Franchise Administration
Risk Management
Utility Regulation
Operations
Regulatory Permitting
Parking
311
BARC
The Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA) provides a wide variety of administrative services to the City of Houston’s departments, such as 311 service request routing, payroll processing, asset disposition, citywide policy management, internal mail services, records management, and insurance risk management.
Our Mission is to efficiently deliver superior administration and regulatory affairs services to our customers through the efforts of a highly dedicated and professional staff committed to world class customer service and excellence in everything we do.
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About the Director
As the first Hispanic director of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) Department, Paez was unanimously confirmed by the city council in May of 2013. She has dedicated nearly 30 years as an employee for the City of Houston including 10 years as director of ARA, preceded by 10 years as deputy director. Before joining the City, she worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
As director of ARA, Paez is responsible for oversight of 18 functional units representing a diverse cross section of City services including the BARC Animal Shelter, 3-1-1 Information Services, ParkHouston, Regulatory Permitting, Utility Regulation ... Read more About the Director ...
Tina Paez, Director
Contact ARA
Administration & Regulatory Affairs
611 Walker, 13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 832.393.8501
E-Mail: aracontactus@houstontx.gov
Records Requests: araopenrecordsrequest@
houstontx.gov
ARA In the News
- View the ARA Press Releases
Dog remains found dumped at TxDOT site near Bush Airport, investigation underway
April 22, 2026 -- What started as a search for a pregnant dog led to a disturbing discovery along the Eastex Freeway, dozens of dog remains scattered behind a state facility near Bush Airport. The site, located at 16803 Eastex Freeway, is now the focus of an investigation involving Houston police and BARC’s animal cruelty unit. ... Read More ...
Emancipet vaccinates and microchips over 400 pets in Houston during city-wide Pet Wellness Day
April 22, 2026 -- On Sunday, April 19, 2026, Emancipet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making veterinary care affordable and accessible for all pet families, partnered with the City of Houston’s BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions to host Pet Wellness Day, a community event focused on ... Read More ...
Toothless rules won’t solve Houston’s short term rental problems: 'The hotline really doesn't help'
April 21, 2026 -- When Houston's new short-term rental regulations took effect in January, residents dared to hope that the noisy parties, public indecency, illegal parking, trash and violence plaguing some neighborhood rentals would finally be addressed. ... Read More ...
ARA Dispels Myth That It Is the Island of Misfit Toys
What’s in a name? If you ask the executive staff of the City of Houston’s Administration and Regulatory Department, chances are you won’t quite get a straight answer. ... ARA Director Tina Paez, however, sums up their function simply: “We like to call ourselves the city incubator,” she said. ...
Monroe ensures Houston’s hired rides are road-ready and clean
As a former Uber driver, Patrick Monroe takes particular pride in making sure all vehicles for hire in the city look and ride at their very best and ensuring their drivers meet the safety standards of those vehicles.
The City's Garage Sale
People will buy just about anything. Just ask Scott Erdo. As the administrative manager for the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Asset Disposition, he has overseen the sale of everything that comes through his warehouse — from Cessna airplanes to stuffed coyotes.
I found a stray animal—What do I do? BARC weighs in
Houston’s stray animal crisis continues to escalate as BARC, the city’s animal shelter and adoption facility, projects taking in more than 22,000 stray animals this year. The city now ranks second nationwide for dog attacks on postal workers, highlighting growing concerns about public safety and animal control challenges in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
3-1-1: The purpose, process, and progress of Houston’s first source for city services
... This division is the most frequently utilized, but also the most misunderstood. The 3-1-1 telephone number provides a central hub for local residents to access a variety of city services, ask questions or lodge complaints.
Calling Agent 311
Jesus Delgadillo worked for Harris County calling residents to collect outstanding fees and described the job as straight business. It’s definitely different than what he does now with the City of Houston as a 311 operator. But it’s the other angle of his current job that makes the work experience more enjoyable: ...