Development Application Handbook

Development is essential to maintaining the life and vibrancy of the City of Sugar Land. Striving to create the most seamless development application process possible, staff has created the “Development Application Handbook” to help those wishing to develop in the City of Sugar Land and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as authorized in the city’s Development Code.

Please Note: Application checklists should be completed and submitted with your application before the submittal deadlines outlined in the Development Application Handbook for your application to be considered “complete”. The Development Application Handbooks are meant as an aid and are not intended to replace ordinances, codes, design and construction standards, and other processes in place.

Pre-Development Meetings


Each municipality has a unique set of development requirements that directly pertain to its jurisdiction. To aid applicants in submitting their development applications, the City of Sugar Land will host pre-development meetings upon request. This allows applicants the opportunity to meet with city staff, present their project, and ask project-related questions to staff who can provide feedback to help applicants save both time and money when preparing their project for a formal submittal.

Section 1: Introduction

  • Purpose of Development Application Handbook
  • Overview of Development Process, Pre-Development Meetings and Submittal Procedures
  • Flow Chart: Development Process- Commercial
  • Flow Chart: Development Process- Residential
  • Flow Chart: Zoning Process
  • Flow Chart: Plat Process
  • Flow Chart: General Land Plan Process
  • Flow Chart: Site Plan Process

Section 2: Zoning

Section 3: General Land Plans

  • General Land Plan Information
  • Flow Chart: General Land Plan Process
  • General Land Plan Checklist

Section 4: Plats

  • Plat Information
  • Flow Chart: Plat Process
  • Planning & Zoning Commission Plat Submittal Schedule
  • Preliminary Plat Checklist
  • Final Plat Checklist
  • Official Master Notes of the City of Sugar Land
  • City of Sugar Land Certification Blocks & Plat Owner's Dedication Block
  • Plat Recordation Checklist

Section 5: Site Plans

  • Site Plan Package Information
  • Flow Chart: Site Plan Process
  • Site Plan Package Checklist

Section 6: Public Infrastructure Plans

  • Public Infrastructure Plans Information
  • Public Infrastructure Plans Checklist

Section 7: Building Permits

  • Building Permits Information

Section 8: Special Exceptions, Variances, and Appeals

  • Special Exception Information
  • Special Exception Submittal Schedule
  • Variance Information
  • Zoning Appeals Information
  1. Citizen Self Service

    Citizen Self Service - HiRes
    The city of Sugar Land has moved the permits, license, and plan submittal processes to online intake only. You are now able to apply and pay for a permit, request an inspection and more - online and available to you 24/7/365.

    Access the portal at www.sugarlandtx.gov/CSS
    More information on CSS including user guides are available at www.sugarlandtx.gov/CSSLive