County Building Permits
Coleman County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Coleman County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies only in unincorporated Coleman County. Verified county controls are narrower and include OSSF permitting, subdivision platting rules, and floodplain participation/contact information.
- Department
- Coleman County Commissioners Court
- Address
- Coleman County Courthouse, 100 W Live Oak St., Coleman, TX 76834
- Phone
- County Judge (general county contact) (325) 625-4218; OSSF designated representative (325) 456-4607
- county.judge@yahoo.com
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- First confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Coleman County and not inside Coleman, Santa Anna, or Novice.
- For on-site sewage facilities, obtain the county OSSF application and complete the required site evaluation and planning materials through the required licensed professional, owner, or installer depending on system type.
- Submit the completed OSSF package, fee, technical information sheets, site directions, and required supporting materials to the county designated representative.
- Wait for county review and issuance of the Authorization to Construct before installation.
- Keep excavations open and request final inspection from the designated representative at least five working days before the requested inspection date.
- If the installation is approved, the county states a written Notice of Approval will be issued within seven days.
- Separately, if land is being divided into two or more lots of five acres or less for residential purposes outside municipal limits, comply with the county's subdivision platting rules before sale or conveyance.
- If the site is in a mapped floodplain, verify floodplain development requirements with the county floodplain contact because Coleman County is listed as an NFIP participating community.
Typical processing time: For OSSF, the county states written Notice of Approval is issued within seven days after approved installation inspection.
General Requirements
No countywide general building-permit program for ordinary construction in unincorporated Coleman County was found. Verified county permit and approval controls are narrower: OSSF permits for on-site sewage facilities, subdivision platting rules for certain residential subdivisions outside municipalities, and floodplain participation/contact information.
Required Documents
- For OSSF: completed application, fee, technical information sheets, directions to the site, site evaluation results, planning materials, and in some cases a recorded affidavit and maintenance contract
- For subdivision matters: plat approval and recording for covered subdivisions
- Permit validity
- The OSSF Authorization to Construct is valid for one year from date of issuance.
- Owner-builder
- For OSSF, standard systems may be prepared by the owner or the OSSF installer. Non-standard and proprietary systems must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or licensed professional registered sanitarian.
- Contractor requirements
- For OSSF, the site evaluation must be prepared by a licensed site evaluator or state licensed engineer, and the installer or the installer's registered apprentice on record must be present during all site inspections.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- OSSF permit fee: $375 for a single-family residence and $375 for all other facility types
- Permit fee formula
- Flat-fee structure for OSSF permits. No general building permit fee applies because no countywide general building permit program was identified.
- Reinspection fee
- OSSF reinspection fee is one-half of the original permit fee each time the system requires reinspection
- Payment note
- For OSSF, fees are non-refundable, cash is not accepted, and payment must be by check or money order payable to Coleman County.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Coleman County Commissioners Court to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Contact OSSF designated representative at (325) 456-4607 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- For OSSF, request the final inspection at least five working days in advance
Typical inspection sequence: For OSSF, the public materials show application, review, Authorization to Construct, installation, final inspection with excavation left open, and written Notice of Approval if the system passes.
Additional Resources
- County Judge
- Commissioners Court
- FEMA Community List
- 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 Coleman County Commissioners Court before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coleman County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Coleman County, TX?
- No countywide general building-permit program for ordinary construction in unincorporated Coleman County was found. Verified county permit and approval controls are narrower: OSSF permits for on-site sewage facilities, subdivision platting rules for certain residential subdivisions outside municipalities, and floodplain participation/contact information.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Coleman County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is OSSF permit fee: $375 for a single-family residence and $375 for all other facility types. Fees are calculated as: Flat-fee structure for OSSF permits. No general building permit fee applies because no countywide general building permit program was identified..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Coleman County, TX?
- 1. First confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Coleman County and not inside Coleman, Santa Anna, or Novice. 2. For on-site sewage facilities, obtain the county OSSF application and complete the required site evaluation and planning materials through the required licensed professional, owner, or installer depending on system type. 3. Submit the completed OSSF package, fee, technical information sheets, site directions, and required supporting materials to the county designated representative. 4. Wait for county review and issuance of the Authorization to Construct before installation. 5. Keep excavations open and request final inspection from the designated representative at least five working days before the requested inspection date. 6. If the installation is approved, the county states a written Notice of Approval will be issued within seven days. 7. Separately, if land is being divided into two or more lots of five acres or less for residential purposes outside municipal limits, comply with the county's subdivision platting rules before sale or conveyance. 8. If the site is in a mapped floodplain, verify floodplain development requirements with the county floodplain contact because Coleman County is listed as an NFIP participating community.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Coleman County, TX?
- Typical processing time is For OSSF, the county states written Notice of Approval is issued within seven days after approved installation inspection..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Coleman County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact OSSF designated representative at (325) 456-4607. For OSSF, request the final inspection at least five working days in advance.
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