Subject: Cutting and Welding

Revised July 2025

Purpose: A Cutting and Welding operational permits are required for cutting, welding, brazing, and soldering. Cutting and welding permits shall be issued to a company on an annual basis to conduct cutting, welding, brazing, and soldering in the unincorporated areas of the county and not for each job site in the jurisdiction. This permit shall not be required in an industrial setting where a cutting and welding or a hot work program is in place and permits are already issued for each job inside of a plant or industrial facility.

Fees: $300.00 Annually

Requirements: A Cutting and Welding permit will be issued once an application has been completed appropriately, all applicable documents have been uploaded, reviewed, and approved. 

Applications will be completed electronically, and all required documentation shall be uploaded electronically. There shall be no paper submissions. Permit application shall be completed and submitted through the approved Harris County software program. Once the application is received along with all required documentation, the Fire Code Official will conduct a review. When the permit process is complete, and authorization is given, the applicant will be notified that the permit is issued, and the duration of the permit will be indicated.

All cutting and welding permit applications will begin with generalized information requirements. This information will pertain to the property information/property owner’s information/application information/project name.

When applying for cutting and welding operational permit the applicant shall provide the following information:

• Written processes and procedures addressing; 

  • Employee safety, 

  • Site safety, 

  • Use of appropriate fire protection equipment, 

  • Use of proper signage, 

  • Allowing for adequate cool-time period(s), 

  • Fire Watch; 

• Emergency plan addressing the employee(s) procedures in the event of a fire or other emergency related to the hot work operation;

Written procedures for employee training on the company processes, procedures, and emergency plans. Training records shall be maintained by the company and be made available for review if requested by the fire code official.

Denial: If it is determined that an application fails to meet the requirements as set forth in this standard or the applicant refuses to provide all required documentation, the fire code official shall not issue a permit, but shall return the application to the applicant with explanation for refusal.

Revocation: The fire code official is authorized to revoke a permit where it is found that there has been false statements or misrepresentation as to the material facts in the application or supporting documentation on which the approval and issuance was based, the permit was issued to a different person or firm than named on the permit, the permittee failed, refused or neglected to comply with orders or notices duly served in accordance with the provisions of this code within the time provided therein, or the permit was issued in error or in violation of an ordinance, regulation or this code.