Monthly Update: Building Permits

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City of Houston building permits totaled $7.3 billion for the 12 months ending December ’19, up 19.1 percent from $6.1 billion for the same period in ’18, according to the latest data released by the city’s Public Works Department. Commercial permits rose 36.7 percent to $4.5 billion while residential permits decreased 1.3 percent to $2.8 billion.  

City building permits totaled $415.3 million in December ’19, down 18.8 percent from $511.6 million in December ’18. Commercial permit values totaled $262.7 million, down 3.1 percent from $271.1 million in ’18. Residential permits were $152.7 million, a decrease of 36.5 percent from $240.5 million in ’18. 

Projects of note that were permitted in December:

• United Airlines (George Bush Intercontinetal Airport) ($20.0 million permit value) was provided a building permit for baggage handling system replacement in Terminal C. This permit is a part of United’s $300 million plan to increase the baggage system’s capacity from an average of 26,000 bags a day to 77,000 bags a day. The expected completion date is third quarter of ’22.
• Memorial Hermann Hospital ($12.0 million permit value) obtained a building permit in December to build a new floor that will provide an additional 50,595 square feet.

Berina Suljic Cologlu
Analyst, Research
713-844-3653
bsuljic@houston.org 

Patrick Jankowski, CERP
Senior Vice President, Research
713-844-3616
pjankowski@houston.org