- Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) and
- One of the following: sales sheet, price breakdown form, or buyer and seller contract.
What is an Impact Fee Exemption?
An impact fee exemption allows you to be exempt from paying impact fees for a single-family residence up to 3,000 square feet or one (1) service unit. There are qualifications that you must meet in order to be considered Impact Fee Exempt.
An approval of impact fee exemption at plan review does not permanently exempt the owner from paying impact fees at this location. If the home is sold for over the median exempt unit cost listed on the owners Impact Fee Exemption form, the owner listed will owe impact fees to the City of Houston.
Who qualifies for an Impact Fee Exemption?
Development of low and moderate-cost single-family housing can be considered for impact fee exemption. In order to qualify for this exemption, the house must be a single-family residence located within the City Limits having an initial purchase price as certified by the property owner that does not exceed the latest available 12-month listing for median price single-family housing in the city as published by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.
If the initial purchase price exceeds this amount, the property owner making the certification shall pay the full amount of impact fees as calculated by Impact Fee Administration, located on the 3rd floor of the Houston Permitting Center. The owner is responsible for turning in the closing statement for each impact fee exemption.
Qualifications for Impact Fee Exemption
- All impact fee exemption applicants must have a Wastewater Capacity Reservation (WCR) letter.
- All impact fee exemption applicants must have uploaded Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) documents into ProjectDox’s Utility Letters folder at time of plan submittal.
- All impact fee exemption applicants must have uploaded the Impact Fee Exemption Form into ProjectDox’s Utility Letters folder at time of plan submittal.
- Owner must be selling the property at the completion of building the single-family residence.
- The single-family residence cannot exceed 3,000 square feet or one service unit.
- Mobile homes do not qualify for Impact Fee Exemption.
- Closing documents for the sale of the single-family residence must be turned in to Taps & Meters section within 10 business days from the sale of the home.
How do I apply for an Impact Fee Exemption?
All impact fee exemption documents will be uploaded into ProjectDox for review. The following required documents must be uploaded into the Utility Letters folder:
- Impact Fee Exemption Form – to be completed by the owner
- Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) documents
- Wastewater Capacity Reservation (WCR) letter
Helpful links
List Title Small water meters List DescriptionWhat is a small meter?
Small Domestic Meters
Small domestic water meters are any size meter that is 2” and smaller that may service a permanent structure that can be for residential, multi-family, commercial, or government use. Please see the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide on how to apply for a Domestic meter.
Small Irrigation Meters
Small irrigation water meters that are 2” and smaller and used for plant or landscape irrigation purposes only. They may be used as an additional meter on a property with a Domestic meter, or to irrigate vacant lands such as land along the right-of-way, esplanades, parks, and private property. Please see the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide on how to apply for an Irrigation meter.
Ultrasonic Fire-rated meters
Ultrasonic meters are small water meters that are 2” and smaller that are used when there is a fire suppression system required for your development.
When do I apply for a Small Water Meter?
New Construction
You can apply for a small water meter after your building or utility plans have been approved by Utility Review in Taps & Meters. 1” Meter is the minimum size for new residential and commercial developments.
Enlargement
If you are requesting a larger meter size than the meter you already have existing at your site, then you will apply for a small meter enlargement.
Example: I have a 5/8” meter and I would like to enlarge it to a 1” meter.
Meter Relocation
If you want to move your existing meter to a different location on your lot that is adjacent to the City of Houston right-of-way.
Meter Separation
If you are sharing a meter with another unit and would like to install your own meter.
Cut, Plug, and Abandon Meter
If you no longer require your meter or need to remove an existing meter from your site, apply for a cut, plug, and abandon permit. This permit is also used to close out any existing water accounts associated with your property.
Meter Changeout
Meter changeouts facilitate the replacement of a domestic meter with an Ultrasonic fire-rated meter.
How do I apply for a small water meter?
Online small meter application
Click here to apply for a small meter. Please download the Small Meter Permit Requirements guide to assist you with additional documents required with your permit application.
What happens after Taps & Meters processes my small meter application?
When Taps & Meters approves your application you will be given a Water New Service (WNS) number. The WNS number will be your identifier for your permit for any future updates.
After Taps & Meters approves your small water meter application it is completed by Customer Account Services (CAS) New Service group. CAS New Service is responsible for issuing the invoice for your small water meter permit and setting up new water accounts. If any water or drainage accounts associated with your site are not in good standing, you will not be able to purchase your permit until the account issues are resolved. If you have a billing issue and Customer Account Service at HPC has given you instruction to call the CAS Call Center, you can reach them at 713-371-1400. If you have a billing issue the CAS Call Center is your point of contact to update existing accounts. We are unable to update existing accounts at the Houston Permitting Center.
If you have questions about your permit invoice or work order status, please email CAS New Service at [email protected] . Provide your service address and WNS number.
Once you pay your invoice the plumber of your choice will receive a permit work order from Customer Account Services within 10-15 business days, communicating that the inspection can be set up with the Inspections group and your plumber.
In event that your application is rejected, you will receive an email from Taps & Meters indicating why your application was not approved and what items to provide. You will then be encouraged to submit a new application with the correct documents and information.
If you have application-related questions you may contact us at 832 394.8888.
Helpful Links
- Small Meter Permit Requirements
- Small Water Meter Application
- List of approved contractors to install small water meters
- Sponsor Change Form
- Infrastructure Design Manual
- Construction Specifications
