Houston Property Research Guide
Type an address and get one card for each thing you might want to know about a Houston property, with the official website to check it, step-by-step how to look it up, and a Copy address button. Nothing is fetched or stored; the links open the official sites.
- Cards on your list—
- Where—
- Address—
One property is really several records kept by different offices. Toggle a layer to see where each one sits on a typical lot.
How to use this guide
- Enter the address and choose City of Houston or unincorporated Harris County. If you are not sure, start with card 4.
- Click Copy address, then open each official site and paste it into the search box. Only FEMA's map search accepts a pre-filled address from a link, so that is the only card where the address is sent in the link.
- Use Print checklist to take it with you. Each card gets a tick box.
Which office holds which record
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Owner, value, lot size, year built, school district, taxing units | Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) |
| Tax bill and whether taxes are paid | Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector |
| Recorded deeds, deed restrictions, plats, liens | Harris County Clerk |
| Building permits, plans, certificates of occupancy (city) | Houston Permitting Center |
| Floodplain rules and elevation records (city) | Houston Floodplain Management Office (inside the Permitting Center) |
| Flood maps | FEMA and the Harris County Flood Control District |
| Permits and floodplain in unincorporated areas | Harris County Engineering (Office of the County Engineer) |
| MUD and other water districts | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) lists them; the district itself bills you |
Houston has no zoning, so these records matter
Houston does not use conventional zoning. Deed restrictions, the recorded plat and city development rules (Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances) do that job. The City Planning and Development Department publishes a development regulations page. Read the deed restrictions and plat before you buy, design or build. See also the Houston permit checker.
Sources
- HCAD property search, HCAD jurisdictions
- Harris County Tax Office, property tax
- FEMA Map Service Center, Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool
- Houston Permitting Center sold permits search, open records
- Harris County Clerk, City of Houston deed restrictions
- TCEQ water districts, Harris County Engineering permits FAQ
This page is general information, not legal, survey or title advice. It links to public offices and does not look up or verify any record. For a purchase, hire a title company and a licensed surveyor.
Estimates only — not engineering, legal or code advice. Check requirements with your local building department and a licensed professional before you build.
Common questions
How do I find who owns a property in Houston?
Search the address on the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) property search. It lists the owner of record, mailing address, account number, legal description, lot size, year built and appraised value. For the actual deed and the chain of owners, use the Harris County Clerk's real property records search, where recorded deeds are filed.
How do I check if a house is in a flood zone?
Enter the address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (Search By Address) and in the Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool. FEMA shows the official zone on the effective flood map. The County tool shows the mapped floodplains and the contact for your local floodplain administrator. Maps show mapped risk, not past flooding, so also ask the seller or the City or County floodplain office about flood history and any elevation certificate.
How do I find deed restrictions in Houston?
Deed restrictions (also called restrictive covenants) are recorded documents, so they are filed with the Harris County Clerk, usually against the subdivision plat or in a recorded declaration. Find your subdivision name and recording information on HCAD or the plat, then search the County Clerk's real property records. The City Legal Department's deed restriction page explains the City's enforcement role. Neighborhood civic clubs and HOAs often hold copies too.
How do I see the permit history for a Houston address?
The Houston Permitting Center's Sold Permits Search gives basic permit history for roughly the last three years. For a complete history, older records, plans or certificates of occupancy, file a Texas Public Information Act (open records) request with the Houston Permitting Center. The City says that can take up to 10 business days. Outside city limits, ask Harris County Engineering instead.
Does Houston have zoning?
No. Houston is the largest US city without conventional zoning. Land use is shaped by private deed restrictions and by city development rules such as Chapter 42 (lot size, building lines and similar standards) and the building and floodplain codes. That is why checking deed restrictions and the plat matters so much in Houston.
Does a Houston mailing address mean the property is inside the City of Houston?
No. Many Houston addresses are in unincorporated Harris County or in other cities. Check the Houston Map Viewer, or look at the taxing units listed for the account on HCAD. If City of Houston is not listed, city permits, council districts and 311 do not apply, and Harris County rules do. Switch this tool to unincorporated Harris County to see the county versions.