Dickinson, in mainland Galveston County, sits on a tract granted to John Dickinson in 1824, people had settled along Dickinson Bayou before 1850, and the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad ran right through town. Today it’s a city of about 21,000, roughly 28 miles from Houston and 19 from Galveston.
Living with Dickinson Bayou
Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 devastated Dickinson. By one widely cited account, about 90% of the city flooded, and about half was destroyed by floodwater. Afterward, the Texas General Land Office announced more than $9 million for Dickinson’s disaster-recovery buyout and acquisition program for flood-prone homes. The area also gets roughly 57 to 61 inches of rain a year.
What that means for your project:
- Look behind the finishes. Earlier quick fixes can hide wet insulation, damaged framing or mold. Our estimator includes probing and opening up in the scope where it makes sense.
- Plan for elevation documents. Dickinson’s building division notes that FEMA’s updated Elevation Certificate form became mandatory on July 7, 2023, with no grace period. If your project needs one, it has to be on the current form.
- Choose materials that can take water. Tile, suitable vinyl plank and moisture-tolerant lower-wall materials make sense in flood-prone homes.
Buying in Dickinson? Walk it with a contractor first
Flood history makes a pre-purchase walkthrough especially useful here. We look at the roof, structure, HVAC and finishes for visible red flags and tell you what repairs might cost. This is contractor guidance, not an inspection by a TREC-licensed home inspector.
Dickinson permits
The Building Permits & Inspections Division, part of Dickinson’s Community Development department, issues permits for building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, pools, signs and more. Since October 3, 2022, applications, plan uploads, fees and inspection scheduling all go through the MyGov portal, where both contractors and homeowners can register. The city’s posted codes are the 2018 International codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, which are older editions than some neighboring cities use, so plans drawn for another city may need changes. Same-day inspection requests have a 6 a.m. cutoff.
Dickinson is in Galveston County and inside the TWIA windstorm area, so exterior and structural work generally needs TDI windstorm inspection and certification.
Official page: Dickinson Building Permits & Inspections
Dickinson FAQ
Which building codes does Dickinson use?
The city’s page lists the 2018 International codes and the 2017 NEC. We confirm the current adoption when we submit.
Can I apply for my own permit?
Yes. Homeowners can register in Dickinson’s MyGov portal. If we’re your contractor, we take care of it.
Is a pre-purchase walkthrough the same as a home inspection?
No. It’s a contractor’s look at likely repair needs and costs. Hire a TREC-licensed inspector for the formal report.
Call 832-304-0636 about a Dickinson rebuild, remodel or walkthrough, or contact us. Nearby: League City, Kemah, Galveston.