County Building Permits
Blanco County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Blanco County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Blanco County. County controls are program-specific: OSSF (septic) permitting, subdivision and development regulations, 911 addressing, county-road and driveway approvals in subdivision context, and Fire Code permits for public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings with 4 or more units.
- Department
- Blanco County (County Inspector for OSSF, Fire Marshal for fire-code permits, Commissioners Court for subdivisions)
- Address
- Blanco County Courthouse, 101 E. Pecan, Johnson City, TX 78636
- Phone
- County Inspector: 830-868-2117; Fire Marshal: 830-868-8223; 911 Addressing: 830-868-2008
- Website
- https://www.co.blanco.tx.us/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- First determine which county approval track actually applies. In unincorporated Blanco County, the verified permit tracks are OSSF permitting, subdivision and development review, 911 addressing, and fire-code permitting for certain commercial, public, and multifamily projects.
- For OSSF (on-site sewage facility) work, complete the county OSSF application and checklist, attach the tax receipt, planning materials, site evaluation, construction plan, setbacks, dimensions, maintenance contract if applicable, and required fee.
- For projects subject to the county fire code (public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings with 4 or more units), obtain the permit form prescribed by the Fire Marshal, submit two complete sets of scaled construction and site plans, and pay the fee at the time plans are submitted unless other arrangements are approved by the County Auditor.
- For subdivision or platting matters, submit the required plat application, digital files, and supporting documents to the county process identified in the subdivision regulations and obtain Commissioners Court approval where required.
- Wait for county review. The Fire Marshal must issue or deny a compliant fire-code permit application within 30 days after receiving the application and fee.
- If approved, obtain the OSSF authorization to construct, fire-code permit, or subdivision approval as applicable, then complete the required inspections before covering or occupying the improvement.
- For fire-code projects, obtain the final occupancy inspection and certificate of compliance before occupancy. For OSSF, coordinate inspection before covering the system.
Typical processing time: Fire Marshal must issue or deny permit within 30 days after receiving the application and fee. No general turnaround posted for OSSF or subdivision reviews.
General Requirements
OSSF permits are required to construct and license to operate a private on-site sewage facility. Fire Code permits are required before construction or substantial improvement of public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings with 4 or more units in unincorporated Blanco County. Subdivision regulations govern plats and related development approvals. No countywide general building-permit program verified for all ordinary unincorporated residential construction.
Required Documents
- For OSSF: application, current property tax receipt, complete site evaluation and construction plan, required setbacks and specifications, maintenance contract for aerobic systems, fee, and power of attorney or designation if applicable.
- For fire-code permits: two complete sets of scaled construction and site plans showing construction materials, exits, fire-alarm and sprinkler equipment, emergency lighting, and other safety measures, plus permit fee.
- For subdivision work: plat materials, digital copies, ownership proof, and other supporting technical documents.
- Permit validity
- OSSF permits are valid for 1 year only. Fire-code permits become null and void if construction or substantial improvement is not started within 180 days of issuance, although the code allows two 6-month extensions upon written request. Draft subdivision rules state plat-application approval is effective for 5 years from filing if progress is made.
- Building code
- Blanco County has adopted the Blanco County Fire Code plus the International Fire Code 2015 Edition for its limited unincorporated fire-code jurisdiction. No broader countywide building-code adoption verified covering all ordinary residential construction.
- Owner-builder
- OSSF application states the applicant has read the TCEQ rule for self-installs and will not hold Blanco County liable for self-install. No separate county HB 2833 implementation page or general owner-builder handout verified for ordinary unincorporated residential building work.
- Contractor requirements
- No countywide general contractor registration requirement verified. County fire code contemplates review of plans and consultation with architects, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- OSSF single-family residence permit: $300. Fire-code submitted-plan minimum fee: $50.
- Plan check fee
- Fire-code plan review uses the valuation-based permit table with a $50 minimum. Preliminary fire-code plan review is $125 when billed separately. OSSF permit fees are bundled flat fees.
- Permit fee formula
- OSSF fees are flat. Fire-code construction permit fees are valuation-based above the $50 minimum. Other county fire-code fees include flat charges for change of occupancy inspection, preliminary plan review, mobile vendor registration, and after-hours services.
