OFFICIAL SURVEY SYSTEM

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 33, art. IV, div. 2

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-81 Generally.

Sec. 33-81. - Generally. (a) As used in this article, the term "official coordinate system" shall mean the standard system of coordinates and elevations based upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data known as the Texas State Plane Coordinate Grid System of 1983 (also known as the Texas Coordinate System of 1983) or such newer system as may be recognized by the state. (b) Pursuant to Chapter 21, Subchapter D, of the Texas Natural Resources Code, the city hereby adopts the official coordinate system for surveys in the city. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-82 Adoption of official maps and records of survey markers.

Sec. 33-82. - Adoption of official maps and records of survey markers. There are hereby adopted as a part of this Code, as fully as if set out at length herein, the maps developed as part of the City of Houston's Survey, Monumentation and Mapping Program. Each map is hereby declared to be an official map and an official record of the city. The official copy of each of such maps shall be kept and maintained in Houston Public Works and shall be available at all reasonable hours for inspection by the public. Employees of the department are authorized to cause copies of such maps and separate sheets within such records to be prepared and made available for sale to the public. As official custodians of the official copy of each such map, the employees of the department are authorized, upon application of any person, to issue a copy of any such map. In addition to the established sale price of the copy of the map, a fee of $1.00 payable to the city shall be charged and collected for certifying such copy. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 50, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-83 Requirements for survey methodology.

Sec. 33-83. - Requirements for survey methodology. Each survey shall be performed by reference to the National Spatial Reference System and the city's continuously operating reference system. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-84 Approval of subdivision maps by planning commission.

Sec. 33-84. - Approval of subdivision maps by planning commission. Every subdivision plat tendered to the planning commission of the city for its approval, prerequisite to being recorded with the county clerk, shall be based upon a survey upon the ground which must be based on the official coordinate system. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-85 Surveys and construction plans by city departments and surveyors employed by the city.

Sec. 33-85. - Surveys and construction plans by city departments and surveyors employed by the city. Every survey made by personnel of Houston Public Works or by any person performing surveying under contract with the city or by any person performing surveying work for any other political subdivision with which the city may hereafter contract relative to the construction of public works of any description wherever located, shall be based on the official coordinate system. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 50, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 33-86 Surveys made by public utilities and others using streets.

Sec. 33-86. - Surveys made by public utilities and others using streets. Any telecommunications company, telegraph company, electric company, gas company, cable television company or other public utility of any kind (similar or dissimilar), lawfully possessed of the privilege of using the streets of the city for public utility installations, and any and all other persons having lawful permission from the city under general ordinances (including, without limitation, the Construction Code) or special ordinances to use either the surface or subsurface of any of the streets for any installation of any kind (including, without limitation, sewers, pipelines and waterlines) shall, in making its survey incident to the installation, when a survey is required by other applicable rules, regulations or ordinances of the city, base the survey on the official coordinate system. The map of the survey so made shall be filed with Houston Public Works when the application for permit for the installation is made. (Ord. No. 03-1292, § 2, 12-17-03; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 50, 1-10-2018)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH33PLDE_ARTIVCISU_DIV2OFSUSYFetched: 10/26/2026