Updated · June 2, 2026 · ServicemPro LLC
What needs a permit here
In Montgomery County and The Woodlands, structural changes, additions, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work generally require permits, while purely cosmetic updates (paint, flooring, cabinetry, countertops) generally do not. Cities like Conroe and Shenandoah run their own building departments with similar rules.
The Woodlands adds a second layer: the Development Standards Committee reviews anything visible from outside, separate from county permits. Both tracks can run in parallel when your contractor knows the process.
Timelines and what they cost you
Simple trade permits are often issued in days; additions and structural projects typically take two to six weeks including HOA review. The real cost of permits is not the fee, it is a contractor who starts work without them: unpermitted structural work surfaces at resale, can void insurance claims, and may have to be opened up and redone.
Who should handle permits
Your contractor. At ServicemPro, permits and HOA submissions are part of the project plan: we prepare drawings, file applications, schedule inspections and build the timeline around approval windows. You should never have to stand in line at a county office, and with us you will not.
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