Zoning and permits usually belong to the city, not the county, and a postal address does not tell you which. Each jurisdiction is listed on its own below; confirm the governing authority before you trust a district.
Key numbers
What this directory counts in Houston
Every line below is computed from sources.json when the page is built, so it cannot drift from the entries underneath it. Each one is written to stand alone if you quote it.
- 19 official public property-records sources are listed and dated across 3 counties and 4 jurisdictions in Houston. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- Those 19 sources are 8 parcel & appraiser, 3 recorded documents, 2 zoning, 2 flood, 2 tax, 1 future land use and 1 permits. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- Recorded documents, zoning, tax, future land use and permits still need a human in Houston: not one of the 9 sources listed for them is returned by an automated lookup. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 1 of the 19 sources blocked the last check outright — CAPTCHA, a web application firewall or an authority block — and is published as blocked rather than quietly omitted. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 2 of the 19 sources got no further than a visible search form on the last check; none of the rest was recorded as retrieving a named record. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 14 of the 19 entries carry a recorded gotcha — a renamed agency, a moved path, a login wall or a jurisdiction trap found while checking. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 10 of the 19 sources are returned by Glove, 4 partly, and 5 remain a manual click. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 2 jurisdictions in this directory are recorded as having no zoning of their own: Harris County and Houston. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- 1 county zoning, permit or long-range-plan source here covers the unincorporated county only — the municipalities inside it keep their own, and the entry says so. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
- Every entry carries its own check date; the most recent human check covering Houston was 20 Sep 2026. Glove records source directory, Sterling Digital Partners, checked 20 Sep 2026.
How to read a card
What a check level means
Every card says what the last check actually did. The wording is deliberate and it is never rounded up.
- lookup completed — a named record was actually retrieved and read
- locate only — a map point was found; no attributes read
- form reached — a search form was visible; nothing retrieved
- page opened — the entry page loaded
- blocked — CAPTCHA, WAF or authority block; stated plainly
Dates are UTC and belong to the recorded check, not to this page's assembly. A date here means a person opened the page on that day. Our link checker runs weekly, but it only ever proposes a re-check — it cannot move a date.
The directory
Every source we have checked in Houston
Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County
Houston
Harris County 8 sources
Parcel & appraiser
Where do I look up who owns a property in Harris County?
This directory lists 3 checked sources for parcel and ownership records in Harris County: Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), HCAD Parcel Viewer and HCAD Property Search. One of them blocked the last check outright.
Who owns it, what is it appraised at, and what does the improvement schedule show?
Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD)
Checked: page opened
From the HCAD home page, follow Property Search; query by account number, address or owner.
You need HCAD account number (13 digits)
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Where is the parcel, what is its shape and acreage, and what are the neighbours?
HCAD Parcel Viewer
Checked: page opened
Search the address or account in the viewer and select the parcel.
You need HCAD account number or address
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
The live HCAD record search.
HCAD Property Search
Checked: blocked
Not established. Every request, including from a normal browser session, sat on a 'Performing security verification' interstitial and no search form was reached.
You need HCAD account number
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Zoning
Does Harris County have zoning?
No. Texas counties have no zoning authority.
Nothing — and that is the answer. Texas counties have no zoning authority.
Harris County
Checked: page opened
There is no county zoning map to open. For unincorporated Harris County, use the county's subdivision and development regulations and the applicable MUD or special district instead.
You need Address
Checked · UTC
Glove partly covers this A governing-jurisdiction map names the authority; it does not read the district.
Flood
How do I find the flood zone for a property in Harris County?
This directory lists 2 checked sources for flood zone lookups in Harris County: FEMA Flood Map Service Center and Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool.
What is the effective FIRM panel and zone of record?
FEMA Flood Map Service Center
Checked: form reached
Enter the street address in Search By Address, then open the effective FIRMette for the panel.
You need Street address
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this A promoted map covers flood for Harris County.
What flood zone, floodway and modelled flood risk apply to this address?
Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool
Checked: page opened
Enter the address in the mapping tool and read the flood zone and risk panels.
You need Street address
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this A promoted map covers flood for Harris County.
Tax
Where do I check property taxes in Harris County?
This directory lists 1 checked source for property tax records in Harris County: Harris County Tax Office. Glove does not return it, so this stays a manual lookup.
What is owed, what is paid, and across which taxing units?
