County Building Permits
Harrison County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Harrison County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
No countywide general building-permit program identified. County authority is limited to floodplain development, subdivision review, OSSF/septic permitting, and utility-line filings. Verify parcel is outside all city limits and ETJ before proceeding with county-only path.
- Department
- Harrison County Road & Bridge and Environmental Health
- Address
- Road & Bridge: 3800 Five Notch Road, Marshall, TX 75672; Environmental Health: 2005 Warren Drive, Marshall, TX 75672
- Phone
- Road & Bridge: 903-935-4868; Environmental Health: 903-935-4870
Application Process
- Confirm the site is in unincorporated Harrison County and not inside city limits.
- If the project is in a flood hazard area, submit the Road & Bridge floodplain packet with site plan, structure drawings, elevation certificate, proof of ownership, directions, and fee before work starts.
- If the project involves a new OSSF/septic system, obtain the Environmental Health application, complete the site and soil evaluation, prepare planning materials, and submit the full package with fee in the property owner's name.
- If the project is a subdivision or utility-line installation in county road right of way, use the Road & Bridge subdivision or utility-line forms.
- Schedule the required county inspection before starting floodplain work or before covering an OSSF system.
- Obtain the county permit approval or OSSF authorization before proceeding.
Typical processing time: Floodplain permit approval approximately 5 working days after successful inspection and documentation review. OSSF Notice of Approval approximately 5 working days after successful inspection.
Source: Harrison County Road & Bridge and Environmental Health
General Requirements
No official county general building permit requirement was found for ordinary building construction. Verified county permit controls apply to floodplain development, subdivision review, OSSF/septic systems, and certain utility-line installations in county road areas.
Required Documents
- Floodplain packet: completed application, scaled site drawing, structure elevation/foundation drawings, FEMA elevation certificate by engineer or surveyor, proof of ownership, and accurate directions.
- OSSF package: application, planning material, site and soil evaluation, directions, affidavit, and service contract where applicable.
- Permit validity
- Floodplain validity not stated in reviewed materials. OSSF Authorization to Construct valid for one year from issuance.
- Building code
- No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated Harrison County identified in reviewed public county materials. Verified county enforcement is narrower and program-specific.
- Owner-builder
- County Environmental Health states the 10-acre OSSF owner exception only applies to single-family residences meeting TCEQ conditions; if anyone assists with installation, that person must hold the proper installer license.
- Contractor requirements
- OSSF work is tied to TCEQ licensing rules. No county general contractor licensing program for ordinary building permits identified.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Floodplain residential development permit $20.00; OSSF single residence system $360.00
- Permit fee formula
- Flat fees
- Reinspection fee
- OSSF reinspection fee equals one-half of the permit fee each time the system must be reinspected
- Payment note
- Floodplain instructions say checks payable to Harrison County; all reviewed floodplain permit fees are non-refundable
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Harrison County Road & Bridge and Environmental Health to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Road & Bridge: 903-935-4868; Environmental Health: 903-935-4870 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Inspections generally require at least two working days notice
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Submit application and supporting materials, county review, initial site inspection, permit approval or OSSF Authorization to Construct, construction, final inspection, final approval or Notice of Approval
Additional Resources
- Building code: No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated Harrison County identified in reviewed public county materials. Verified county enforcement is narrower and program-specific.
- Road & Bridge
- Environmental Health
- Subdivision Regulations
- County Contact Directory
- 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 Harrison County Road & Bridge and Environmental Health before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Harrison County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Harrison County, TX?
- No official county general building permit requirement was found for ordinary building construction. Verified county permit controls apply to floodplain development, subdivision review, OSSF/septic systems, and certain utility-line installations in county road areas.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Harrison County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is Floodplain residential development permit $20.00; OSSF single residence system $360.00. Fees are calculated as: Flat fees.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Harrison County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the site is in unincorporated Harrison County and not inside city limits. 2. If the project is in a flood hazard area, submit the Road & Bridge floodplain packet with site plan, structure drawings, elevation certificate, proof of ownership, directions, and fee before work starts. 3. If the project involves a new OSSF/septic system, obtain the Environmental Health application, complete the site and soil evaluation, prepare planning materials, and submit the full package with fee in the property owner's name. 4. If the project is a subdivision or utility-line installation in county road right of way, use the Road & Bridge subdivision or utility-line forms. 5. Schedule the required county inspection before starting floodplain work or before covering an OSSF system. 6. Obtain the county permit approval or OSSF authorization before proceeding.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Harrison County, TX?
- Typical processing time is Floodplain permit approval approximately 5 working days after successful inspection and documentation review. OSSF Notice of Approval approximately 5 working days after successful inspection..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Harrison County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Road & Bridge: 903-935-4868; Environmental Health: 903-935-4870. Inspections generally require at least two working days notice.
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