CivicBrief

Who handles this?

Who’s responsible for ___?

Pick an issue to see which government handles it, with a direct link to that entity’s civic profile.

  • Pothole / road damage

    Houston Public Works

    City

    City of Houston maintains local streets inside city limits; Harris County Public Infrastructure handles county roads.

    See their profile →

  • Flooding / drainage

    Harris County Flood Control

    County

    Harris County Flood Control District manages bayous and regional drainage infrastructure across the county.

    See their profile →

  • Property tax / appraisal

    Harris County Appraisal District

    County

    HCAD sets property values for all taxing units in Harris County — city, county, ISD, and special districts.

    See their profile →

  • School enrollment

    Houston ISD

    School District

    HISD operates public schools within its boundaries; your address determines which ISD and campus you are zoned to.

    See their profile →

  • Water / sewer

    City of Houston or local MUD

    City

    Inside city limits, the City of Houston provides water service. In unincorporated areas, a Municipal Utility District (MUD) is likely your provider — check your bill.

    See their profile →

  • Permits / construction

    City of Houston

    City

    Building, electrical, and plumbing permits are issued by the city's Development Services Department for work inside city limits.

    See their profile →

  • Power outage

    CenterPoint Energy

    Private utility

    CenterPoint Energy is the electric transmission and distribution utility for the Houston area — it is privately regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, not a local government.

    No civic profile — regulated by PUC of Texas

  • Animal control

    City of Houston

    City

    Houston Animal Control (BARC) responds to stray, dangerous, and injured animals within city limits.

    See their profile →

  • Noise complaint

    City of Houston

    City

    Houston Police and Code Enforcement handle noise ordinance complaints for properties inside city limits.

    See their profile →

  • Park maintenance

    Houston Parks & Recreation

    City

    The City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department manages city parks; county parks fall under Harris County Precinct commissioners.

    See their profile →

  • Voting / elections

    Harris County Clerk

    County

    The Harris County Clerk's Office administers elections, voter registration, and polling locations for the county.

    See their profile →

  • Court / jury duty

    Harris County District Courts

    County

    Harris County operates district, county, and justice-of-the-peace courts; jury summonses come from the District Clerk's office.

    See their profile →

Don’t see your issue?

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