- Reinspection fee
- OSSF reinspection is $150. Fire-code after-hours inspection is $75 per hour with a 2-hour minimum.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Fire-code failure to obtain required permit is double the original permit fee. Fire-code civil penalties may reach $200 per day for violations.
- Payment note
- Fire code states fees must be paid by exact cash, cashier's check, or money order unless other arrangements are approved by the County Auditor. OSSF checklist states all fees are non-refundable.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Important: The county's public permitting record is program-specific rather than a blanket county building-permit regime. Ordinary residential work may have no county building permit unless it triggers OSSF, subdivision, floodplain, road-access, or the limited fire-code authorities verified above.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County Inspector: 830-868-2117 (phone)
- inspector@co.blanco.tx.us (email)
- Fire Marshal: 830-868-8223 (phone)
- firemarshal@co.blanco.tx.us (email)
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday (normal working hours)
Typical inspection sequence: For OSSF, county review is followed by system construction and inspection before the system is covered. For fire-code permits, the code contemplates plan review, permit issuance, construction inspections, final occupancy inspection, and issuance of a certificate of compliance.
After-hours review or inspection available by written request at least 3 days in advance and billed separately.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Blanco County has adopted the Blanco County Fire Code plus the International Fire Code 2015 Edition for its limited unincorporated fire-code jurisdiction. No broader countywide building-code adoption verified covering all ordinary residential construction.
- Verify contractor license: TDLR License Lookup
- County Contact Information
- OSSF Application and Checklist
- Blanco County Fire Code
- Blanco County Subdivision Regulations
- 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 Blanco County (County Inspector for OSSF, Fire Marshal for fire-code permits, Commissioners Court for subdivisions) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blanco County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Blanco County, TX?
- OSSF permits are required to construct and license to operate a private on-site sewage facility. Fire Code permits are required before construction or substantial improvement of public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings with 4 or more units in unincorporated Blanco County. Subdivision regulations govern plats and related development approvals. No countywide general building-permit program verified for all ordinary unincorporated residential construction.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Blanco County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is OSSF single-family residence permit: $300. Fire-code submitted-plan minimum fee: $50.. Fees are calculated as: OSSF fees are flat. Fire-code construction permit fees are valuation-based above the $50 minimum. Other county fire-code fees include flat charges for change of occupancy inspection, preliminary plan review, mobile vendor registration, and after-hours services.. Plan check fee: Fire-code plan review uses the valuation-based permit table with a $50 minimum. Preliminary fire-code plan review is $125 when billed separately. OSSF permit fees are bundled flat fees..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Blanco County, TX?
- 1. First determine which county approval track actually applies. In unincorporated Blanco County, the verified permit tracks are OSSF permitting, subdivision and development review, 911 addressing, and fire-code permitting for certain commercial, public, and multifamily projects. 2. For OSSF (on-site sewage facility) work, complete the county OSSF application and checklist, attach the tax receipt, planning materials, site evaluation, construction plan, setbacks, dimensions, maintenance contract if applicable, and required fee. 3. For projects subject to the county fire code (public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings with 4 or more units), obtain the permit form prescribed by the Fire Marshal, submit two complete sets of scaled construction and site plans, and pay the fee at the time plans are submitted unless other arrangements are approved by the County Auditor. 4. For subdivision or platting matters, submit the required plat application, digital files, and supporting documents to the county process identified in the subdivision regulations and obtain Commissioners Court approval where required. 5. Wait for county review. The Fire Marshal must issue or deny a compliant fire-code permit application within 30 days after receiving the application and fee. 6. If approved, obtain the OSSF authorization to construct, fire-code permit, or subdivision approval as applicable, then complete the required inspections before covering or occupying the improvement. 7. For fire-code projects, obtain the final occupancy inspection and certificate of compliance before occupancy. For OSSF, coordinate inspection before covering the system.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Blanco County, TX?
- Typical processing time is Fire Marshal must issue or deny permit within 30 days after receiving the application and fee. No general turnaround posted for OSSF or subdivision reviews..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Blanco County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County Inspector: 830-868-2117, inspector@co.blanco.tx.us, Fire Marshal: 830-868-8223, firemarshal@co.blanco.tx.us.
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