Unincorporated Foard County

No public evidence was found of a countywide general building permit program in unincorporated Foard County. For OSSF work, TCEQ states a permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF. Floodplain approvals should be confirmed with the county floodplain contact for work in flood hazard areas.

• Exempt OSSF systems qualifying for the 10 acre rule (subject to state conditions)
• Exempt Certain emergency OSSF repairs (must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin)

Note: No public Foard County exempt-work list for a general building permit program was found because no public countywide general building permit program was located.

Building code

No public evidence found that Foard County has adopted a general countywide building code or general building permit program for all unincorporated construction

Permit validity

If the system is not ready for inspection within one year after authorization to construct is issued, the authorization expires and a new application and application fee are required before installation.

Owner-builder

A homeowner may install an OSSF if it is for a single-family dwelling the homeowner owns on property the homeowner owns, the property is not being developed for sale or lease, and all permitting, construction, and maintenance requirements are met.

Contractor requirements

Work on an OSSF must be performed by a licensed installer or directly by the homeowner when it is the homeowner's single-family residence. If anyone else assists for pay, that person must be licensed by the state unless a stated exception applies.

Source: Foard County Judge (floodplain); TCEQ Region 3 OSSF Program (septic permitting) ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Foard County and not inside Crowell city limits.
2. 02
   For septic work, use TCEQ OARS to confirm the permitting authority. For Foard County, OARS returns Region 03 - Abilene, meaning the TCEQ regional office is the verified OSSF permitting contact.
3. 03
   Arrange a site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or professional engineer and gather planning materials for the proposed system.
4. 04
   Complete TCEQ-0235, attach the legal description support, soil/site evaluation, and any required planning materials, and submit the package and fee to TCEQ Region 3.
5. 05
   TCEQ must approve or deny the planning materials and permit application within 30 days of receipt.
6. 06
   After authorization to construct, the installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the system is ready for inspection.
7. 07
   After the system passes inspection, the permitting authority issues written notice of approval. If the parcel is in a flood hazard area, contact the county floodplain authority before work.

Typical processing time: OSSF permit applications must be approved or denied within 30 days of receipt

Source: Foard County Judge (floodplain); TCEQ Region 3 OSSF Program (septic permitting) ↗

The fee is payable when the owner or owner's agent applies to the executive director and must be submitted to the appropriate regional office by check or money order payable to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• Notify TCEQ Region 3 at least five working days before system is ready for inspection (in-person)

Scheduling deadline

Installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the date the system will be ready for inspection

Inspection hours

TCEQ Region 3 office hours: Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm

Typical sequence: Site evaluation and planning materials, permit application review, authorization to construct, construction inspection, correction/reinspection if needed, then written notice of approval after passing inspection

Source: Foard County Judge (floodplain); TCEQ Region 3 OSSF Program (septic permitting) ↗