Harris County Tax Office
Checked: page opened
From the home page choose Property Tax, then search by account, address or owner.
You need HCAD account number
Checked · UTC
Your click No promoted map returns tax in any market. This is a click you make yourself.
Recorded documents
Where do I find Harris County deed records?
This directory lists 1 checked source for recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens and plats in Harris County: Harris County Clerk — Real Property Records. Glove does not return it, so this stays a manual lookup.
What deeds, deeds of trust, liens and plats are recorded against the property or party?
Harris County Clerk — Real Property Records
Checked: page opened
From the Clerk's home page open Real Property records and search by name, film code or instrument number.
You need Grantor/grantee name, or film code
Checked · UTC
Your click No promoted map returns recorded_documents in any market. This is a click you make yourself.
Not yet harvested for Harris County: future land use, permits. Know a source? Send it.
Fort Bend County 4 sources
Parcel & appraiser
Where do I look up who owns a property in Fort Bend County?
This directory lists 2 checked sources for parcel and ownership records in Fort Bend County: FBCAD Property Search (eSearch) and Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD).
What are the owner, value, legal description and acreage for this property?
FBCAD Property Search (eSearch)
Checked: form reached
Type a keyword — owner, address or property ID — in the search bar; results come back as a grid or list you can customise and download.
You need FBCAD property ID
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Who owns it, what is it appraised at, and is the roll certified?
Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD)
Checked: page opened
From the FBCAD home page follow to Property Search.
You need FBCAD property ID
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Tax
Where do I check property taxes in Fort Bend County?
This directory lists 1 checked source for property tax records in Fort Bend County: Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector.
What is owed and what has been paid?
Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector
Checked: page opened
Open the department page and follow to the property tax search.
You need FBCAD property ID
Checked · UTC
Glove partly covers this Glove has a site map for this host, but no packet field is composed from it.
Recorded documents
Where do I find Fort Bend County deed records?
This directory lists 1 checked source for recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens and plats in Fort Bend County: Fort Bend County Clerk.
What instruments are recorded against the property, and how are copies obtained?
Fort Bend County Clerk
Checked: page opened
Open the County Clerk page and follow the official public records links.
You need Grantor/grantee name, or instrument number
Checked · UTC
Glove partly covers this Glove has a site map for this host, but no packet field is composed from it.
Not yet harvested for Fort Bend County: zoning, future land use, flood, permits. Know a source? Send it.
Montgomery County 3 sources
Parcel & appraiser
Where do I look up who owns a property in Montgomery County?
This directory lists 2 checked sources for parcel and ownership records in Montgomery County: MCAD Property Search and Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD).
The MCAD record search.
MCAD Property Search
Checked: page opened
Search by owner, address or property ID from the portal's Property Search page.
You need MCAD property ID
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Who owns it and what is it appraised at?
Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD)
Checked: page opened
The MCAD public portal home leads to Property Search.
You need MCAD property ID
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Recorded documents
Where do I find Montgomery County deed records?
This directory lists 1 checked source for recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens and plats in Montgomery County: Montgomery County Clerk. Glove does not return it, so this stays a manual lookup.
What deeds, liens and plats are recorded in Montgomery County?
Montgomery County Clerk
Checked: page opened
Open the County Clerk page and follow to real property records and the online search.
You need Grantor/grantee name, or instrument number
Checked · UTC
Your click No promoted map returns recorded_documents in any market. This is a click you make yourself.
Not yet harvested for Montgomery County: zoning, future land use, flood, tax, permits. Know a source? Send it.
City of Houston 4 sources
Parcel & appraiser
Where do I look up who owns a property in Houston?
This directory lists 1 checked source for parcel and ownership records in Houston: City of Houston Planning and Development Department.
Which department governs platting, development and land-use policy inside the city?
City of Houston Planning and Development Department
Checked: page opened
Open the department home and follow to Development Regulations, Platting, or the Planning Commission.
You need Address
Checked · UTC
Glove returns this Returned by the houston packet map.
Zoning
Does Houston have zoning?
No. Houston is the largest US city with no zoning ordinance, and this is the page that matters instead of one.
If Houston has no zoning, what actually controls what can be built here?
City of Houston Planning and Development Department — Development Regulations
Checked: page opened
Read the Development Regulations pages: Chapter 42 subdivision rules, setbacks, parking, and the special minimum-lot-size and minimum-building-line areas.
