County Building Permits
Grimes County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Grimes County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Grimes County. County controls are limited and permit-specific (floodplain development, subdivision plats, driveway/culvert, OSSF, residential IRC notices, commercial site review, right of way utilities) rather than based on comprehensive county building code.
- Department
- Grimes County Development Services; Floodplain Administrator; Environmental Services for OSSF
- Address
- 270 FM 149 W., Anderson, TX 77830
- Phone
- 936-873-6465
Application Process
- Identify which county-controlled issue applies: floodplain development, subdivision platting, commercial development review, residential IRC notice filing, OSSF, driveway/culvert, or right of way work.
- For Development Services filings, submit documents by email to GCPermits@grimescountytexas.gov or in person at 270 FM 149 W., Anderson, TX 77830.
- For subdivision applications, submit all administratively complete documents, including surveyor or engineer sealed materials as required, and pay county fees before review.
- For floodplain work, file the Grimes County Floodplain Development Permit application.
- For new residential construction in unincorporated Grimes County, file Notice of Residential Construction and Notice of Residential Inspection forms with the county.
- For commercial development, submit site-plan materials under the Infrastructure Regulations for county review.
- For OSSF, use the county's septic-permit path through Environmental Services.
Source: Grimes County Development Services; Floodplain Administrator; Environmental Services for OSSF
General Requirements
Grimes County regulates floodplain development, subdivision plats, driveway and culvert installation on county roads, residential IRC 2021 construction and inspection notices, utilities in county right of way, all work in county right of way, and high-speed rail facilities. The county does not regulate general building codes except for requiring IRC 2021 compliance notices for residential structures.
Required Documents
- Administratively complete subdivision documents with surveyor or engineer seal where required
- Floodplain development permit application
- Residential Notice of Residential Construction and Notice of Residential Inspection forms
- Commercial-development submittals under the Infrastructure Regulations
- OSSF septic permit application for onsite sewage facilities
- Building code
- International Residential Code 2021 adopted December 18, 2024, for all new residential construction in unincorporated Grimes County. Commercial development reviewed under Infrastructure Regulations.
- Owner-builder
- For unincorporated residential work, Grimes County does not inspect residential structures. File Notice of Construction and Notice of Inspection filings instead.
- Contractor requirements
- State-licensed or sealed design professionals required where county application materials call for surveyor or engineer certification.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- County fee structure appears permit-type based rather than single valuation table. Consult posted county Fees document for specific permit class.
- Payment note
- Development Services links to Certified Payments: https://certifiedpayments.net
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Grimes County Development Services; Floodplain Administrator; Environmental Services for OSSF to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County offices (in-person)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: For residential IRC compliance, file notice forms rather than expect county building inspections. For commercial and subdivision review, county review follows administratively complete submittal. Floodplain, driveway/culvert, OSSF, and right of way matters have their own county workflows.
Additional Resources
- Building code: International Residential Code 2021 adopted December 18, 2024, for all new residential construction in unincorporated Grimes County. Commercial development reviewed under Infrastructure Regulations.
- County Regulations
- Infrastructure Regulations
- 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 Grimes County Development Services; Floodplain Administrator; Environmental Services for OSSF before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grimes County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Grimes County, TX?
- Grimes County regulates floodplain development, subdivision plats, driveway and culvert installation on county roads, residential IRC 2021 construction and inspection notices, utilities in county right of way, all work in county right of way, and high-speed rail facilities. The county does not regulate general building codes except for requiring IRC 2021 compliance notices for residential structures.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Grimes County, TX?
- Fees are calculated as: County fee structure appears permit-type based rather than single valuation table. Consult posted county Fees document for specific permit class..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Grimes County, TX?
- 1. Identify which county-controlled issue applies: floodplain development, subdivision platting, commercial development review, residential IRC notice filing, OSSF, driveway/culvert, or right of way work. 2. For Development Services filings, submit documents by email to GCPermits@grimescountytexas.gov or in person at 270 FM 149 W., Anderson, TX 77830. 3. For subdivision applications, submit all administratively complete documents, including surveyor or engineer sealed materials as required, and pay county fees before review. 4. For floodplain work, file the Grimes County Floodplain Development Permit application. 5. For new residential construction in unincorporated Grimes County, file Notice of Residential Construction and Notice of Residential Inspection forms with the county. 6. For commercial development, submit site-plan materials under the Infrastructure Regulations for county review. 7. For OSSF, use the county's septic-permit path through Environmental Services.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Grimes County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County offices.
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