Legislation Details

File #: 25-5674    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Policy Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 9/2/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 9/18/2025 Final action: 9/18/2025
Title: Request for approval for Commissioners Court to designate to one or more officers or employees of the county the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a plat.

Primary Department: County Engineer

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP

 

Secondary Department: County Attorney

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Christian Menefee

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

 

Type of Request: Policy

 

Project ID (if applicable): N/A

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request for approval for Commissioners Court to designate to one or more officers or employees of the county the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a plat.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

 

The request for consideration is related to the authority given by the State in HB 3697 in 2023, as described below:


TXLGC Sec. 232.0022.  DELEGATION OF APPROVAL RESPONSIBILITY. 

(a) The commissioners court of a county or the court's designee may designate to one or more officers or employees of the county the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a plat.

 

(b)  An applicant has the right to appeal to the commissioner’s court or the court's designee if the designated person or persons disapprove of a plat.

 

Plats or replats that require the establishment of and conducting of public hearings shall continue to go before commissioner’s court for approval.

 

Expected Impact:

 

This policy change would allow for more efficient and timely approval and recordation of plats throughout the unincorporated areas of Harris County.

 

Alternative Options:

 

Continue current policy that requires all plats to be approved by a vote of Commissioners Court.

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.

County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  N/A

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  N/A

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A

Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

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Location:

Address (if applicable): Unincorporated Harris County

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

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Grants – Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

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Total Personnel

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Anticipated Court Date: 9/18/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Darrell Hahn, Permits Director, OCE

 

Attachments (if applicable):