Burnet County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated areas of Burnet County. Class A permits apply outside flood hazard areas; Class B permits apply inside designated flood hazard boundaries. Floodplain work is separately regulated.

Department

Burnet County Development Services

Address

220 S. Pierce Street, Burnet, TX 78611

Phone

(512) 756-5445

Email

ccline@burnetcountytexas.org

Website

https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/environ.septic

Application Process

1. Apply for a 9-1-1 address for any new residence or business project before applying for permits.
2. Submit the Burnet County building/development permit application (same form for Class A and Class B permits).
3. Determine whether the property is outside flood hazard area (Class A) or inside designated flood hazard boundary (Class B) by contacting Development Services.
4. For Class A, submit the application and payment; no structural inspections are required.
5. For Class B flood-zone development, submit the application, payment, elevation certificate from surveyor or engineer letter, and/or site plan showing the flood zone.
6. If the property will use septic/OSSF, submit the septic application and licensed installer materials after or together with the building/development permit packet.
7. For floodplain development, coordinate with the county floodplain manager and complete pre-pour and finished construction inspections.

Source: Burnet County Development Services

General Requirements

Burnet County requires building and septic permits for new residence or business projects in unincorporated areas. Class A applies outside any flood hazard area; Class B applies inside designated flood hazard boundary. Floodplain development includes new construction, filling, grading, and paving.

Required Documents

• 9-1-1 address request
• Building/development application
• Payment
• Elevation certificate or engineer letter and/or site plan showing flood zone (for Class B flood-zone work)
• Site evaluation, septic design or drawing, affidavits or maintenance contracts (for OSSF work)

Building code

Burnet County does not document a countywide adopted general building code program for all unincorporated construction. Verified county controls are the development permit classes, floodplain order, 9-1-1 addressing, subdivision regulation, and OSSF/septic program.

Contractor requirements

OSSF work requires licensed septic installer and licensed site evaluator materials. The county does not publish a general contractor licensing program for all building work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Class A: $25; Class B (flood-zone): $400; Most septic permits: $250; Aerobic septic: $400

Permit fee formula

Flat fees by permit class and OSSF system type

Payment note

Fees are non-refundable. Major credit cards are accepted and a transaction fee applies.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Burnet County Development Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Coordinate with Burnet County Development Services and the floodplain manager (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: For floodplain development, county page states pre-pour and finished construction inspections. For Class A permits outside flood hazard areas, the county states no inspections are required for the structure.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Burnet County does not document a countywide adopted general building code program for all unincorporated construction. Verified county controls are the development permit classes, floodplain order, 9-1-1 addressing, subdivision regulation, and OSSF/septic program.
• Subdivision Application
• BCESD No. 2 Fire Code Permit Overlay
• License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Burnet County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Burnet County, TX?

Burnet County requires building and septic permits for new residence or business projects in unincorporated areas. Class A applies outside any flood hazard area; Class B applies inside designated flood hazard boundary. Floodplain development includes new construction, filling, grading, and paving.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Burnet County, TX?

The minimum permit fee is Class A: $25; Class B (flood-zone): $400; Most septic permits: $250; Aerobic septic: $400. Fees are calculated as: Flat fees by permit class and OSSF system type.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Burnet County, TX?

1. Apply for a 9-1-1 address for any new residence or business project before applying for permits. 2. Submit the Burnet County building/development permit application (same form for Class A and Class B permits). 3. Determine whether the property is outside flood hazard area (Class A) or inside designated flood hazard boundary (Class B) by contacting Development Services. 4. For Class A, submit the application and payment; no structural inspections are required. 5. For Class B flood-zone development, submit the application, payment, elevation certificate from surveyor or engineer letter, and/or site plan showing the flood zone. 6. If the property will use septic/OSSF, submit the septic application and licensed installer materials after or together with the building/development permit packet. 7. For floodplain development, coordinate with the county floodplain manager and complete pre-pour and finished construction inspections.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Burnet County, TX?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Coordinate with Burnet County Development Services and the floodplain manager.