How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?

The minimum permit fee is Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750. Fees are calculated as: Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750 plus $25 per lot, space, or divided part, plus filing and recording fees if any. Variance request: $100 unless requested for a septic repair or upgrade. SPPHD-related subdivision facility-planning material references $10.00 per-lot payable to South Plains Public Health District for the subdivision-level OSSF review materials..

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

The following work is generally exempt: Certain land divisions under Texas Local Government Code Section 232.0015: listed agricultural and family-transfer scenarios; Land over ten acres in certain cases; Veterans land board sales; Some state-owned land; Other statutory exceptions. Note: These are exceptions to plat requirements, not a general exempt-work list for building permits. No public countywide general building permit program was identified.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?

Inspections can be scheduled via: (432) 955-1021, (806) 801-3749, (432) 209-3361.

County Building Permits

Gaines County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

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

Texas Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

All properties in unincorporated Gaines County, excluding the incorporated municipalities of Seminole and Seagraves. No official countywide general building department or general building-permit program for ordinary vertical construction in unincorporated Gaines County was publicly identified. Verified county-level controls are administered through subdivision and manufactured home rental community approvals, on-site sewage facility (OSSF) permitting, and 9-1-1 rural addressing.

Department: Gaines County Judge / Commissioners Court, South Plains Public Health District, Gaines County 9-1-1 Rural Addressing
Address: Gaines County Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Seminole, TX 79360
Phone: (432) 758-5411
Website: https://www.co.gaines.tx.us/

Application Process

Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Gaines County and not inside Seminole or Seagraves.
Determine whether the project actually triggers one of the county's verified approval programs. No public county source established a countywide general building permit for ordinary vertical construction.
If the project is a subdivision or manufactured home rental community in the unincorporated county, contact the County Judge's office and obtain the current county application and checklist. The county regulations recommend meeting with the commissioner and/or County Judge at least 14 days before submitting a plat application.
Submit the completed plat or MHRC application, supporting documents, and fees to the County Judge or designee. County regulations state a complete plat application includes the application, proposed plat, supporting documents, and cashier's check or money order for fees.
If the project involves an on-site sewage facility, return the OSSF application to South Plains Public Health District and do not begin septic construction until authorization is received. The county regulations say subdivision construction using OSSF must obtain authorization from the SPPHD designated representative before commencing or continuing construction in the subdivision.
Schedule OSSF inspection through South Plains Public Health District using the contact numbers in the application packet.
If a new structure is being built or moved onto a site in the unincorporated county, submit the 9-1-1 Rural Address Application before an address can be assigned.
Complete any county subdivision review, SPPHD inspection, and final plat recording steps that apply before occupancy, utility setup, or lot conveyance.

Typical processing time: Subdivision plats: if incomplete, the county must notify the applicant of missing items not later than the 10th business day after receipt; the Commissioners Court must approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a completed plat application not later than the 30th day after receipt, subject to a written extension of up to 30 days.

Source: Gaines County Judge / Commissioners Court, South Plains Public Health District, Gaines County 9-1-1 Rural Addressing

General Requirements

No public Gaines County source established a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary construction in unincorporated areas. Subdivision plats are required in the circumstances described by the county's Subdivision and Manufactured Home Rental Community Regulations. Construction of a proposed manufactured home rental community may not begin before the infrastructure development plan has been approved by Commissioners Court. For subdivisions using on-site sewage facilities, authorization from the SPPHD designated representative is required before commencing or continuing construction. A permit to construct is required before an on-site sewer system can be constructed in a subdivision. A 9-1-1 rural address application must be submitted before an address can be assigned when a structure is being built or moved onto a location in the unincorporated county.

Required Documents

Subdivision plat application, proposed plat, supporting documents, and fees
County checklist items: OSSF compatibility with drainage and groundwater, fee payment, utility letters, acknowledgment of road standards and drainage, no-road-maintenance acknowledgment, no-county-liability-for-water acknowledgment, deed restrictions if any, tax certificate, and other plat materials
SPPHD OSSF application: owner information, site address, legal description, installer name and OSSF license number, lot size, floodplain information, tank and drainfield information, and a scale map showing wells, property lines, easements, water features, ditches, slopes, and bore holes
9-1-1 Rural Addressing: specific application form before an address can be assigned

