HOUSTON TX Architects
A contemporary two-story Houston house in white stucco and limestone with tall black-framed windows, seen from the street on a clear day beneath a mature live oak

Design the homeyou actually want to live in.

Custom homes, additions and renovations across Greater Houston — drawn by a licensed Texas architect who stays on the project through permitting and construction.

Proudly serving Greater Houston

No cost, no obligation. We reply within one business day.

What we do

Custom homes, additions and renovations

Design and construction drawings for residential projects across Greater Houston, from the first walk of the lot through permitting and construction.

New custom homes

From the first walk of the lot through permit and construction administration. Site, drainage and budget get decided before the plan hardens.

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Additions

Second stories, rear additions and garage conversions — where existing structure, setbacks and drainage decide what is actually possible.

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Renovations

Whole-house and major interior work, including the structural and MEP coordination that keeps a remodel from stalling mid-construction.

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Project cost

How much does it cost to build a custom home in Houston?

Cost depends on size, finish and the site. So the honest answer is a range, not one number. Set yours below.

Construction cost, likely range

Cost per square foot
Architectural and Engineering design fee
Contingency to hold (10–20%)

Construction cost only — it excludes the lot, furniture and landscaping. Houston ranges move with the market, the finish level and how difficult the site is. Treat this as a planning range, not a quote.

Permits and plan review

How long does a building permit take in Greater Houston?

It depends on which authority governs your lot, and that is decided by the lot rather than the mailing address. A Houston postal address can sit in unincorporated Harris County, or inside a small city with its own rules and its own queue.

Which authority reviews your project is decided by the lot, not the mailing address. A Houston postal address can sit in an unincorporated part of Harris County, or inside a small incorporated city with its own rules.

Plan review, typical

Permit fees, rough
Also likely required

Durations and fees are set by each jurisdiction and change without notice. These are typical planning ranges, not quotes — confirm with the authority that governs your lot.

Project timeline

How long before you can break ground on a Houston house?

Design time is driven by how quickly decisions get made. Permit time is driven by the jurisdiction. Neither is driven by how fast anyone draws.

Design time is driven by how quickly decisions get made. Permit time is driven by the jurisdiction. Neither is driven by how fast anyone draws.

First meeting to construction start

A planning estimate from first meeting to construction start. It excludes construction itself, which is a separate schedule set by the builder.

What fits on the lot

What can you actually build on a Houston lot?

Houston has no conventional zoning, which is not the same as no rules. Setbacks, plat notes, deed restrictions and drainage all still decide what fits. This is the rough sanity check before any of that is confirmed.

Rough buildable floor area

Lot area
Footprint after setbacks
Rule of thumb used

A rough sanity check only. Real buildable area depends on your plat, recorded deed restrictions, HOA rules, floodplain, easements and tree requirements — none of which can be guessed from lot dimensions. Deed restrictions in particular are private agreements that override nothing here.

Get numbers for your actual lot →

How it works

From first call to a permit in hand

No surprises about what happens when, or what you are paying for at each stage.

1

Talk it through

A free call about the lot, the scope and the budget. You get honest ranges and a straight answer on whether it is realistic.

2

Design

Site, climate, code, budget and how your household actually lives, decided together before the floor plan hardens.

3

Permit

A drawing set built for the jurisdiction that will review it, then responses to comments until it is issued.

4

Construction

Site visits, contractor questions answered, and decisions made in the field without guessing.

Greater Houston

Greater Houston, not just the Loop

Each of these is reviewed by a different authority with different rules. Knowing which one governs your lot is the first thing that has to be right.

Questions

Common questions

What does an architect actually cost in Houston?
Architectural and engineering design runs roughly $7 to $12 per square foot for a simple finish level, and climbs with the finish level and the complexity of the project. The calculator above gives a planning range from your square footage.
How long before I can start building?
For a new custom home, most owners are 6 to 12 months from the first meeting to a shovel in the ground. Design takes about half of that and permit review takes the rest. The schedule tool above breaks it down phase by phase.
Which authority reviews my project?
It depends on the lot, not the mailing address. A Houston postal address can sit in unincorporated Harris County or inside a small incorporated city like Bellaire or West University, each with its own rules, durations and fees.
Does Houston really have no zoning?
Houston has no conventional zoning ordinance, which is not the same as no rules. Deed restrictions, plat notes, minimum lot sizes, setback ordinances and drainage requirements all still apply, and deed restrictions are privately enforced.
Do you work outside the city?
Yes — Sugar Land, Katy, Cypress, Pearland, Kingwood, Missouri City and the surrounding areas. Each is a different jurisdiction, which is exactly why it matters that someone knows the difference.
What happens on a free consultation?
A conversation about the lot, the scope and the budget you have in mind. You will get honest ranges and a straight answer on whether the project is realistic. If it is not a fit, we will say so.

Free consultation

Tell us about your project

A short conversation is usually enough to tell you whether what you have in mind is realistic on your lot and your budget. No cost, and no obligation to go further.

713-391-4533

We reply within one business day. Your details are not sold or shared.

Start with a conversation, not a contract.

Ask us what your project will realistically cost and how long the permit will take. Free, and there is no obligation afterwards.