Demolition around Port Arthur

Before you set a start date, find out which city your lot is in. A street can be the line between two of them, and a permit from one does not carry over to the other. Here is what to check in the five main cities.

Port Arthur

Permits go through the Building Inspections division and the city's online permit portal. We could not confirm a published demolition permit type or fee, so ask what your address needs. The city runs its own dangerous-structure program: in 2020 it hired a contractor to take down 13 dangerous houses (Port Arthur News), and later bid packages covered batches of 14 to 51 houses. Storm and fire-damaged demolition covers what to do if your house is on a list like that.

Beaumont

The county's largest city sets its own permit rules, separate from Port Arthur's. Beaumont has also put residential demolitions out to public bid, and public jobs can carry bond and wage requirements, so read the bid documents if you are bidding on one. Ask the city what it wants before you pick a date. Larger buildings are covered on the commercial demolition page.

Nederland

Nederland sits between Port Arthur and Beaumont. It is its own city with its own permit process, so a Port Arthur contractor's usual paperwork may not match. Tell contractors the street address early so they check the right office.

Groves

Groves borders Port Arthur, but the line between the two matters: the city your parcel is in decides who issues the permit and what they ask for. If you are close to the boundary, confirm the city on your tax bill or with the appraisal district before pulling anything.

Port Neches

Port Neches lies along the Neches River next to Nederland and Groves. On any older house, ask about the asbestos survey and transite siding before you book a crew. As elsewhere, the city sets its own permit rules.

Outside city limits, a lot can fall under the county or under no local permit office at all. The Texas DSHS notice still applies to any building. Ask the county and the contractor which office handles your address, and give them the parcel number if you have it.

Long drives and narrow roads add cost. Tell contractors the road you are on and whether a truck can turn around on the lot. The lot clearing and debris hauling page lists what else to have ready, and the how it works page explains who quotes what.