Building code: No public countywide building code adoption or county general building-code enforcement page exists for unincorporated Gaines County. The county's 2025 subdivision regulations impose development standards for subdivisions and MHRCs, including road, drainage, floodplain, and OSSF-related requirements.
Owner-builder: The SPPHD OSSF packet states a property owner may install a septic system on the owner's property only if the owner is the property owner, the site and soil evaluation is performed by a licensed individual before installation, and the rule applies to a single-family residence only.
Contractor requirements: No county contractor registration or local contractor licensing program for general building work was identified. The SPPHD packet states you may not hire anyone to install a septic system who is not a licensed installer, and commercial OSSF installations must be performed by a licensed installer.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750
Permit fee formula: Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750 plus $25 per lot, space, or divided part, plus filing and recording fees if any. Variance request: $100 unless requested for a septic repair or upgrade. SPPHD-related subdivision facility-planning material references $10.00 per-lot payable to South Plains Public Health District for the subdivision-level OSSF review materials.
Payment note: County subdivision and MHRC fees must be paid by cashier's check or money order payable to Gaines County and submitted with the application. No partial fee payments will be accepted.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective February 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Certain land divisions under Texas Local Government Code Section 232.0015: listed agricultural and family-transfer scenarios
Land over ten acres in certain cases
Veterans land board sales
Some state-owned land
Other statutory exceptions

Important: These are exceptions to plat requirements, not a general exempt-work list for building permits. No public countywide general building permit program was identified.

Inspections

How to Schedule

(432) 955-1021, (806) 801-3749, (432) 209-3361 (phone)

Inspection hours: SPPHD Seminole clinic: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Subdivision and MHRC: county review of application materials, road and drainage improvement review, and final approval through Commissioners Court. OSSF: submit application and site/soil information, receive authorization before construction, then schedule inspection before the system is covered.

Additional Resources

Building code: No public countywide building code adoption or county general building-code enforcement page exists for unincorporated Gaines County. The county's 2025 subdivision regulations impose development standards for subdivisions and MHRCs, including road, drainage, floodplain, and OSSF-related requirements.
Gaines County Contact Page
County Judge Page
9-1-1 Rural Addressing
South Plains Public Health District Documents
SPPHD Seminole Clinic
SPPHD Contact Page
License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Gaines County Judge / Commissioners Court, South Plains Public Health District, Gaines County 9-1-1 Rural Addressing before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gaines County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: No public Gaines County source established a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary construction in unincorporated areas. Subdivision plats are required in the circumstances described by the county's Subdivision and Manufactured Home Rental Community Regulations. Construction of a proposed manufactured home rental community may not begin before the infrastructure development plan has been approved by Commissioners Court. For subdivisions using on-site sewage facilities, authorization from the SPPHD designated representative is required before commencing or continuing construction. A permit to construct is required before an on-site sewer system can be constructed in a subdivision. A 9-1-1 rural address application must be submitted before an address can be assigned when a structure is being built or moved onto a location in the unincorporated county.
How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: The minimum permit fee is Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750. Fees are calculated as: Subdivision or MHRC: base fee of $750 plus $25 per lot, space, or divided part, plus filing and recording fees if any. Variance request: $100 unless requested for a septic repair or upgrade. SPPHD-related subdivision facility-planning material references $10.00 per-lot payable to South Plains Public Health District for the subdivision-level OSSF review materials..
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Gaines County and not inside Seminole or Seagraves. 2. Determine whether the project actually triggers one of the county's verified approval programs. No public county source established a countywide general building permit for ordinary vertical construction. 3. If the project is a subdivision or manufactured home rental community in the unincorporated county, contact the County Judge's office and obtain the current county application and checklist. The county regulations recommend meeting with the commissioner and/or County Judge at least 14 days before submitting a plat application. 4. Submit the completed plat or MHRC application, supporting documents, and fees to the County Judge or designee. County regulations state a complete plat application includes the application, proposed plat, supporting documents, and cashier's check or money order for fees. 5. If the project involves an on-site sewage facility, return the OSSF application to South Plains Public Health District and do not begin septic construction until authorization is received. The county regulations say subdivision construction using OSSF must obtain authorization from the SPPHD designated representative before commencing or continuing construction in the subdivision. 6. Schedule OSSF inspection through South Plains Public Health District using the contact numbers in the application packet. 7. If a new structure is being built or moved onto a site in the unincorporated county, submit the 9-1-1 Rural Address Application before an address can be assigned. 8. Complete any county subdivision review, SPPHD inspection, and final plat recording steps that apply before occupancy, utility setup, or lot conveyance.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: Typical processing time is Subdivision plats: if incomplete, the county must notify the applicant of missing items not later than the 10th business day after receipt; the Commissioners Court must approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a completed plat application not later than the 30th day after receipt, subject to a written extension of up to 30 days..
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: The following work is generally exempt: Certain land divisions under Texas Local Government Code Section 232.0015: listed agricultural and family-transfer scenarios; Land over ten acres in certain cases; Veterans land board sales; Some state-owned land; Other statutory exceptions. Note: These are exceptions to plat requirements, not a general exempt-work list for building permits. No public countywide general building permit program was identified.
How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Gaines County, TX?: Inspections can be scheduled via: (432) 955-1021, (806) 801-3749, (432) 209-3361.

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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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