. Assumed-name filing still depends on business structure.
Sales tax and franchise tax
Businesses selling taxable goods or services may need a Texas sales and use tax permit. Apply through the Comptroller’s registration path. The Comptroller says there is no permit fee, though a security bond can be required. For entity reporting, use the current franchise tax and filing requirements pages rather than an old checklist.
If you hire workers
Check TWC unemployment-tax liability and registration. TWC announced that the new Texas Unemployment System (TxUS) for tax would go live by or on June 1, 2026 and replace UTR and UTS. Because legacy pages may remain indexed, verify the current TWC route before using an old login or registration page.
New-hire reporting is separate. The Texas Attorney General says employers must report new hires and rehires within 20 calendar days. Use the Texas New Hire Reporting page.
Professional and industry licenses
Some businesses need a state professional or industry license. Start with the TDLR license list when relevant. Alcohol sellers use TABC; mobile food vendors use DSHS.
Federal steps
Federal steps are separate from Houston and Texas permits. Many businesses need an EIN for employees, entities, banking, or federal tax administration. The safest free path is the IRS EIN page.
Beneficial ownership reporting changed again during this review period. FinCEN issued a final rule on August 11, 2026. The final rule keeps U.S.-created companies exempt from BOI reporting; that practical domestic-company exemption had already been in effect under the 2025 interim rule. Certain foreign companies registered to do business in the United States may still have BOI duties. Use FinCEN’s current BOI page rather than an old checklist.
Costs you can plan for
There is no single “Houston business license fee.” Costs depend on the exact permit, activity, site, inspection, or construction work.
| Possible cost | Who handles it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Texas sales tax permit | Comptroller | No permit fee; a security bond can be required. |
| Assumed name | County clerk or SOS | Route and fee depend on structure and filing method. |
| Occupancy | Houston Permitting Center | Use current city fee information for the exact service. |
| Temporary food event | Houston Health | $52 for one event of one to 14 consecutive days; apply at least 14 days ahead. |
| Mobile food | Texas DSHS plus Houston local steps | DSHS license type and inspections affect cost. |
| Other regulated activity | Houston or Texas agency | Fees vary by the exact license or permit. |
Practical tip: Use the direct official fee page for the exact permit. Application, inspection, license, and renewal charges may be separate.
Real-world examples
Home-based consultant
A quiet home consultant may fit Texas’s protected no-impact category if the statutory conditions are met. City operating-license or rezoning demands can then be limited, but deed restrictions and generally applicable safety or professional rules can still matter. See our home occupation permit guide.
Online seller
An online seller may need a Texas sales tax permit and an assumed-name filing. Inventory or equipment can raise business-personal-property questions, while a warehouse, pickup point, or customer-facing space can trigger occupancy checks. See our online business license basics.
Restaurant or cafe
Check the lease space and Certificate of Occupancy first. Food, construction, grease/wastewater, signs, fire, sales tax, and TABC steps may also apply.
Food truck
Start with the Texas DSHS mobile-food license, then complete applicable Houston inspection and fire steps. A temporary food permit is not a substitute.
Short-term rental host
Use Houston’s STR registration system, follow hotel-occupancy-tax and safety duties, and check deed restrictions. Platform-removal notifications for unregistered listings are scheduled to begin January 1, 2027.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling every filing a “business license” instead of using the official name.
- Signing a lease before checking occupancy and planned use.
- Assuming “no zoning” means any activity can operate anywhere.
- Ignoring the no-impact home-business law or assuming it protects every home business.
- Using the old Houston mobile-food medallion path after July 1, 2026.
- Missing the 14-day temporary-food application deadline.
- Using SOSDirect after SOSPortal launched.
- Using pre-2026 business-personal-property threshold advice.
- Forgetting separate Texas new-hire reporting.
- Using the wrong county or city-limit assumptions.
Phone and email scripts
Use these when an agency must evaluate the address or activity.
City permit script
Hello, I plan to operate a [business type] at [address] in Houston. Customers will [visit/not visit], and I will [sell food/use signs/store inventory/change the space]. Which city permits, inspections, licenses, or occupancy steps apply before I open?
Certificate of Occupancy script
I am considering [address or suite]. The prior use was [prior use], and my planned use is [new use]. Is the current Certificate of Occupancy valid for my use, or is an inspection or change-of-use step needed?
DBA script
I am a [business structure] using [business name] in [county]. Is the assumed-name filing handled by the county clerk or Texas Secretary of State, and what is the current filing path?
Home-business script
I plan to operate a home-based [business type] at [address]. Does Texas Local Government Code §229.902 apply to my facts, and is any site-specific city approval still required?
A compact compliance checklist
- Confirm Houston city limits and county.
- Write down the exact activity and site use.
- Check Houston ARA and the Permitting Center.
- Confirm commercial occupancy before opening.
- For home business, check §229.902 plus deed/HOA rules.
- Use Houston Health for fixed food.
- Use DSHS plus Houston local steps for mobile food.
- Apply at least 14 days ahead for Houston temporary food.
- Match the assumed-name route to your business structure.
- Use SOSPortal for current Texas entity filings.
- Check Comptroller tax duties.
- If hiring, check both TWC and new-hire reporting.
- Check state professional/industry licensing.
- Get an EIN from the IRS when needed.
- Save approvals, receipts, permits, and agency messages.
What to do if this doesn’t work
If an official page is unclear, contact the agency with the exact address and activity. Ask for the current permit name, application route, fee page, and inspection steps.
If two government answers conflict, ask which current ordinance, statute, rule, or department page controls. Keep a short record of the answer.
Official resources
- Houston ARA business licensing
- Houston Permit Portal
- Houston Certificate of Occupancy
- Houston fixed food-establishment permits
- Houston mobile-food guidance
- Texas DSHS mobile-food licensing
- Houston temporary food permits
- Harris County assumed names
- HCAD business personal property rendition guide
- Texas Secretary of State Business Services
- Texas Online Tax Registration
- Texas New Hire Reporting
About BusinessLicenseGuide.com
BusinessLicenseGuide.com is a plain-English resource for small-business owners. We are not a law firm, CPA firm, filing service, insurance agency, or government office. We help readers separate government layers, find official action pages, and ask better questions before spending money.
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FAQ
Does Houston have a general business license?
No single citywide general business license applies to every Houston business. Houston uses activity-specific licenses and permits, building and occupancy approvals, health permits, and other requirements based on what the business does and where it operates.
What city office handles Houston business permits?
Many building and occupancy permits start with the Houston Permitting Center. The Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department handles many regulated business licenses and permits. Food establishments use Houston Health Department paths, while some activities are licensed by Texas agencies.
Do I need a Certificate of Occupancy in Houston?
A commercial building or individual lease space generally needs a valid Certificate of Occupancy before it is occupied, and a new one may be needed when the occupancy classification changes. Confirm the exact address and planned use before you sign a lease or open.
Does Houston have zoning?
Houston says it does not have traditional zoning, but businesses still face development rules, building and fire codes, parking and site rules, deed restrictions, health rules, and occupancy requirements. State law also limits what a city may require from a qualifying no-impact home-based business.
Where do I file a DBA for a Houston business?
It depends on the business structure and county. Unincorporated businesses commonly use the county clerk assumed-name path. Texas filing entities such as LLCs and corporations generally use the Texas Secretary of State assumed-name process. Confirm the county for the actual business location.
Do I need a Texas sales tax permit?
You may need a Texas sales and use tax permit if you sell or lease taxable tangible personal property or sell taxable services. The Texas Comptroller says there is no fee for the permit, although a security bond may be required in some cases.
Update note
Last updated: October 8, 2026
Next review: January 6, 2027
This review rechecked Houston licensing, occupancy, home-business, food, county, Texas filing, tax, employer, and federal paths. It incorporates the 2026 mobile-food, temporary-food, and SOSPortal changes, rechecks the TxUS transition, and corrects older home-business and property-tax guidance.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only. Business license, tax, zoning, permit, health, fire, and filing rules can change. Confirm current requirements with the official agency before you apply, pay a fee, sign a lease, or begin operating.