February 19th through 25th is Engineers Week 2017! E-week is a multi-discipline engineering and STEM career-focused event to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world and to illuminate our profession to youth. Many of my colleagues are sharing their story this week so I thought I would highlight my own professional narrative and passion for engineering and public service.

Building lines are used by the City of Houston, and other jurisdictions, to establish guidelines on how far a structure must be "set back" from the property line. How can you be sure the development you have in mind will not conflict with Houston's wildly variant building line standards? I outline the basic standards and common variances.