Frequently Asked Questions

Building a house plan might be challenging. Houston Stock Plans strives to make it as simple as possible for you to begin designing your dream home. Every day, we receive a large number of inquiries. To assist you, we have developed a list of the most frequently asked questions.

Will your plans meet my local building codes?

Every city and county has different standards and codes they want building plans to follow. Since we have no way of knowing every location's codes, we have designed all of our plans to meet the codes in our local area which is Houston, Tx  and Harris County. That may or may not be good enough for your local area. Some locations may require that the plans be modified to meet their local codes. 

In certain areas, such as earthquake-prone or high hurricane risk areas, a local engineer may have to analyze and sign off on the building plans. There are several areas across the country that require an architect or engineer stamp for the plans to be approved. In this scenario, we can assist you with the engineering review and seal in house (at an additional charge) or you can purchase our plan and take it in to a local architect and they will give the final stamp of approval.

If you aren't sure about your local building codes, contact Houston Permitting Center (832) 394-9000 and they will provide you with a list of things needed for permit approval. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Do your plans include (MEP) (mechanical/electrical/plumbing) plans?

Since our stock plans are designed to meet Houston, Tx and Harris County building codes and not other state or county codes, extensive electrical, HVAC, and plumbing is not shown on the blueprints. HVAC system information regarding location of units, what types of units are used, and the duct layout are determined by local building codes and your preference of heating and cooling system. Also, we don’t know which direction the water flow will enter your home. Determining the location and the type of these systems you install in your new home is something you would discuss with your local builder or local subcontractors. They should be able to provide you with the necessary information based on what your local building codes will allow.

Do you give instructions on how to build the house?

Our plans are designed for use by individuals or companies with prior construction knowledge. They are not a how to guide for building houses. If you are not an experienced home builder, please work with a local builder when using our plans.

Can I resell a house plan once I've purchased it?

When you purchase a plan from Houston Stock Plans , Houston Plans and Permits, you are purchasing a license to build that plan one time. An unlimited build license is available that allows a person to build the home more than once. Any license is restricted to the person who purchases the plan and is not transferrable. Therefore, you may not sell the plan or give the plan to someone else to build.

**How many physical printed sets do I need?

The number of sets you need will vary depending on your builder's specific needs. Besides a set for yourself, you may need to turn a set in to your builder, subcontractor's, mortgage lender, and local building department. When you purchase a plan from us you will receive the digital pdf that you can take to get printed an unlimited number of times. If you don't want to hassle with taking the file to a printer, we offer printed and bound sets for $50 each.

Can I order more sets if I run out?

If you find yourself needing more printed sets, let us know and we can get you additional sets for $50 each.

Can you make changes to a plan for me?

Yes, we provide free quotes on all of our plans. When on a plan page, look for the get a free quote button to submit an alteration request.

Can I make changes to the plan myself?

We offer CAD files for purchase that allow you to take the plan into your own CAD software. This will allow you to make changes to the plan yourself.