Qualifications for Small Tenant Review
Harris County allows Small Tenant Improvement Plan Review for permitting of certain smaller, lower hazard spaces. This review does not require plans drawn by an Engineer or Architect as specified by the State Boards. Plans may be drawn by the applicant but must be accurate, legible and contain all pertinent information, please see Small Tenant Improvement Flyer for all the requirements. Small Tenant Improvement review will be followed up with an inspection by the Harris County Fire Marshal. Once the facility has passed inspection, a Certificate of Compliance OR a Certificate of Inspection will be issued.
**Small Tenant Improvement Review is a privilege and it’s not always guaranteed to the occupancies outlined by Harris County Fire Code. Some occupancies will be handled on a case-by-case bases depending on the level of hazard. This will be determined by the Fire Marshal or the Building Official.
Does my project qualify for Small Tenant review?
For New Facilities or Change of Occupancy
1. Is your lease space 5,000 sq. feet or less?
2. Is your lease space one of the qualifying occupancy types noted below?
- Mercantile (Retail)
- Business (Office)
- S-1 (Moderate Hazard Storage)
- S-2 (Low Hazard/Non-Combustible Storage)
- F-1 (Moderate Hazard Industrial)
- F-2 (Low-Hazard Industrial)
- U (Miscellaneous)
Exception: Tenant Improvements that include but not limited too: Tire Storage, Paint & Body Shop, High Hazard High-Pile Storage, Combustible liquids (including Paints), Flammable solids or liquids, Organic peroxides, Oxidizers, Pyrophoric, & Cryogenic fluids are subject to Full Fire Code review. Chick here for link. http://www.eng.hctx.net/permits/Fire/Fire-Code/Fire-Code-Review
If you can answer "yes" to these two questions then you may submit for Small Tenant review.
You must complete and submit the following documents:
- Small Tenant Improvement Application
- Site Plan (see example under supporting information)
- Floor Plan (see example under supporting information)
If your answer to any one of these two questions is "no," please proceed to Fire Code Review.
Harris County - Parking Requirements: There are no parking requirements in Harris County, Harris County does not have a Building Code to reflect any handicap nor other parking requirements. Please refer to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations - Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) for handicap parking accessibility.
***Food Establishments Require Harris County Public Health Approval prior to submittal to the Permits Division of the Harris County Engineering Department. Refer to the Food Establishment Procedure Document below for additional information.***
Fire Code Codeword