How to Get a Business License in Houston — 2026 Guide
Quick Overview
Starting a business in Houston, TX requires registrations across federal, state, county, and city agencies. The primary registration is the No general city business license through the Houston Permitting Center.
Difficulty: 6-7/10. No state business license. No state income tax. Cities vary widely — some require licenses, some don't.
PermitBoard generates a complete, ordered roadmap for your specific business type in Houston — with fees, timelines, and direct links to every form. Get My Roadmap →
Should You Start a Business in Houston?
✔ Pros:
- Large market (2.3M population)
- No upfront city licence cost
- 2-6 weeks estimated processing time
- No state franchise tax
⚠ Cons:
- Moderate complexity — standard multi-agency process
- NO ZONING — largest US city without zoning laws
👉 Bottom line: Good market with manageable permit requirements. Plan 2-6 weeks for full licensing.
What You'll Pay
Upfront Costs
| Permit | Fee | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Free | IRS |
| LLC filing | $300 LLC | TX Secretary of State |
| Seller's permit | Varies | State tax agency |
| No general city business license | $0–$150 | Houston Permitting Center |
| County health permit (food businesses) | $300–$800 | Harris County Public Health |
General business total: $0–$150. Restaurant total: $0–$500.
Ongoing Costs
| Obligation | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| No general city business license renewal | $0–$150 | Annual (due No general license to renew) |
| County health permit renewal | $300–$800 | Annual |
The Permit Stack
Step 1: Federal: EIN from IRS (free, instant online)
Step 2: State: LLC/Corp filing + seller's permit/sales tax registration
Step 3: County: health department permit + fire inspection
Step 4: City: business licence/tax certificate
File your LLC online: sos.state.tx.us
Apply for city licence: https://www.houstontx.gov
By Business Type
Restaurant: City business licence + county health permit + fire inspection. Alcohol requires separate state/local liquor licence.
Food Truck: Mobile food vendor permit (city) + county health permit. Some cities limit permits.
Home Based: Home occupation permit. Zoning approval required. Often cheapest category.
Retail: Standard business licence. Lower complexity than food businesses.
Contractor: State contractor licence often required in addition to city licence.
Catering: County health permit + city business licence. Commercial kitchen requirement.
Temporary Food Vendor: Temporary food permit from county health department.
What Most People Miss
- NO ZONING — largest US city without zoning laws
- Deed restrictions and HOA rules substitute for zoning
- Houston Permitting Center at 1002 Washington Ave for most permits
- Certificate of Occupancy required for all commercial buildings
- 10-day notice for missing CO, then daily citations
- Harris County Public Health for food permits
- City has online Project Planner tool to identify permits
- Home-based businesses must check deed restrictions, not zoning
Key Contacts
Houston Permitting Center
Phone: 832-394-8800
Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77002
https://www.houstontx.gov
Harris County Public Health (Harris County)
Phone: (713) 439-6000
https://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov
Timeline
Estimated total: 2-6 weeks from EIN to fully licensed, assuming no zoning issues or inspection delays.
Don't Guess — Get Your Roadmap
Every business type has different requirements. PermitBoard analyzes your specific business type against Houston's actual requirements and gives you a step-by-step plan with fees, timelines, and direct links to every form.
Get My Permit Roadmap for Houston →
Nearby Cities
Starting a business nearby? See our guides:
- San Antonio · Dallas · Austin · Fort Worth