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When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Gaines County
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.
- Exempt Certain land divisions under Texas Local Government Code Section 232.0015: listed agricultural and family-transfer scenarios
- Exempt Land over ten acres in certain cases
- Exempt Veterans land board sales
- Exempt Some state-owned land
- Exempt 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.
- 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.
Application process
Typical processing: 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.
- 01 Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Gaines County and not inside Seminole or Seagraves.
- 02 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.
- 03 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.
- 04 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.
- 05 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.
- 06 Schedule OSSF inspection through South Plains Public Health District using the contact numbers in the application packet.
- 07 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.
- 08 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.
Fee schedule
Effective February 2025
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 periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective February 2025) before budgeting.
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- (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 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.
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Gaines County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Gaines County, TX? ▸
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Gaines County Judge / Commissioners Court, South Plains Public Health District, Gaines County 9-1-1 Rural Addressing before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.