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 Commissioners Court to designate to the County Engineer or the County Engineer’s designee, the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a plat and to amend the Regulations of Harris County, TX for the Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure under the Harris County Code for compliance with this request.
end
Background and Discussion:
The request for consideration is related to the authority given by the State of Texas to Texas counties, as described below under § 232.0022 of the Texas Local Government Code that is titled 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 commissioners court or the court's designee if the designated person or persons disapprove a plat.
It is the County Engineer’s recommendation that the most effective option to improve the County’s efficiency and consistency is for Commissioners Court to delegate authority to approve plats under § 232.0022 of the Texas Local Government Code to the County Engineer and the County Engineer’s designee.
Expected Impact:
This policy change would allow for more efficient and timely approval of plats throughout the unincorporated areas of Harris County.
Plats or replats that require the establishment of and conducting of public hearings shall continue to seek commissioners court action and consideration, respectively, as applicable.
Alternative Options:
Maintain the current policy requiring 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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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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8/26/2025 |
76 |
To direct the Office of County Engineer to work with the Office of the County Attorney to develop a set of policies and guidelines related to the plat approval process and return those to Court on September 19, 2025. |
|
9/18/2025 |
12 |
Item withdrawn. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): Unincorporated Harris County
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/16/2025
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: Dr. F. Mike Etienne, Chief of Planning and Development Services
Attachments (if applicable): Court Order and Amendments to the Regulations of Harris County, Texas For The Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure