Unincorporated Hopkins County

OSSF permit is required to construct, alter, repair, extend, or operate an on-site sewage disposal system. Subdivision and development proposals in unincorporated county areas are subject to county subdivision regulations and related OSSF review. Driveway access to county road right of way requires the county driveway permit. Floodplain controls are documented by county flood damage prevention ordinance. No public countywide general building permit program exists for ordinary building construction.

Note: No public exempt-work list was found for county OSSF, subdivision, driveway, or floodplain controls.

Building code

No public general county building code adoption or countywide building permit code program was found. County public materials focus on OSSF, floodplain, subdivision, and county-road access. For residential construction in unincorporated areas without a local building permit program, Texas HB 2833 private-inspection rules may be relevant.

Permit validity

Not publicly found in reviewed county materials

Owner-builder

County OSSF checklist states that if a person other than the property/system owner performs construction, that person must hold a valid Texas Installer Certificate of Registration.

Contractor requirements

For non-owner OSSF installation, valid Texas installer registration is required.

1. 01
   Determine whether the project triggers county OSSF, subdivision, floodplain, or county-road access review. Do not assume a general county building permit exists.
2. 02
   For OSSF permits, obtain the county application and supporting documents, arrange a site evaluation, and submit the application, site evaluation results, technical information sheet, complete system design, maintenance acknowledgment, fee, and any supporting documents to Hopkins County Environmental Services.
3. 03
   County reviews the OSSF application and, upon approval, issues authorization to begin construction.
4. 04
   Schedule required OSSF inspection at least one working day before the system is covered.
5. 05
   After successful inspection, the county issues a Notice of Approval.
6. 06
   For subdivision, driveway, or floodplain matters, use the separate county regulations and forms posted on the permits/regulations page.

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated

Source: Hopkins County Environmental Services ↗

The county checklist shows older OSSF fees of $260 residential and $360 commercial/institutional/multi-family, but the 2020 amended fee resolution increases those totals to $360 residential and $500 commercial. The later resolution supersedes the older checklist.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2020) before budgeting.

• Contact Environmental Services at (903) 951-3625 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

For OSSF, scheduling at least one working day in advance before covering the system is required.

Inspection hours

Not publicly stated

Time windows

Not publicly stated

Typical sequence: Typical sequence: Submit OSSF application and plans, receive approval and authorization to begin construction, request inspection before covering system, receive Notice of Approval after successful inspection.

Systems not approved may not be used until deficiencies are corrected and the system is re-inspected and approved.

Source: Hopkins County Environmental Services ↗