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Pearland, TX Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing table
Table R301.2(1), Sec. 7-81.1(h) local amendment
Brazoria County standard
Follows TDI wind design for Coastal Counties
Fort Bend/Harris standard
140 mph ultimate design wind speed
Windborne debris zone
Yes, for Fort Bend/Harris portions
Enforcing office
Permits and Inspections / building official
Unpermitted work fee
2x permit fee (4x for electrical/plumbing)

Summary

Pearland's local amendments to the Residential Code set the wind-design table for new one- and two-family homes. Because Pearland sits in Brazoria County, construction must comply with wind design standards the Texas Department of Insurance sets for coastal counties, which is where impact-resistant glazing or shutter protection requirements for windborne debris zones come from.

Ground Snow Load: Zero Wind Design: Brazoria County: Wind design shall comply with standards currently adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for Coastal Counties. Fort Bend and Harris Counties:

Speed: 140 mph ultimate design wind speed Topographic Effects: No Special Wind Region: Yes Windborne Debris Zone: Yes Seismic Design Category: A

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

2(1)'s Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria for the city. That table splits wind design by county: for Brazoria County, where nearly all of Pearland lies, the table states wind design "shall comply with standards currently adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for Coastal Counties," incorporating TDI's coastal building code by reference rather than setting a fixed local wind speed. For the smaller portions of the city's jurisdiction that fall in Fort Bend and Harris Counties, the same table sets an explicit 140 mph ultimate design wind speed with a Special Wind Region designation and a Windborne Debris Zone marked "Yes," the trigger under the adopted residential and building codes for opening-protection measures such as impact-rated glazing, shutters, or engineered panel systems on new construction.

The table also fixes a zero ground snow load, seismic design category A, and a 12-inch frost line depth for the area. 1's parallel amendment for the commercial code.

Violations & Fines

Building or substantially altering a home without a permit that documents compliance with the amended wind-design table exposes the owner to the same commencement-of-work penalty the residential code sets citywide: Section R113.4 imposes a fee of double the permit fee for uninspected work, rising to four times the permit fee for unpermitted electrical or plumbing work, on top of the permit fee itself. Appeals of a building official's wind-design or opening-protection determination go to the Construction Board of Appeals under Section 7-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pearland set its own hurricane shutter or wind speed rule?
Not directly. Section 7-81.1's amended Table R301.2(1) tells builders in the Brazoria County portion of Pearland to follow whatever wind design standards the Texas Department of Insurance currently has adopted for coastal counties, rather than listing a separate city-specific shutter mandate.
Is Pearland in a windborne debris zone?
The amended table marks 'Windborne Debris Zone: Yes' for the Fort Bend and Harris County portions of the city's jurisdiction with a 140 mph design wind speed. Brazoria County construction instead follows the TDI coastal-county standard, which carries its own opening-protection requirements.
Do I need a permit to install hurricane shutters or impact windows in Pearland?
Window and door replacement tied to wind-design compliance is reviewed through the Permits and Inspections division under the amended residential code. Simple exempt work like minor repairs may not need a permit, but exterior openings affecting the building envelope generally do.
What happens if I build without meeting the wind-design table?
The building official can require corrections before final inspection, and Section R113.4 imposes a penalty fee of double the normal permit fee (four times for electrical or plumbing work) if construction begins without the required permit and inspections.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pearland

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree TrimmingLight RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Native PlantsSome Restrictions

All Pearland rules

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