County Building Permits

Donley County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Donley County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Texas Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Donley County outside the city limits of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick. Donley County does not publish a general building department or countywide building-permit office. Narrow verified authorities relevant to development are TCEQ Region 1 for OSSF/septic matters and TxDOT Childress District for access-driveway permits on state highway right of way.

Department
Donley County Commissioners Court / County Judge
Address
300 Sully St, Clarendon, TX 79226
Phone
(806) 874-3625
Website
https://www.co.donley.tx.us/

Online Permit Portal

Open TCEQ OARS (for OSSF permitting)

Platform: TCEQ OARS • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Confirm the parcel is outside all incorporated city limits in Donley County.
  2. Do not assume a city-style county building permit exists. The county website does not publish a building department, permit office, or county building-permit application.
  3. If the project needs an on-site sewage facility, confirm current permitting authority with TCEQ Region 1 because Donley County does not appear in TCEQ's current county authorized-agent report and TCEQ Region 1 covers Donley County.
  4. If the project needs a new or modified driveway connection to a state highway, contact TxDOT and submit Form 1058 for an access-driveway permit.
  5. If the parcel lies in a mapped flood hazard area, verify floodplain requirements case by case. Current regional flood-plan data lists Donley County as 'Unknown' for adopted floodplain regulations and 'No' for NFIP participation.
  6. For residential work in unincorporated areas, also evaluate whether Texas HB 2833 private-inspection rules matter for the specific project, but note that no public Donley County inspection program was found to which those rules clearly attach.

Source: Donley County Commissioners Court / County Judge

General Requirements

No public county source was found showing a general county building permit requirement for unincorporated Donley County. Septic / OSSF work requires permitting and inspection under TCEQ-administered processes where applicable. A new or modified driveway connection to a state highway requires TxDOT access-driveway permitting. Floodplain permitting was not publicly documented by the county; current TWDB regional flood-planning data shows Donley County as not participating in NFIP and not publishing adopted minimum floodplain regulations in that dataset.

Required Documents

  • TxDOT driveway permits require Form 1058
  • OSSF documentation should be confirmed directly with TCEQ Region 1 or any current delegated authority
Building code
No public county building-code adoption record was found in the sources reviewed.
Owner-builder
No Donley County owner-builder rule was publicly identified. Texas HB 2833 private-inspection rules may matter in some unincorporated Texas situations, but no public Donley County inspection program was found in the sources reviewed.
Contractor requirements
No county local contractor-registration or county contractor-license requirement was found in the sources reviewed. State trade licensing still applies where Texas law requires it.

Fees

Payment note
Any applicable payments appear to depend on the specific state-administered approval (TCEQ or TxDOT), not on a public county building-permit office.

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 hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: No public county building-inspection sequence found. Septic and driveway inspections, if applicable, follow the relevant state-agency process.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Donley County Commissioners Court / County Judge before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Donley County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Donley County, TX?
No public county source was found showing a general county building permit requirement for unincorporated Donley County. Septic / OSSF work requires permitting and inspection under TCEQ-administered processes where applicable. A new or modified driveway connection to a state highway requires TxDOT access-driveway permitting. Floodplain permitting was not publicly documented by the county; current TWDB regional flood-planning data shows Donley County as not participating in NFIP and not publishing adopted minimum floodplain regulations in that dataset.
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Donley County, TX?
1. Confirm the parcel is outside all incorporated city limits in Donley County. 2. Do not assume a city-style county building permit exists. The county website does not publish a building department, permit office, or county building-permit application. 3. If the project needs an on-site sewage facility, confirm current permitting authority with TCEQ Region 1 because Donley County does not appear in TCEQ's current county authorized-agent report and TCEQ Region 1 covers Donley County. 4. If the project needs a new or modified driveway connection to a state highway, contact TxDOT and submit Form 1058 for an access-driveway permit. 5. If the parcel lies in a mapped flood hazard area, verify floodplain requirements case by case. Current regional flood-plan data lists Donley County as 'Unknown' for adopted floodplain regulations and 'No' for NFIP participation. 6. For residential work in unincorporated areas, also evaluate whether Texas HB 2833 private-inspection rules matter for the specific project, but note that no public Donley County inspection program was found to which those rules clearly attach.
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Donley 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.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.
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