Briscoe County, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Office of the County Judge

Street address

Briscoe County Courthouse, 415 Main St, Silverton, TX 79257

Phone

(806) 823-2131

briscoejudge@co.briscoe.tx.us

Coverage

Unincorporated Briscoe County. Note: Briscoe County does not operate a general county building-permit program for ordinary building construction. OSSF/septic permitting is controlled by TCEQ at the state level; the regional office (TCEQ Region 1, Amarillo) is the permitting authority.

Online portal

TCEQ OARS Permitting Authority Lookup

TCEQ Online Permitting (OSSF)

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Briscoe County

No public county general building permit program for ordinary vertical construction was identified for unincorporated Briscoe County. TCEQ states a permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF unless an exemption applies.

Scope of work

Permit?

Grandfathered OSSF systems may not require a permit under TCEQ exemptions.

Exempt

OSSF systems qualifying for the 10-acre rule exemption.

Exempt

Emergency OSSF repairs do not require a permit but must be reported in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.

Exempt

Exempt Grandfathered OSSF systems may not require a permit under TCEQ exemptions.
Exempt OSSF systems qualifying for the 10-acre rule exemption.
Exempt Emergency OSSF repairs do not require a permit but must be reported in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.

Note: No public Briscoe County exempt-work list for general building construction was found. Exemptions apply only to specific OSSF scenarios under TCEQ rules. Applicants should confirm directly with TCEQ Region 1 or the county judge's office before assuming work is exempt.

Required documents

For OSSF work: application and planning materials submitted to the permitting authority (TCEQ Region 1 or authorized agent).
TCEQ guidance points applicants to site evaluation materials prepared by a licensed Site Evaluator or Professional Engineer where applicable.

Building code: No public county adoption of a general building code for unincorporated Briscoe County was identified in the sources reviewed. OSSF work is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285.
Permit validity: No Briscoe County local permit validity rule was identified. TCEQ OSSF permit rules apply; no Briscoe County-specific modification to the default timeline was located.
Owner-builder: No Briscoe County owner-builder rule for general building permits was identified. OSSF work is controlled by state OSSF rules and installer licensing requirements.
Contractor requirements: No Briscoe County local contractor licensing or registration program was identified for general building work. TCEQ states OSSF installers, apprentices, maintenance providers, and maintenance technicians must be licensed or registered by TCEQ.

Source: Office of the County Judge ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 30 days for OSSF permit review by TCEQ or authorized permitting authority.

01

Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Briscoe County and not inside Silverton or Quitaque city limits.
02

Determine whether the project involves an OSSF/septic system. Briscoe County does not issue general building permits for ordinary vertical construction.
03

For OSSF work: Use TCEQ's county permitting-authority lookup and county-to-region list. Briscoe County is in TCEQ Region 1 (Amarillo).
04

Submit the application and planning materials to the permitting authority (TCEQ Region 1 or authorized local agent if one exists).
05

Arrange the required site evaluation by a licensed Site Evaluator or Professional Engineer if required by TCEQ rules.
06

Wait for permit review. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny the OSSF application within 30 days of receipt.
07

After authorization to construct is issued, complete installation and required inspection(s) under TCEQ rules before operation.

Typical processing time: 30 days for OSSF permit review by TCEQ or authorized permitting authority.

Source: Office of the County Judge ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Briscoe County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

OSSF serving a single-family dwelling: $200; All other OSSF types: $400; Additional TCEQ fee per permit: $10

Permit fee formula

Flat state OSSF permit fees under 30 TAC 285.21 when the executive director is the permitting authority.

Reinspection fee

One-half of the original permit fee.

TCEQ rule compilation states fees are payable when the application is submitted to the appropriate regional office and must be paid by check or money order to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

TCEQ Region 1 (Amarillo) (in-person)
(806) 353-9251 (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical sequence: For OSSF work, TCEQ guidance and rules indicate permit review, authorization to construct, installation, and inspection by the permitting authority or its representative before operation.

Source: Office of the County Judge ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Briscoe County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is OSSF serving a single-family dwelling: $200; All other OSSF types: $400; Additional TCEQ fee per permit: $10. Fees are calculated as: Flat state OSSF permit fees under 30 TAC 285.21 when the executive director is the permitting authority..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Briscoe County and not inside Silverton or Quitaque city limits. 2. Determine whether the project involves an OSSF/septic system. Briscoe County does not issue general building permits for ordinary vertical construction. 3. For OSSF work: Use TCEQ's county permitting-authority lookup and county-to-region list. Briscoe County is in TCEQ Region 1 (Amarillo). 4. Submit the application and planning materials to the permitting authority (TCEQ Region 1 or authorized local agent if one exists). 5. Arrange the required site evaluation by a licensed Site Evaluator or Professional Engineer if required by TCEQ rules. 6. Wait for permit review. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny the OSSF application within 30 days of receipt. 7. After authorization to construct is issued, complete installation and required inspection(s) under TCEQ rules before operation.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX typically run 30 days for OSSF permit review by TCEQ or authorized permitting authority.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Grandfathered OSSF systems may not require a permit under TCEQ exemptions.; OSSF systems qualifying for the 10-acre rule exemption.; Emergency OSSF repairs do not require a permit but must be reported in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.. Note: No public Briscoe County exempt-work list for general building construction was found. Exemptions apply only to specific OSSF scenarios under TCEQ rules. Applicants should confirm directly with TCEQ Region 1 or the county judge's office before assuming work is exempt. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Briscoe County, TX via: TCEQ Region 1 (Amarillo), (806) 353-9251.

last verified April 2026 source Office of the County Judge ↗ entry id permits/texas/briscoe/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Office of the County Judge before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.