Commercial Mold Remediation in New Caney, TX

We're in unincorporated New Caney. Who handles permits when we rebuild?

New Caney has no city government, so building matters go to the Montgomery County Permit Department, part of Environmental Health at 501 N. Thompson in Conroe, which keeps a separate phone line for East Montgomery County. The county's FAQ says fully enclosed structures or additions need a Development Permit, and so do substantially damaged structures in the floodplain. Mold removal itself isn't permitted work, but rebuilding a flood-damaged building afterward may be. Call the county with the property address before the drywall goes back up.

Caney Creek and the 2024 flooding: what should a property owner check?

The community grew along Caney Creek after its founding as Presswood in 1862. In May 2024, heavy rain upstream flooded the Lake Houston area, and New Caney residents were pointed to the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery hotline. County floodplain rules mark special flood hazard areas, including floodways the county treats as extremely hazardous because of fast-moving water. If your building took water, look low: wall cavities behind cabinets and counters, carpet pad, and the bottom of interior partitions. EPA advises assuming mold growth when wet materials couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours.

How big does the problem have to be before we need outside help?

For a business, the line is 25 contiguous square feet. Below it, the owner, a tenant or their employees may clean the area without a TDLR license. At or above it, the remediation must be done by a TDLR remediation license holder working from a consultant's written protocol, and the contractor notifies TDLR at least five days before starting. Rental property with 10 or more units follows the same size threshold. Anyone you pay to do mold work for you needs the license regardless of size.

A local note

The Montgomery County Public Health District does not list mold or housing conditions among the complaints it takes, and after Harvey its storm resources page sent residents to its Facebook page for mold removal tips. That leaves assessment as a private hire, so check every name on TDLR's license search and ask each company for TDLR's Consumer Mold Information Sheet before work begins.