Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve

Expected timeline

Per TABC Rule §33.27 and Alcoholic Beverage Code §11.43.

• Sep 26, 2026
  Application filed with TABCpassed
  Initial application submitted for Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve.
• By Oct 01, 2026
  Public notice required
  Applicant must publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks, AND post a printed notice in English and Spanish at the premises (60-day sign).
• By Nov 25, 2026protest deadline
  Last day to file a protest
  Any person who can show "good cause" — a neighbor, peace officer, school, or hospital within 300 ft, or anyone with a public-interest objection — can file a protest with TABC. After this date the application generally proceeds unopposed.
• ~ Oct 26 – Nov 25, 2026
  Expected decision window
  TABC typical processing is 30–60 days when no protests are filed. Protested applications are routed to a contested-case hearing at SOAH and can take months longer.

What happens next

1. Public notice posted — applicant must post a sign at the premises and run newspaper ads. Look for these in person or in your local paper.
2. Local approval — county judge or city secretary certifies that the location is in a "wet" area and meets local zoning. Required before TABC can issue.
3. Background & investigations — TABC reviews officers, source of funds, and prior compliance history of every principal.
4. License issued or denied — if no protests and all paperwork is clean, TABC issues the license. The applicant can then begin selling alcohol.

How to file a protest

Anyone with standing — neighbors, schools/hospitals within 300 ft, peace officers, or any "person" showing good cause — can protest a TABC application.

What you can protest

• Location violates zoning, distance from schools/churches/hospitals, or city/county rules
• Past criminal history, untruthfulness, or unreliability of applicant or officers
• Inadequate public notice (newspaper ad or 60-day sign not posted properly)
• Public-welfare grounds: noise, traffic, crime concentration in the area

How to file

1. Write a signed letter stating who you are, your relationship/standing to the premises, and the specific grounds for your protest.
2. File it before the protest deadline shown above — late protests are often dismissed.
3. Mail or hand-deliver to: TABC Licensing Division, P.O. Box 13127, Austin, TX 78711-3127. You can also file in person at any TABC regional office.
4. If your protest is accepted, TABC will set a contested-case hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).

TABC: How to protest → TABC.gov

Location

5440 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Houston 77032

Who owns this

Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve, LL

Other permits under this owner (1)

• Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve
  Surrendered · Houston

About this status

This is a brand-new TABC application — not a renewal of an existing license. The applicant has filed with the state but the license has not been issued yet. The business cannot sell alcohol on this permit until TABC approves it.

Watch for

• The 60-day sign at the address — required by law. Take a photo and date it.
• Newspaper notices in the county of record for 2 consecutive weeks.
• Local approval certificates from county judge/city secretary.
• Status changes on this page — we update from TABC daily.

Same address, prior licenses

Search licenses by ZIP 77032 or browse the Houston bar history to see what's operated at or near this location before.