House Plans and Custom Drafting in Houston, TX
Service Area: Houston, TX
Houston added more people last year than almost any other city in the country and it is the single largest market Apex Drafting serves anywhere in our footprint. That scale is the starting point for every decision on this page, from which services see the most demand to how fast a drawing set needs to move.
The largest market in our footprint, and it builds like one
Of every city Apex Drafting serves, Houston has the largest population by a wide margin, and it is still growing faster than nearly every other large city in the country: 43,217 more residents in a single year, the second-highest numeric gain of any US city. Zoom out to the metro and the number climbs to roughly 7.9 million people as of 2025, up 126,720 in just twelve months. A market that size does not sit still, and neither does its construction pipeline.
In 2024, the Houston metro authorized 65,747 new residential units across all housing types, the second-most of any metro in the country, working out to 21.6 permits per 1,000 existing homes. That permit volume tells you Houston is not a market where a handful of builders quietly pull permits once a season. It's a market with enough simultaneous activity that drafting turnaround becomes a real competitive factor, not a nice-to-have. Redfin puts the median home sale price at $350,000, up 1.4% year over year, a modest enough climb that it hasn't slowed the pace of new construction or remodel activity.
We're not a Houston firm and we don't pretend to be. Apex Drafting is based in Colorado City, Arizona, and every project for a Houston client, whether it's a homeowner, a builder, or a general contractor, is handled remotely: video calls, shared plan review, and drawing sets delivered digitally. Houston homeowners, builders, and contractors work with us the same way clients in every other market do.
ADU rules in Houston: no zoning code, but deed restrictions run the show
Houston is famous for having no citywide zoning code at all, and that matters directly for ADU projects. Instead of zoning, accessory dwelling units fall under the Houston Code of Ordinances, which sets a 900-square-foot cap, requires 5-foot setbacks, and requires 1 off-street parking space. On paper that's a workable set of rules for a backyard unit or a garage conversion.
The catch is that Houston's lack of zoning means private deed restrictions carry more weight than they would in a zoned city, and those restrictions can override the city ordinance entirely. A lot with a deed restriction against secondary structures can block an ADU even if the Code of Ordinances would otherwise allow it. Before we draft anything, the real first step is verifying what your specific deed restrictions say. Texas itself has no statewide ADU mandate. Regulation is entirely city by city, and a 2025 bill, SB 673, that would have preempted local restrictions statewide passed the Senate but died in the House on June 2, 2025. Until something like it passes, Houston's ordinance and your deed restrictions are what actually govern the project.
Where the demand is concentrated
Given Houston's permit volume and its unusual no-zoning structure, three services carry the most weight here.
Custom House Plans
With 65,747 units permitted metro-wide in a single year and no citywide zoning code standardizing lot requirements, generic plans run into trouble fast. A custom set accounts for your specific lot and any deed restrictions from the start.
Custom House PlansADU Plans & Design
Houston's 900-square-foot cap, 5-foot setbacks, and 1-space parking rule are clear on paper, but deed restrictions vary block by block. ADU drawings here need to be built around your lot's actual restrictions, not a generic template.
ADU Plans & DesignPermit-Ready Drawings & As-Builts
At 21.6 permits per 1,000 existing homes, Houston's permitting offices process a high volume of submissions. A clean, permit-ready set reduces the chance of a plan sitting in review while a project's timeline slips.
Permit-Ready Drawings & As-BuiltsStock plans have a place here too, particularly for builders repeating a proven layout across multiple lots in a fast-moving subdivision, and they start at $799 for exactly that reason.
Houston drafting questions we hear often
Does Houston have a citywide zoning code that governs ADUs?
No. Houston is the largest US city without a citywide zoning code. ADUs are governed instead by the Houston Code of Ordinances, which caps accessory dwelling units at 900 square feet, requires 5-foot setbacks, and requires 1 off-street parking space. Many lots also carry private deed restrictions that can override the city ordinance, so checking your deed restrictions is the real first step.
Is there a Texas state law that guarantees the right to build an ADU?
No. Texas has no statewide ADU mandate, and rules are set city by city. A 2025 bill, SB 673, would have preempted local restrictions statewide. It passed the Senate but died in the House on June 2, 2025. Until new legislation passes, Houston's local ordinance and applicable deed restrictions control your project.
Can Apex Drafting Services handle a house plan for me in Houston if you're not local?
Yes. Drafting is a remote service by design. We serve Houston homeowners, builders, and contractors through video calls, shared digital plan review, and drawing sets delivered electronically, the same process we use for clients nationwide.
How much does a stock house plan cost versus a custom set for a Houston lot?
Stock house plans start at $799 and work well for a standard lot with no unusual restrictions. Custom house plans cost more because they're built around your specific lot and any deed restrictions, which matters given how much lot-level variation exists across Houston's unzoned neighborhoods. Request a free quote and we'll scope the right option.
Nearby Texas service areas
Ready to start your Houston project?
Tell us about your lot and your goals. We'll scope custom plans, ADU drawings, or a permit-ready set and send back a free quote.