As a Category 1 hurricane when it hit Texas, Hurricane Beryl caused significant damage to homes in the Houston area, leaving residents concerned about damages and repair costs. As a result, some cities have waived permit fees for repairs.

The background

Hurricane Beryl caused an estimated $28 billion-$32 billion in total economic loss and damages in the U.S., primarily due to flooding and wind damage, according to a July 9 AccuWeather report.

In Harris County, over 4,400 homes were damaged due to Hurricane Beryl, and about 200 trees were knocked down, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a July 12 press conference.

Friendswood resident Christy Martinez said the storm winds tore down her backyard fence, removed roof shingles and knocked down a tree branch, cracking her vehicle’s windshield.


“Being a Category 1, I didn’t expect this at all,” Martinez said. “I figured maybe a couple of pickets would be down or a couple of sections [of the fence], not the whole thing.”

League City resident Megan Saxton said she could feel her house vibrating the morning of July 8 and found her fence was also down later that day.

“That’s when we saw all of our neighbors' fences coming down,” she said.

Saxton said she was most concerned about her dogs and young son being vulnerable in the backyard with the fence down but was encouraged by how her neighborhood has come together to look out for each other.


“This has really brought a lot of people together, and I hate to say it, but that’s when a community gets close—when a disaster happens,” Saxton said.

Zooming in

Ralph Blanco, League City’s chief building official, said his team had seen numerous homes with damaged fences, roofs and windows.

Blanco discouraged residents from using contractors not registered with the city and said the city had caught an unidentified number of nonregistered contractors attempting to do repairs.


“If [homeowners] are smart, they will use a ... registered trade [worker] so that if they have any civil issues, they can get back to that contractor,” Blanco said. “A warranty is very important as well. It’s basically to protect the public.”

The Texas Department of Insurance’s website provides the following tips for avoiding contractor scams:
  • Get written estimates on company letterhead with clear contact information.
  • Get multiple bids to gauge which ones are too high or too good to be true.
  • Check references and phone numbers. Beware of contractors who only have out-of-town references or solicit door to door.
  • Don't pay in total up front, and don’t make a final payment until the job is finished.
  • Be sure to read and understand any contracts before signing, and don’t sign a contract with blanks to be filled in later.
What else?

League City will waive permitting fees for homeowners making repairs due to damage caused by Hurricane Beryl through Aug. 31, according to a July 10 city news release. Depending on the repairs, permitting fees in League City can typically cost up to $300.

Following major storms, contractors often approach homeowners offering to do repairs, and the work is not permitted. By waiving the permitting fee, city officials hope to ensure all work is permitted, according to the news release.


League City will waive fees for the following permits:
  • Roof repairs
  • Structural repairs to homes
  • Siding
  • Windows
  • Exterior doors
  • Garage repairs
  • Fences 8 feet and over
League City isn’t the only city waiving fees. Several cities throughout the Houston area have waived building and repair fees for homes damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
  • The city of Webster plans to waive all building permit fees related to Hurricane Beryl damage but has not yet identified when the permit fees will be reinstated.
  • The city of Pearland will waive building permit fees through Sept. 6 for repairing homes and businesses damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
  • The city of Friendswood will waive building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permit fees through Aug. 12 for repairs directly related to Hurricane Beryl. City Council will consider extending that deadline at its Aug. 5 meeting.
  • The city of Bellaire does not require permits to replace fencing or remove storm-damaged trees. Emergency recovery work may begin without a permit, but residents must apply for a no-fee permit for the work the next business day. Contractors still must obtain a permit when necessary.
  • The city of West University Place will waive the permit fees related to storm damage repairs until Sept. 6. Contractors still must obtain a permit when necessary.
  • The city of Galveston is waiving building permit fees until Sept. 10.