Houston housing context
These U.S. Census Bureau estimates describe Houston city, Texas during 2020–2024. They provide context for discussing a property; check the actual building, occupancy and ownership before defining work.
| Measure | Estimate | 90% margin of error |
|---|---|---|
| All housing units | 1,040,576 | ± 3,254 |
| Occupied housing units | 930,404 | ± 3,659 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 391,519 | ± 4,830 |
| Renter-occupied homes | 538,885 | ± 4,871 |
| One-unit detached homes | 444,742 | ± 4,614 |
| One-unit attached homes | 50,598 | ± 1,997 |
| Median year built | 1982 | ± 1 |
Housing units by construction period
| Year built | Units | 90% margin of error |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 24,588 | ± 1,574 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 150,716 | ± 3,986 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 141,523 | ± 3,265 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 93,240 | ± 2,943 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 141,904 | ± 3,577 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 192,199 | ± 3,821 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 123,035 | ± 2,481 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 94,117 | ± 2,652 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 37,958 | ± 1,777 |
| 1939 or earlier | 41,296 | ± 1,961 |
Source tables: Housing totals · Tenure · Building types · Year built · Median year built. Survey estimates and their margins of error are shown as published; these are not October 2026 counts. The separate population reference uses Census Vintage 2025.
For a rented home, confirm who can authorize alterations. In a shared building, ask about access and work rules. A citywide construction period does not establish the age, condition or safety requirements of an individual home; check the property records and the specific project.
Choose the work you need to plan
Use the project guides to identify the work, then check listings against the property’s city and state. A guide link does not mean a provider is available for every task or address.
Deck and Fence Maintenance
Drywall Repair
Caulking and Sealing
TV Mounting and Wall Hanging
Gutter and Exterior Maintenance
Home Safety Improvements
General Home Repairs
Furniture Assembly
Other cities in Texas
Select the city of the actual property; these links do not establish provider coverage between cities.
Houston repair planning: the local decisions
Use the property address, not the metro label
The Harris County Flood Control District explains that Houston and other incorporated areas have their own floodplain administrators. In unincorporated Harris County, that role belongs to the County Engineer’s office. HCFCD states that it is not one of the county’s floodplain administrators.
Confirm the jurisdiction of the actual address before asking which office should review the proposal. A business’s use of “Houston” as a service-area description and the property’s postal address do not answer that administrative question. This page describes the city; it does not apply one set of rules to every surrounding community.
Separate ordinary repair details from flood-related questions
When a repair raises a drainage, floodplain or damage question, explain the intended work to the appropriate authority. Houston Public Works provides an official route to the Houston Permitting Center and Building Code Enforcement. Use the jurisdiction guidance to choose the right starting point for a property outside the city.
Keep observations, photographs and any existing property documents with the request. A map or a directory entry is not a site assessment or an approval to proceed. If the work depends on a finding about damage or a building system, make that assessment an explicit step before treating the finish repair as the entire project.
Keep the repair specification useful to the business
Describe affected rooms and components, what has already been removed or repaired and the finish you want at completion. If removal, drying, specialist assessment or remediation is relevant, identify who will decide and perform that part. Do not fold an unresolved condition into an ordinary patch-and-paint instruction.
Use the task guides once the repair scope is defined. Ask any business you consider to confirm the exact address and accepted work, and distinguish assessment, repair and finishing in its proposal. The profiles provide published information to investigate; they do not establish emergency response or coverage of every Houston-area municipality.
Local planning resources: HCFCD floodplain-jurisdiction explanation · Houston Public Works permitting resources.
Questions for Houston project planning
Is the Harris County Flood Control District the permit authority for every Houston-area repair?
No. The district’s jurisdiction explanation distinguishes incorporated-city administrators from the County Engineer’s role in unincorporated Harris County. Confirm the actual property’s jurisdiction so the question reaches the responsible office.
What should I gather before asking about a Houston-area repair with a floodplain question?
Have the exact address, confirmed jurisdiction and a component-by-component description of the proposed work. Add any relevant property documents you already hold, and ask the appropriate administrator rather than treating a map or service listing as approval.