County Building Permits
Austin County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Austin County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Austin County administers development permits, floodplain controls, driveway culvert permits, subdivision and development regulation review, and OSSF/septic permitting in unincorporated areas.
- Department
- Austin County Planning and Development Department
- Address
- One East Main Street, Bellville, TX 77418
- Phone
- 979-865-5911
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine which county approval applies: development permit, culvert, floodplain, platting, or OSSF/septic.
- Download the applicable county form from the permits page.
- Submit the application and supporting materials to the Planning and Development Department by email to one of the county planning inboxes.
- Provide the property information and any required supporting materials under the Subdivision and Development Regulations, fee schedule, and development checklist.
- Contact the Planning and Development Department at 979-865-5911 to submit payment.
- After issuance, complete any required field approvals, including culvert, floodplain, OSSF, and subdivision-related reviews as applicable.
General Requirements
Austin County requires applications for development, culvert work in county right-of-way, floodplain development, subdivision/development review, private roadway naming, and OSSF licensing. County development permit form states permit is valid for one year from date of issuance.
Required Documents
- Development application
- Property description
- Owner and contractor information
- Project square footage
- Flood zone panel data
- Applicable subdivision, drainage, utility, culvert, or OSSF materials
- Permit validity
- County development permit valid for one year from date of issuance.
- Building code
- No publicly posted county ordinance clearly establishing a countywide general building code enforcement program for all unincorporated residential construction. County publishes subdivision and development regulations, floodplain controls, and OSSF materials.
- Owner-builder
- No county owner-builder handout located. Texas-context note: parcel-specific review may still matter for private inspections, lender requirements, floodplain compliance, utilities, and septic approvals.
- Contractor requirements
- No countywide general contractor licensing program identified. OSSF work is regulated through the county OSSF licensing materials and state law.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Varies by permit type under the county fee schedule and subdivision/development regulations
- Payment note
- County page instructs applicants to call 979-865-5911 to submit payment
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Austin County Planning and Development Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: Permit page does not publish a general county building inspection workflow. Inspection or field review appears to depend on permit type, such as floodplain, culvert, subdivision infrastructure, or OSSF.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No publicly posted county ordinance clearly establishing a countywide general building code enforcement program for all unincorporated residential construction. County publishes subdivision and development regulations, floodplain controls, and OSSF materials.
- Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
- Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Development Application
- License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Austin County Planning and Development Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Austin County, TX?
- Austin County requires applications for development, culvert work in county right-of-way, floodplain development, subdivision/development review, private roadway naming, and OSSF licensing. County development permit form states permit is valid for one year from date of issuance.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Austin County, TX?
- Fees are calculated as: Varies by permit type under the county fee schedule and subdivision/development regulations.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Austin County, TX?
- 1. Determine which county approval applies: development permit, culvert, floodplain, platting, or OSSF/septic. 2. Download the applicable county form from the permits page. 3. Submit the application and supporting materials to the Planning and Development Department by email to one of the county planning inboxes. 4. Provide the property information and any required supporting materials under the Subdivision and Development Regulations, fee schedule, and development checklist. 5. Contact the Planning and Development Department at 979-865-5911 to submit payment. 6. After issuance, complete any required field approvals, including culvert, floodplain, OSSF, and subdivision-related reviews as applicable.
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