South Houston businesses and landlords can have staff clean mold under 25 contiguous square feet, but anything larger must be removed by a company holding a TDLR mold remediation license, with a separate consultant writing the plan and checking clearance. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in South Houston.
South Houston background
South Houston is a small city of about 16,000 people, roughly 16 miles from downtown Houston, bordered by Houston and Pasadena and incorporated in 1913. Manufacturing moved in after the Houston Ship Channel was built, and a 1915 hurricane destroyed many of the local industries. Today the commercial mix along Spencer Highway, Old Galveston Road, Allen Genoa Road and South Shaver Street includes shops, auto and service businesses, light industry and rental property. The usual mold triggers are the same as across the Houston area: flat roofs that leak, heavy rain on clay soil that drains slowly, and AC equipment that sweats through a long cooling season.
What to do now
- Find where the water is coming from and get it stopped, even temporarily.
- Start drying wet materials right away; EPA says mold can be expected if they stay wet past 24 to 48 hours.
- Switch off the air handler for the affected area if you think it is contaminated.
- Size up the visible growth. Under 25 contiguous square feet, the owner or tenant of a non-residential building and their employees may clean it; residential properties of 10 or more units follow the same limit.
- For anything larger, hire a mold assessment consultant first, then a separate remediation company. Texas does not allow one firm to do both on the same project.
- Ask the City of South Houston about permit requirements before replacing drywall, framing or ceilings.
Signs and likely causes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Brown rings on ceiling tile | Roof or rooftop unit leak |
| Mold along the bottom of walls in a back room | Water pooling at the slab or a supply line leak |
| Grey fuzz on stored cardboard or paper | High humidity in an unconditioned storage area |
| Musty air from vents when the AC starts | Wet drain pan or contaminated duct lining |
Cost factors
The main drivers are the size of the affected area, the materials that must be removed, containment so the business can keep operating, after-hours labor and any HVAC cleaning. Plan for two firms, since the assessment consultant and remediation company bill separately. HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put remediation at $15 to $30 per square foot and $2,000 to $10,000 for an HVAC system or ducts. Harris County Public Health is the county health department for health questions, and mold license questions go to TDLR.
Commercial Mold Remediation questions in South Houston
Can our own maintenance staff clean up a small mold problem?
Is sampling needed when the mold is visible?
How do we check a company's TDLR license?
How is commercial mold remediation priced?
More mold services in South Houston
Commercial Mold Remediation nearby
Sources
- TDLR: Mold Assessors and Remediators FAQs
- TDLR: Texas Mold Assessors and Remediators Law
- TDLR: License Search
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: Mold Information Slideshow (testing and sampling)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Mold Removal and Remediation Cost? (2026)
- Harris County Public Health: Neighborhood Nuisance
- Wikipedia: South Houston, Texas
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