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Building and Permitting
THE CITY OF KEMAH HAS ADOPTED THE 2021 ICC CODES AND 2020 NEC EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 01, 2022
Kemah seeks to provide its citizens and visitors with a beautiful, safe environment by ensuring compliance with state law, municipal ordinances, and building codes.
The goal of the Building Permit Process is to ensure that all developments, both residential and commercial, within the city meet applicable building and development codes. The basic permit process is outlined below. Applicants should keep in mind that the process may vary slightly depending on the complexity of their requests.
Permit Process
All applicable permits (building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.) must be obtained following this process.
- Design: Application Packet developed by design/engineering professionals
- Submission: Completed Packet submitted to the City Building Department including required Plan Review Fees. Email documents to permits@kemahtx.gov with information regarding payment submittal.
- Review: The packet undergoes review, including Civil, Fire Marshal and Building plans. Note that changes developed in later steps could require the repeat of earlier steps and that some steps may not be required depending on the type on project.
- Issuance: Once payment is received, the permit is issued (subject to inspections, etc.) and construction can begin.
More information:
Commercial Building Checklist
Residential Building Checklist
Required application forms can be found below.
Contractor Registration
- All Contractors must be registered with the City of Kemah prior to beginning any work in the City.
- Contractor Registration Form
- Pay the required fees to complete the registration process. Payment can be made in person at City Hall with cash, check, money order, or credit card. Payment can also be made by Telephone (281-334-1611) using a credit card.
- Registration is valid for a calendar year.
Scheduling Building Inspections
All work performed under the issued permit is subject to field inspections and approvals. It is your responsibility to schedule the inspections as required. The City will assist the contractor in adhering to the inspection schedule.
Electricity and Gas releases to CenterPoint Energy will not be submitted until the required inspection report is received.
Certificate of Occupancy
Certificates of Occupancy are required in two different business situations:
- Any change in the ownership or type of business in a location requires issuance of a new Certificate of Occupancy.
- Any commercial new construction or alteration (remodel) project will require a Certificate of Occupancy before the business can begin operations. Commercial repair projects may also require a new Certificate of Occupancy.
When all the construction and field inspections are done:
- Complete the Certificate of Occupancy Application Form available below.
- Pay any required fees. Payment can be made in person at City Hall with cash, check, money order, or credit card. Payment can also be made by Telephone (281-334-1611) using credit card or check.
- Depending on the type of project, additional requirements may need to be met in advance of a Certificate of Occupancy (e.g. Elevation Certificate, Sales Tax Certificate, Confirmation of Galveston County Health District inspection).
- Once all requirements are met, the Certificate of Occupancy will be available at City Hall.
Food Truck Permits
Food trucks and other mobile food vehicles are allowed to serve within the City of Kemah by permit only. This includes vehicles that prepares and/or sells food, drinks, snow cones and public concession type food for patrons.
Mobile Food Vehicle regulations can be found in Chapter 50 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. Submittal requirements include:
- Galveston County Health District permit
- Plumbing, electrical and gas (if applicable) schematics
- A list of locations where the mobile food vehicle will operate (updated as locations change)
- Written consent from the property owner or legal representative allowing the mobile food vehicle, if to be at a location for an hour or more.
- Written consent from a manager or business owner of a host site allowing patrons to use the restroom, if to be at a location for an hour or more, if food sold is to be consumed on site and seating arrangements are provided on site by the applicant.
- Copy of sales tax permit indicating that Kemah, Texas, shall be reported as the point of sale for all sales by applicant in Kemah, Texas.
Peddler, Solicitor, or Vendor Permit
By Ordinance, peddlers, solicitors, and vendors are allowed in the City of Kemah by permit only.
Peddler means a person who travels about within the city using the streets and alleys thereof with goods, wares, merchandise or services for sale.
Solicitor means those persons, firms, corporations, or organizations who, going from person to person, seek orders, subscriptions, contributions, or any other kind of support for personal or company gain.
Itinerant vendor means all persons, as well as their agents and employees, who engage in the temporary or transient business in the city of selling, offering for sale, taking orders for sale, or exhibiting for sale any goods, wares, merchandise, photographs, magazines, plants, lumber, or foodstuffs.
The application form describes all the requirements.
Building and Development Forms
- BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION-12.12.22
- Business Registration
- Certificate of Occupancy Application
- Commercial Plan Review Application
- Contractor Registration Form
- Demolition Permit Application
- Electrical Permit Application
- Fire System Permit Application
- Mechanical or HVAC Permit Application
- Plumbing-Gas Permit Application
- ROW Permit Application with Notes
- Security Alarm Permit Application
- Sign Permit Application
- Variance Application