Brewster County, TX

How permitting works in Texas

Texas counties do not adopt general building codes, but in unincorporated areas they still issue permits. Most require a development or floodplain permit for new structures, a septic (on-site sewage) permit where there is no sewer, and driveway or culvert permits on county roads. Some, like Denton County, require a development permit for any improvement, including pools. Land in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) usually gets its building permits from the county, not the city.

Cities permit inside their limits; counties permit development in unincorporated areas.