Unincorporated Goliad County

No public county source reviewed documents a general building permit requirement for all unincorporated construction. The verified county permit requirement is for OSSF or septic system installation through Environmental Services. The county subdivision regulations also require plat review outside municipalities and state that subdivision plats must comply with floodplain regulations and on-site sewerage facility regulations.

Note: No public exempt-work list was found for unincorporated Goliad County. The verified public record instead supports narrow county regulation for OSSF permitting and subdivision, floodplain, drainage, and access-related review, not a general county building permit program for all construction.

Building code

No countywide building code adoption or public county general building-code program was identified in the reviewed sources. The verified county regulatory materials instead address OSSF permitting under county Environmental Services and subdivision regulation under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232.

Permit validity

The county's OSSF permitting process states the Authorization to Construct is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Owner-builder

The county's OSSF process says the application is submitted in the property owner's name.

Contractor requirements

For OSSF, the county requires a licensed site evaluator for the soil-identification procedure and states that proprietary and non-standard systems require professional design by a registered sanitarian (R.S.) or registered engineer (D.E.). The county publishes a list of septic installers and certified OSSF inspectors.

Source: Office of Emergency Management & Environmental Quality Services ↗

1. 01
   Determine whether the project is in unincorporated Goliad County and whether it triggers one of the county's verified permit or approval programs, especially OSSF or subdivision review.
2. 02
   For OSSF work, obtain the county application and have a licensed site evaluator perform the mandatory soil-identification procedure.
3. 03
   Have the appropriate planning materials prepared. Professional design by a registered sanitarian or professional engineer is required for proprietary and non-standard systems.
4. 04
   Submit the completed application and technical information sheet to the Office of Emergency Management and Environmental Services in the property owner's name, together with the fee, planning materials, site and soil evaluation, and accurate directions to the site.
5. 05
   County Environmental Services reviews the submission. Non-standard system plans may also be reviewed by TCEQ staff in Austin.
6. 06
   If approved, the county issues an Authorization to Construct.
7. 07
   After installation begins, request inspection before the system is covered. After successful inspection, the county issues a Notice of Approval.

Typical processing time: The county says the Authorization to Construct is valid for one year from issuance. After successful inspection, the county says a Notice of Approval is issued within approximately 5 business days. The county requires at least 3 business or working days' advance notice to arrange an inspection.

Source: Office of Emergency Management & Environmental Quality Services ↗

All fees must be paid by personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to Goliad County Environmental Service Department. No cash or credit card payments are accepted.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective March 16, 2026) before budgeting.

• Call the Office of Goliad County Environmental Office at 361-405-1874 (Inspector: Maritza Watkins) (phone)

Scheduling deadline

At least 3 business or working days in advance to arrange inspection.

Inspection hours

Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Friday, 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Typical sequence: For OSSF work, submit application and technical documents, obtain Authorization to Construct, install the system, request inspection before covering, pass inspection, and then receive Notice of Approval.

Source: Office of Emergency Management & Environmental Quality Services ↗