Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Pearland, TX Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Code adopted
2021 International Plumbing Code
Enforcing official
Building Official / Permits & Inspections
Standard fine range
$100 to $500 per offense, per day
Sewer-blockage fine
Up to $2,000 for repeat offenses
Appeals go to
Board of Appeals under Code § 7-15
Sewer connection deadline
30 days once public main is within 200 ft

Summary

Pearland enforces the 2021 International Plumbing Code, as locally amended, for every plumbing installation in the city, with the Building Official as code official and violations fined between $100.00 and $500.00 per day under Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 23-1. - Plumbing code adopted. The International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., is hereby adopted by reference and made part of this chapter. A true and correct copy of this Code shall be on file in the office of the city secretary. ... (e)Section 108.4 is hereby amended to read as follows: 108.4 Violations. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate or fail to comply with the requirements or provisions of any section or subdivision of the plumbing code adopted by this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 28).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 23-1 (Plumbing code adopted) adopts the International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition, by reference, with a certified copy kept on file in the office of the city secretary. Sec. 2); and appeals of any plumbing decision go through the process in Sec. 7-15 of the Code of Ordinances rather than the model code's own appeals section (Section 109). 3). These local sections were most recently carried forward by Ord. No. 1210-2024, adopted January 22, 2024.

Violations & Fines

Sec. 23-1.1(e) amends IPC Section 108.4 so that any violation of the plumbing code is a misdemeanor, fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 per offense, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Sec. 23-2 adds a distinct sewer-connection offense: connecting a generator to the sewer system without the required permit or registration certificate is punishable by up to $500.00, rising to a mandatory minimum of $1,000.00 for a first offense, $1,500.00 for a second, and $2,000.00 for any later offense if the violation blocks a sanitary sewer line.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plumbing code applies in Pearland, Texas?
The city adopted the 2021 International Plumbing Code by reference in Sec. 23-1, with Pearland-specific amendments in Sec. 23-1.1 covering enforcement, fees, appeals, sewer depth, and grease trap maintenance.
Who enforces the plumbing code in Pearland?
Sec. 23-1.1(b) designates the city's Building Official, working through the Division of Permits and Inspections, as the code official responsible for enforcing the plumbing code.
How often must grease traps be cleaned under Pearland's code?
Sec. 23-1.1(k) requires grease and lint traps to be cleaned at least once every 90 days, or more often if the Building or Utility Inspector requires it, with complete cleaning records kept and available on request.
What is the penalty for an unpermitted plumbing violation?
Sec. 23-1.1(e) sets a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 per offense, and every day the violation continues is charged as a separate offense in municipal court.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pearland

All Pearland rules

Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pearland to another location·View the Texas building safety overview

Get notified when Plumbing Permits in Pearland, TX changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.