Subject: Multiple Tenant / Guestroom Housing 

Revised: April 2025 

Purpose: An operational permit is required to own or operate a multiple tenant or guestroom facility. This shall include but not be limited to lodging houses, alternative living facilities, flophouses, and halfway houses. This shall not include motels, hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, or apartments. Multi-tenant/guestroom housing permits shall be renewed on an annual basis. This permit excludes boarding homes, assisted living houses, and other facilities which received licenses or permits from State or Local Government. 

Fees: $200.00 Annually  

Requirements: A Multiple Tenant / Guestroom Housing 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 Multiple Tenant / Guestroom Housing 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 a Multiple Tenant / Guestroom Housing operational permit the applicant shall provide the following information:  

• Floor plan of facility to include all exits, tenant spaces, locations of fire suppression systems, fire alarm panels, fire extinguishers, electrical shutoff, and gas shutoff. 

• Emergency plan complaint with Chapter 4 of the adopted fire code. 

• Written certification of the services provided to the tenants/guests of the facility to include insurance that no health care services or personal services are being provided for any tenant/guest unless the facility has an issued license number, contract number, or other authorization from HHS or DFPS. If the facility has authorization to operate through HHS or DFPS as an HCS home or similar, a copy of the certificate issued including identification number shall be uploaded.  

• Information on types of fire alarm systems installed and last inspection date (provide last inspection report or photo of current inspection tag(s). This shall include all fire alarm systems or other gas detection systems at the facility; 

• Information on installed sprinkler systems and last inspection date (provide last inspection report or photo of current inspection tag(s). This shall include all fire sprinkler systems at the facility; 

• Information on fire extinguishers or any type of alternate (including but not limited to automatic hood suppression) fire protection system installed and last inspection date (provide last inspection report or photo of current inspection tag(s)); 

If one or more of the requested documents does not apply to your location, please submit in writing a reason for not submitting.  

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.