Harris County Third-Party Inspector
For many new homes in unincorporated Harris County, builders use independent inspectors during construction and, under Harris County's published process, record inspection results through the county's online system. I perform foundation, framing & mechanical, and final phase inspections as an ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector.
I'm Brian Greul. GreenLight Inspections is a single-inspector company — when you hire GreenLight, I personally perform your inspection and deliver a written report. I am not employed by or affiliated with Harris County.
ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector
ICC #10031662-R5 — qualified across residential building,
electrical, mechanical, and plumbing code disciplines.
Also licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission as a Professional
Inspector (#24271). Certified Master Inspector® (CMI).
What Harris County publishes
Harris County's published FAQ describes an online system through which a residential builder or a third-party inspector doing inspections for the builder may give notice after inspections occur. According to that FAQ, all residential construction permitted in Harris County on or after September 1, 2009 must comply with this notification process, and the website is the only means described for a builder or inspector to provide notice to the county.
Official Harris County references:
The summary on this page follows those published materials. For permit-specific requirements, rely on Harris County and your builder.
Who can perform the inspections
Harris County's published FAQ lists several categories of professionals who may conduct residential inspections for the builder, including:
- A licensed professional engineer
- A registered architect
- A residential inspector licensed by TREC
- A plumbing inspector licensed by the Texas Board of Plumbing Examiners
- A building inspector employed by a political subdivision
- An ICC-certified Residential Combination Inspector (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing)
This is residential building-code inspection work. I lead with my ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector credential — certificate #10031662 — which establishes qualification across the residential building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing code disciplines. I also qualify under Harris County's published category for a TREC-licensed residential inspector; TREC licensure is required for home inspections in Texas but is not itself a building-code credential.
How this maps to GreenLight phase inspections
Harris County's published FAQ calls for a minimum of three inspections during construction. GreenLight does not offer a separate Harris County package — these align with existing phase inspection services:
| Harris County (published FAQ) | GreenLight service |
|---|---|
| Foundation inspection, before placement of concrete | Pre-pour inspection |
| Framing & mechanical system inspection, before drywall install | Pre-drywall inspection |
| Final inspection, on completion of the residence | Final new construction inspection |
You may schedule only the phase that matches the home today, or multiple phases over the course of the build. See new construction inspections overview for timing guidance.
Reporting to Harris County (on request)
GreenLight's service includes:
- Perform the applicable foundation / pre-pour inspection.
- Perform the applicable framing & mechanical / pre-drywall inspection.
- Perform the applicable final inspection.
- On request, submit or log the applicable inspection result through Harris County's published online system at no additional charge.
- The builder must provide the applicable Harris County permit number and any information or access necessary for that submission.
Harris County's published FAQ states that either the permitted builder or the inspector may give notice online, and that the builder decides who notifies the county. GreenLight does not charge a separate portal, filing, registration, or paperwork fee for logging results when you request it.
Where this applies
This page addresses unincorporated Harris County residential permits issued through the Harris County Permits Office. City of Houston, other incorporated cities, and special districts may use different inspection programs. Confirm where your permit was issued before scheduling.
Pricing
Pre-pour, pre-drywall, and final inspections use the same pricing model as other GreenLight home inspections — starting at $230 with quotes based on home size and other factors. There is no separate Harris County package and no additional charge for logging inspection results through the county's published system when you request that service. See inspection pricing for details.
FAQs
Who can perform residential inspections in Harris County?
According to Harris County's published FAQ for residential inspections, residential builders may contract with a licensed professional engineer, a registered architect, a residential inspector licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), a plumbing inspector licensed by the Texas Board of Plumbing Examiners, a building inspector employed by a political subdivision, or an ICC-certified Residential Combination Inspector (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing). I perform this work as an ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector and am also licensed by TREC as a Professional Inspector.
Do I have to live in Harris County to perform these inspections?
No. Harris County's published FAQ states that any inspector who meets the listed criteria can perform the inspections.
Does Harris County charge inspectors a fee to conduct or register inspections?
No. Harris County's published FAQ states that the county does not collect fees for inspectors to conduct or register inspections.
Do I need to register with Harris County?
Harris County's published process requires logging on to the county's Residential Building Code Inspection website to obtain a login and password so that each inspection can be registered online. GreenLight does not charge a separate fee for portal registration or for submitting results on your behalf when you request that service.
How many inspections are required during construction?
Harris County's published FAQ requires a minimum of three inspections: a foundation inspection before placement of concrete; a framing and mechanical system inspection before drywall install; and a final inspection on completion of the residence.
Who notifies Harris County that an inspection occurred?
Harris County's published FAQ states that either the permitted builder or the inspector may give notice through the county's online system, and that it is up to the builder to determine who notifies the county. When you ask GreenLight to do so, I can log the applicable inspection result through Harris County's published online system at no additional charge, provided the builder supplies the Harris County permit number and any information or access needed for the submission.
Where does the permit number come from?
Harris County's published FAQ indicates the builder will provide the inspector with the permit number associated with the development permit.
Which permits does this apply to?
Harris County's published FAQ applies to residential construction permitted in Harris County on or after September 1, 2009. This page addresses unincorporated Harris County residential permits through the Harris County Permits Office — not City of Houston or other municipalities that use their own inspection programs.
How does this relate to GreenLight's pre-pour, pre-drywall, and final inspections?
There is no separate Harris County inspection package. The county's three minimum inspections align with GreenLight's existing pre-pour inspection (foundation), pre-drywall inspection (framing and mechanical rough-in), and final new construction inspection. Each phase uses standard home-inspection pricing.
Is a TREC Professional Inspector license the same as ICC code certification?
No. Texas requires home inspectors to be licensed by TREC, but a TREC license is not a building-code credential. ICC R5 certification verifies knowledge across residential building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing codes. Harris County's published requirements list TREC-licensed residential inspectors and ICC-certified Residential Combination Inspectors as separate eligible categories. For code-focused construction phase work I lead with my ICC R5 credential; I am also licensed by TREC as a Professional Inspector.
How do I schedule?
Schedule the phase inspection that matches where the home is in the build — pre-pour, pre-drywall, or final. If you want GreenLight to log a result through Harris County's published online system after an inspection, tell me when you book or before the visit so we can confirm the builder will provide the permit number and any access needed.
← New construction inspections overview · Pre-pour inspection · Pre-drywall inspection · Final new construction inspection · The Woodlands qualified inspector