Major Permitting Changes Mid-2026 for TX, NC, & Fl | JRH Engineering
Updated: Oct 5
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Permitting Changes in 2026
In 2026, several code and permitting changes took effect or moved forward in Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
Here is what has been confirmed, and what is still pending.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
Texas
TDI windstorm code: TDI lists the 2024 IRC and IBC as effective April 1, 2026, for windstorm certification in the designated catastrophe area
Houston detention pond rules: the City's IDMS-2025-01 supplement, issued May 16, 2025, requires 0.8 acre-feet of storage per acre of proposed impervious area for many non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less
Houston 30-day pilot: the City's 30-Day Residential Permitting Pilot targets permits for selected single-family projects in 30 business days or less
North Carolina
Building codes: the NC Office of State Fire Marshal lists the 2018 NC codes as current, with the 2024 codes pending
Erosion control: plans for land disturbance of more than 1 acre still need approval under G.S. 113A-57
Florida
HB 803: effective July 1, 2026, this law exempts some single-family work of $7,500 or less from permits. Electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work are not exempt, and neither is work in flood hazard areas
Florida Building Code 9th Edition: based on the 2024 International Codes. A proposed rule to adopt it was published September 23, 2026, but no effective date has been published yet, so the 8th Edition (2023) still applies
What This Means for Your Project
Confirm which code edition applies on your application date.
Check whether small residential work in Florida still needs a permit.
Size Houston detention pond storage to IDMS-2025-01.
Allow time for plan review comments as new codes phase in.
Project: Nelson Rd. Office Condo Park, Katy, TX
11.25-acre office condo business park with I-10 frontage in Katy, Harris County
Reviewed by TxDOT, the Barker-Katy Drainage District and the City of Katy
Read the full Nelson Rd. case study
Challenges
TxDOT-compliant access to I-10 was required
An on-site detention pond would have taken developable land
Objectives
Keep the full 11.25 acres developable.
Secure TxDOT-approved access.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Land development and civil site design
Regional detention pond credits purchased from the drainage district instead of an on-site pond
Parallel TxDOT, drainage district and City reviews
Results:
All 11.25 acres kept available for development
Concurrent approvals from three agencies
Sources by State
Texas
North Carolina
Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What Texas windstorm code took effect in 2026?
TDI lists the 2024 IRC and IBC as effective April 1, 2026, in the catastrophe area.
What changed in Florida permitting in mid-2026?
HB 803 took effect July 1, 2026, exempting some single-family work of $7,500 or less.
Is the Florida Building Code 9th Edition in effect?
Not yet; adoption was proposed September 23, 2026, and the 8th Edition still applies.
What code does North Carolina use?
The 2018 NC codes are current, with the 2024 codes pending.
What is Houston's detention pond requirement?
0.8 acre-feet per acre of proposed impervious area for many non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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