APPLICATIONS AND FEES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 3, art. II

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-16 City license fee.

Sec. 3-16. - City license fee. There is hereby levied a city fee in an amount equal to one-half the corresponding state license fee for each license issued for premises located within the city. The current fee amount is stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. (Code 1968, § 4-10; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-17 City permit fee.

Sec. 3-17. - City permit fee. There is hereby levied a city fee in an amount equal to one-half of the corresponding state permit fee for each permit issued for premises located within the city. The current fee amount is stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. (Code 1968, § 4-11; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-18 Fees payable to tax assessor and collector.

Sec. 3-18. - Fees payable to tax assessor and collector. The fees levied pursuant to this article shall be payable to the tax assessor and collector of the city. Each license and permit shall be presented to the tax assessor and collector by the permittee or licensee thereof for examination. The tax assessor and collector shall examine the same, determine the amount of the applicable city fee, and return the permit or license. (Code 1968, § 4-12; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-19 Issuance of receipt.

Sec. 3-19. - Issuance of receipt. Upon payment of the applicable city fee, the tax assessor and collector shall issue a city fee receipt to the licensee or permittee setting forth, without limitation, the name of the licensee or permittee, the address of the premises, a description of the permit or license, the permit or license number, the date issued, and the amount paid. (Code 1968, § 4-13; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-20 Fee receipt to be posted.

Sec. 3-20. - Fee receipt to be posted. All city fee receipts issued under this article shall be displayed adjacent to the permit or license to which they appertain. Failure of any permittee or licensee to display his city fee receipt in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be unlawful. (Code 1968, § 4-14; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-21 Fee payable prior to sale.

Sec. 3-21. - Fee payable prior to sale. Any permittee or licensee who sells an alcoholic beverage without first having paid any applicable city fees or without having submitted an administratively complete application pursuant to this article and any rules promulgated thereunder commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00. (Code 1968, § 4-15; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81; Ord. No. 2025-742, § 5, 8-27-2025)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 3-22 Refunds.

Sec. 3-22. - Refunds. (a) No permittee or licensee may obtain a refund of any city fee paid pursuant to this article, except as follows: (1) The permittee or licensee is prohibited from continuing in business at the premises to which the fee appertains because of a local option election, provided that in such event the refund shall be limited to the proportionate amount of the city fee covering the unexpired term of the permit or license; or (2) The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission decides to allow the permittee or licensee to withdraw its application and refunds the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit or license payment; or (3) The permit or license was issued through error on the part of city personnel. For purposes of this item, an error on the part of both city personnel and the permittee or licensee, such as the request for and issuance of a duplicate permit or license is excluded. Only errors that are exclusive to city personnel are included. Except as provided in item (1) above, no refund shall ever be allowable where a Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission licensed or permitted premises has been operated for any length of time under authority of the fee receipt. (b) In order to receive a refund, the fee receipt must be surrendered to the tax assessor and collector. If any business was conducted under the permit or license, the refund shall be prorated on the basis of the date of surrender of the fee receipt. (c) Except in the circumstance described in item (3) of subsection (a), there shall be imposed the refund processing fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. If the amount of the refund to be given is less than the amount of the refund processing fee, then no refund shall be made. (d) In the circumstance described in item (3) of subsection (a), the fee shall be refunded in full. (Code 1968, § 4-16; Ord. No. 81-1237, § 1, 6-30-81; Ord. No. 94-61, § 1, 1-19-94; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011)

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_CH3ALBE_ARTIIAPFEFetched: 10/26/2026