Kemah is small: fewer than 2,000 residents at the 2020 census. It sits on the west shore of Galveston Bay, across the Clear Creek Channel from Seabrook. It started as a fishing town, ran a casino strip on the waterfront from the 1920s to the 1950s, built a shrimping fleet once the Clear Creek Channel opened, and is now best known for the Kemah Boardwalk and its entertainment district. When Kemah rebuilt in its early years, families put up two-story homes with porches along 10th Street.
Salt air and storm surge
Kemah takes weather head-on. Hurricane Carla severely damaged the town in 1961. Hurricane Ike in 2008 destroyed homes and businesses, and its surge hit the boardwalk hardest. A waterline in Landry’s restaurant still marks how high the water rose. On a Kemah job we think about:
- Corrosion-resistant fasteners, connectors and exterior hardware
- Roof coverings and openings rated for the local design wind speed
- Elevation and flood zone before any addition or enclosed space below the living floor
- Moisture control in homes that sit empty part of the year
TWIA windstorm certification is part of the job
Kemah is in Galveston County, and the whole county is in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s designated catastrophe area. To be eligible for TWIA coverage, structures built, altered, remodeled, enlarged or repaired since January 1, 1988 need a certificate of compliance issued by the Texas Department of Insurance. In practice, roof replacements, new windows and doors, and structural or exterior changes are inspected during construction for windstorm compliance. As of April 1, 2026, TDI certifies that work to the 2024 IRC or IBC.
Kemah permits and contractor registration
Kemah’s Building Department handles permits and inspections through the MyGov portal. Every contractor has to register on MyGov before submitting a permit. The city builds to current International Code Council codes and the National Electrical Code and posts a residential building checklist and a pre-development meeting application for larger projects.
Official page: Kemah Building Department – Permits and Inspections
Investment and rental properties
Our real estate side helps owners renovate Kemah properties to rent or resell: planning the scope, pricing the work and running the renovation.
Kemah FAQ
Will my Kemah roof replacement need a windstorm inspection?
If you want TWIA coverage, yes. Galveston County is in the designated catastrophe area, so the work needs TDI certification.
Does my contractor need to register with the City of Kemah?
Yes. Kemah requires contractors to register on MyGov before applying for any permit.
Can you work on a house I only use part-time?
Yes. We’ll set up communication and photo updates so you can follow progress from out of town.
Call 832-304-0636 for a Kemah estimate, or contact us. Nearby: League City, Clear Lake, Dickinson.