Collingsworth County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Collingsworth County outside Wellington and Dodson city limits. This covers general floodplain administration and OSSF/septic permitting through TCEQ Region 1, Amarillo.

Department

Office of the County Judge

Address

Collingsworth County Courthouse, 800 West Ave, Wellington, TX 79095

Phone

(806) 447-5408

Email

smartindale@co.collingsworth.tx.us

Website

https://www.co.collingsworth.tx.us/page/collingsworth.County.Judge

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Verify the parcel is in unincorporated Collingsworth County and outside Wellington and Dodson city limits.
2. Determine whether the project implicates one of the narrower verified controls: floodplain development or OSSF/septic permitting.
3. For OSSF work, identify the permitting authority through TCEQ OARS. Current search results route Collingsworth County to TCEQ Region 1, Amarillo.
4. Submit the OSSF application and planning materials to the permitting authority. A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies.
5. For floodplain development, contact the County Judge's office before development.
6. Complete any required inspections and obtain approval before use. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny an OSSF application within 30 days of receipt.

Typical processing time: OSSF review: 30 days. No public county floodplain processing-time estimate.

Source: Office of the County Judge

General Requirements

No public county general building-permit requirement found for ordinary construction. For OSSF/septic systems, a permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies. For floodplain development, county coordination should be treated as required because Collingsworth County is an NFIP-participating county.

Required Documents

• For OSSF work: TCEQ application and planning materials
• Site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or professional engineer (for OSSF)

Owner-builder

For OSSF: Owner may install only if the permitting authority allows it and the project is for a single-family dwelling the owner owns on property the owner owns, with no intent to develop for sale or lease, and all state requirements are met.

Contractor requirements

OSSF installers and related personnel are regulated under TCEQ licensing rules.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• OSSF: 10-acre exemption may apply if all TCEQ conditions are satisfied
• OSSF: Emergency repairs may proceed without a permit if reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs begin
• OSSF: Some grandfathered OSSFs may not need a permit if TCEQ conditions are met

Important: No public exempt-work list was found for a general building-permit program because no public countywide general building-permit program was identified. OSSF exemptions are state-level under TCEQ rules.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours

County Judge office: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: OSSF inspections depend on the permitting authority and approved plan. No public county vertical-construction or floodplain inspection sequence was found.

Additional Resources

• County Home Page
• County Contact Page
• County Judge Page
• TWDB/FEMA Community Contact Report
• TCEQ OSSF Permits Page
• TCEQ OARS County Lookup
• TCEQ Region 1 OSSF Contact
• License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Collingsworth County Building Permit FAQ

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

No public county general building-permit requirement found for ordinary construction. For OSSF/septic systems, a permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies. For floodplain development, county coordination should be treated as required because Collingsworth County is an NFIP-participating county.

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

1. Verify the parcel is in unincorporated Collingsworth County and outside Wellington and Dodson city limits. 2. Determine whether the project implicates one of the narrower verified controls: floodplain development or OSSF/septic permitting. 3. For OSSF work, identify the permitting authority through TCEQ OARS. Current search results route Collingsworth County to TCEQ Region 1, Amarillo. 4. Submit the OSSF application and planning materials to the permitting authority. A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies. 5. For floodplain development, contact the County Judge's office before development. 6. Complete any required inspections and obtain approval before use. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny an OSSF application within 30 days of receipt.

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

Typical processing time is OSSF review: 30 days. No public county floodplain processing-time estimate..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Collingsworth County, TX?

The following work is generally exempt: OSSF: 10-acre exemption may apply if all TCEQ conditions are satisfied; OSSF: Emergency repairs may proceed without a permit if reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs begin; OSSF: Some grandfathered OSSFs may not need a permit if TCEQ conditions are met. Note: No public exempt-work list was found for a general building-permit program because no public countywide general building-permit program was identified. OSSF exemptions are state-level under TCEQ rules.