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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Donley County
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.
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
- Exempt OSSF: 10-acre exemption may apply if all TCEQ conditions are satisfied
- Exempt OSSF: Emergency repairs may proceed without a permit if reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs begin
- Exempt 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.
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.
§ 03
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Confirm the parcel is outside all incorporated city limits in Donley County.
- 02 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.
- 03 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.
- 04 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.
- 05 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.
- 06 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.
§ 04
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- 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 sequence: No public county building-inspection sequence found. Septic and driveway inspections, if applicable, follow the relevant state-agency process.
§ 05
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Donley County permits
01 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.
02 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Donley County, TX? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Donley County, TX, follow these steps: 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.
03 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Donley County, TX? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
last verified April 2026
source Donley County Commissioners Court / County Judge ↗
entry id permits/texas/donley/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Donley County Commissioners Court / County Judge before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.