You need Address
Checked · UTC
Glove partly covers this A governing-jurisdiction map names the authority; it does not read the district.
Future land use
What does the long-range land use plan designate in Houston?
This directory lists 1 checked source for future land use in Houston: City of Houston GIS (MyCity). Glove does not return it, so this stays a manual lookup.
What city map layers — plats, special districts, capital projects, service boundaries — cover this parcel?
City of Houston GIS (MyCity)
Checked: page opened
Open the GIS portal and choose the applicable map application, then search the address.
You need Address
Checked · UTC
Your click No promoted map matches future_land_use in City of Houston.
Permits
Where do I find building permits in Houston?
This directory lists 1 checked source for permits in Houston: Houston Permitting Center. Glove does not return it, so this stays a manual lookup.
What permits exist at this address, what is their status, and what is required to apply?
Houston Permitting Center
Checked: page opened
From the Permitting Center home, use the permit search and the applicable trade or occupancy section.
You need Permit number or address
Checked · UTC
Your click No promoted map returns permits in any market. This is a click you make yourself.
Not yet harvested for City of Houston: flood, tax, recorded documents. Know a source? Send it.
The honest part
What still needs a human
This is the most useful block on the page, so it is computed from the data rather than written by hand. Counted across Houston only.
| Record type | Sources listed | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel & appraiser | 8 | returned in every published market |
| Zoning | 2 | a manual click in this market |
| Future land use | 1 | a manual click in this market |
| Flood | 2 | returned in every published market |
| Tax | 2 | a manual click in this market |
| Permits | 1 | a manual click in this market |
| Recorded documents | 3 | a manual click in this market |
1 source blocked a check outright — CAPTCHA, WAF or an authority block. They are listed with level blocked rather than quietly omitted: HCAD Property Search.
Recorded documents and permits are the two that never automate cleanly. Every county clerk and every permit portal is its own small piece of software, several of them sit behind a bot challenge, and a few still want a login. If someone tells you they have all of them, ask which clerk's search they used last week.
Optional product path
Doing this every week?
Glove returns parcel, value, zoning, land use and flood in Houston in one call, inside Claude Code, Cursor or Codex. Recorded documents and permits are still yours to click — this directory is where you click them.
See what comes back in your market See a sample packet
Supported clients are Claude Code, Cursor and Codex; connection setup is required. This directory stays free and complete whether or not you ever use it.
Use the data
The whole directory, as one file
Everything on these pages is generated from a single JSON file. It is published under CC BY 4.0: use it, build on it, ship it in your own tool. The only condition is attribution.
Download sources.json Read the schema
Attribution
Klebl, C. (2026). Public property-records sources for ten US commercial real estate markets. Sterling Digital Partners. CC BY 4.0. https://glvtl.com/records-sources/- Entries
- 163
- Counties
- 22
- Markets published
- 10 of 10
- Last human check
Each entry carries its own checked date, so you can filter by freshness rather than trusting one number at the top.
Method
How an entry gets on this page
A person opens the URL in a browser, does the smallest real lookup the source allows, and records what happened in the wording of the level key above. Nothing is listed from a search result, a press release or another directory. If a source blocked the check, it says blocked. If only the search form was reached, it says form reached. The full method, worked end to end on two real addresses, is in the Sarasota and Manatee first-look guide.
Re-verification is quarterly, with an automated link check in between. The link checker can flag that a URL moved or started returning a challenge; it cannot change a date. Only a person can do that.
Use it & cite it
Link to this directory
Free to use and to share. If it saved you a lookup, a link back is what keeps it maintained.
Cite it
Klebl, C. (2026). Houston property records sources. Sterling Digital Partners. Retrieved from https://glvtl.com/records-sources/houston/
Link to it
<a href="https://glvtl.com/records-sources/houston/">Houston property records sources</a>, Chris Klebl, Sterling Digital Partners, 2026.
Upkeep
Corrections, and the promise attached to them
Portals move constantly and nobody tracks it publicly. If a link here is wrong, moved or now needs a login, tell us and we will check it and re-date the entry the same week. [email protected] — include the market, the agency and the URL. Please leave private client information out of it.
Every real move is logged in the change log, so the dates on this page can be checked rather than taken on trust. A date means a person opened the page that day. It is never stamped by a script.