jaspector
§ TX Erath County
County building permits

Unincorporated Erath County

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

Avg processing
Not publicly stated
Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Land Development Department for subdivision/development and floodplain matters; Environmental Health Department for on-site sewage facilities

Street address
100 W Washington, Stephenville, TX 76401
Coverage
Applies only in unincorporated Erath County outside city limits and ETJ-specific city controls. Publicly verified county controls are narrower: subdivision/development regulations, floodplain permitting, and OSSF/septic permitting.
Online portal
Land Development Page
County website resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Erath County

No general county building permit is publicly documented for ordinary residential construction/remodeling in unincorporated Erath County. Verified permit controls are limited to OSSF/septic permits, floodplain permits, and development/subdivision compliance. The county states: it does not issue permits or perform inspections related to residential home construction/remodeling; septic systems require Environmental Health permits; and construction in a FEMA-recognized flood zone requires a permit before construction starts.

Residential home construction and remodeling in unincorporated Erath County is effectively outside a county general building permit program, except where septic/OSSF, floodplain, or development/subdivision rules apply.
  • Exempt Residential home construction and remodeling in unincorporated Erath County is effectively outside a county general building permit program, except where septic/OSSF, floodplain, or development/subdivision rules apply.

Note: The county does not issue permits or perform inspections for residential home construction/remodeling unless septic/OSSF, floodplain, or development/subdivision rules apply. Contact the appropriate county department before construction.

Required documents
  • Depends on the narrow county program involved. Floodplain and subdivision documents are governed by the county flood damage prevention ordinance and subdivision regulations; OSSF documents are handled by Environmental Health.
Building code
No countywide general building code adoption or countywide general building permit program was identified
Permit validity
No general county building permit validity policy applies because no general county building permit program was found
Contractor requirements
No countywide contractor licensing summary was found for unincorporated residential construction. Trade licensing remains governed by applicable state law.

Source: Land Development Department for subdivision/development and floodplain matters; Environmental Health Department for on-site sewage facilities ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly stated

  1. 01
    Determine whether the property is inside a city or ETJ before relying on county-only rules.
  2. 02
    For ordinary residential home construction or remodeling in unincorporated Erath County, note that the county expressly states it does not issue permits or perform inspections for that work.
  3. 03
    If the structure will use an on-site sewage facility, contact Environmental Health and obtain the required septic/OSSF permit before installation.
  4. 04
    If any part of the work is within a FEMA-recognized flood zone, contact the Erath County Floodplain Administrator before construction begins and obtain the required floodplain permit.
  5. 05
    If the project involves land development, subdivision, platting, or filing requirements, work through the Land Development Department under the adopted county subdivision regulations and plat filing procedures.

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated

Source: Land Development Department for subdivision/development and floodplain matters; Environmental Health Department for on-site sewage facilities ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Erath County building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Permit fee formula
Not applicable for a general county building permit program

Program-specific floodplain, OSSF, or plat fees were not cleanly compiled on the reviewed public pages

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

Typical sequence: No general county building inspection scheduling process applies because the county does not perform general residential construction/remodel inspections. Inspection activity would be limited to narrower county programs such as OSSF or floodplain compliance.

Source: Land Development Department for subdivision/development and floodplain matters; Environmental Health Department for on-site sewage facilities ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Erath County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Erath County, TX?
No general county building permit is publicly documented for ordinary residential construction/remodeling in unincorporated Erath County. Verified permit controls are limited to OSSF/septic permits, floodplain permits, and development/subdivision compliance. The county states: it does not issue permits or perform inspections related to residential home construction/remodeling; septic systems require Environmental Health permits; and construction in a FEMA-recognized flood zone requires a permit before construction starts.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Erath County, TX?
Building permit fees in unincorporated Erath County, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Not applicable for a general county building permit program.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Erath County, TX?
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Erath County, TX, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the property is inside a city or ETJ before relying on county-only rules. 2. For ordinary residential home construction or remodeling in unincorporated Erath County, note that the county expressly states it does not issue permits or perform inspections for that work. 3. If the structure will use an on-site sewage facility, contact Environmental Health and obtain the required septic/OSSF permit before installation. 4. If any part of the work is within a FEMA-recognized flood zone, contact the Erath County Floodplain Administrator before construction begins and obtain the required floodplain permit. 5. If the project involves land development, subdivision, platting, or filing requirements, work through the Land Development Department under the adopted county subdivision regulations and plat filing procedures.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Erath County, TX?
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Erath County, TX typically run Not publicly stated. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Erath County, TX?
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Erath County, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Residential home construction and remodeling in unincorporated Erath County is effectively outside a county general building permit program, except where septic/OSSF, floodplain, or development/subdivision rules apply.. Note: The county does not issue permits or perform inspections for residential home construction/remodeling unless septic/OSSF, floodplain, or development/subdivision rules apply. Contact the appropriate county department before construction. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Land Development Department for subdivision/development and floodplain matters; Environmental Health Department for on-site sewage facilities before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.