Tenant can't open. Rent clock is ticking. Deal is on the line. We've been there, and we fix it. We've cleared Houston COs in as fast as 5 days.
Get My CO Unstuck Emergency: (832) 977-8173Restaurant can't serve customers. Retail store can't open doors. Office tenant can't move in. The rent doesn't stop just because the City is slow. Let us get you open.
A Certificate of Occupancy in Houston requires sign-offs from multiple City departments. Any one of them can hold up the entire process. Here are the most common reasons COs get delayed:
Fire alarm not tested, suppression system incomplete, exit signs missing, occupancy load questions, fire lane issues.
Restaurant/food service permits pending, grease trap not approved, hood ventilation issues, hand sink requirements.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or structural inspections not passed. Inspector comments not addressed.
Outstanding plan review comments from building, fire, or accessibility reviewers that were never resolved.
As-built drawings not submitted, engineer letters missing, special inspection reports incomplete.
Old permits never closed out, previous tenant's violations, inherited problems from prior owner/tenant.
Updated August 2026 — based on 500+ permits expedited, average CO resolution 8 days.
Simple issues (missing inspection): 2-5 days
Fire Marshal coordination: 5-10 days
Health Dept + Fire Marshal: 7-14 days
Complex multi-department issues: 2-4 weeks
Every day without a CO costs money. Let us get you across the finish line.
Get Free CO Status CheckYou've invested hundreds of thousands in your buildout. Staff is hired. Vendors are lined up. But the City won't give you your CO. We specialize in restaurant COs - coordinating Health Department, Fire Marshal, and Building simultaneously to get you open.
Your tenant's rent clock started, but they can't move in without a CO. Now they're angry, and you're stuck in the middle. We take the problem off your plate and get the CO issued so everyone can move forward.
Grand opening is scheduled. Marketing is running. But you can't open because of a CO delay. We've helped dozens of retailers get their COs in time for planned openings.
You've built out your new space, but can't occupy it. Meanwhile, you're paying rent on two spaces. We expedite office COs so you can consolidate and stop the bleeding.
A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is a document issued by the City of Houston confirming that a building or space is safe to occupy and complies with all applicable building, fire, and health codes. Houston requires a CO before a business opens to the public or a new or renovated space is occupied.
You need a CO before you can:
"Got my CO in 8 days after 6 weeks of runaround. These guys know everyone at the permit office."
— Property Manager, Galleria Area
"Fire Marshal wouldn't sign off on our restaurant. HTX Permit Fix figured out the issue and got it resolved in 5 days. We opened that weekend."
— Restaurant Owner, Montrose
For straightforward projects, the City of Houston issues a CO once all final inspections pass. When a CO is stuck, resolution time depends on the cause: with an expediter, simple issues like a missing inspection typically clear in 2–5 days, Fire Marshal coordination takes 5–10 days, combined Health Department and Fire Marshal issues take 7–14 days, and complex multi-department problems take 2–4 weeks. Our average CO resolution is 8 days.
Yes. The City of Houston requires a Certificate of Occupancy before a business opens to the public, before occupying newly constructed or renovated space, and whenever a building's use changes — for example, converting retail space to a restaurant. Lenders and landlords also commonly require a CO to close a sale or lease.
A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) allows partial occupancy of a building while minor outstanding items are completed. Houston also issues a Certificate of Completion for smaller projects that don't change occupancy, and a full Certificate of Occupancy for new construction or major renovations.
The six most common causes we see: Fire Marshal issues (untested alarms, incomplete suppression systems), Health Department holds (grease traps, hood ventilation), failed inspections, unresolved plan review comments, missing documentation (as-builts, engineer letters), and old permits that were never closed out. A CO requires sign-off from multiple departments, and any one of them can hold the whole thing.
Free CO status check. We'll tell you exactly what's blocking you and how fast we can fix it.
Get Free Assessment Call (832) 977-8173Need help with other permit issues? We handle all Houston permit problems:
Fast-track your building permits through City of Houston plan review and inspections.
Learn More →Resolve code violations, dangerous building notices, and work-without-permit issues.
Learn More →Get construction back on track fast after receiving a stop work order.
Learn More →Store buildout finished but the CO is stuck? Retail-specific occupancy blockers and how they clear.
Learn More →A failed trade inspection is one of the most common things holding a CO. Triage the comments and get re-inspected.
Learn More →