What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Houston County, TX?

The following work is generally exempt: For OSSF work: certain emergency repairs and the 10-acre rule if all criteria are met. Note: No public exempt-work list was found for a county general building permit program. For OSSF work, TCEQ publishes narrow state exemptions. The public record reviewed does not support a countywide general building permit program for all construction in unincorporated Houston County.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Houston County, TX?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact county floodplain contact for floodplain matters; TCEQ-identified OSSF permitting authority for septic work.

County Building Permits

Houston County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Texas Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

This section covers unincorporated Houston County only. No clearly documented countywide general building-permit department for ordinary vertical construction in unincorporated Houston County was found. The verified public record supports narrower county controls such as floodplain administration, 911 rural addressing, and state-regulated OSSF permitting that must be confirmed through TCEQ's local permitting-authority lookup.

Department: Houston County
Address: Houston County Courthouse, 401 East Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX 75835
Phone: (936) 544-3255; County Judge/Floodplain Administrator: (936) 544-3255 Ext. 221
Email: jlovell@co.houston.tx.us
Website: https://www.co.houston.tx.us/

Application Process

Confirm the tract is in unincorporated Houston County and not inside any city limits or ETJ with separate local review.
Do not assume a city-style county building permit exists. No clearly documented countywide building department for ordinary construction was found.
If the project involves floodplain development, contact Houston County's Floodplain Administrator through the County Judge contact identified in the FEMA/TWDB community contact report.
If the project needs an on-site sewage facility or septic system, use TCEQ's county-based local permitting-authority lookup and submit the required OSSF application and planning materials to the identified permitting authority. TCEQ states an OSSF permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, repair, and operate an OSSF unless a narrow exemption applies.
If the project is a new rural homesite or similar development, request a 9-1-1 address through the county 911 Addressing Coordinator page.
If the project is in a floodplain, septic-sensitive area, or otherwise unusual site condition, confirm any additional county or state requirements before starting work.

Typical processing time: TCEQ states the OSSF permitting authority must approve or deny a complete OSSF application within 30 days of receipt. No county processing estimate for floodplain review or any general building permit was found.

Source: Houston County

General Requirements

No evidence of a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary construction in unincorporated Houston County was found. The verified public record instead supports narrower permit and approval controls. TCEQ requires permits for OSSF work unless a specific exemption applies. Houston County publicly operates 911 addressing for rural addresses. The county hazard mitigation plan and FEMA/TWDB records support floodplain administration in unincorporated Houston County.

Required Documents

For OSSF work: applications and planning materials per TCEQ requirements
For 911 addresses: request through county online address request page

Permit validity: No public county floodplain permit validity rule or county general building permit validity rule was found. OSSF validity rules depend on the permitting authority and applicable state/local program requirements.
Building code: No public countywide building code adoption for ordinary unincorporated construction was found. The county hazard mitigation plan states Houston County had adopted floodplain ordinances and minimum NFIP standards.
Owner-builder: No public county owner-builder rule for a general building permit program was found. For OSSF work, TCEQ allows owner installation only in narrow circumstances described on its guidance page.
Contractor requirements: No public county contractor registration requirement was found for a county general building permit program. State trade licensing and OSSF licensing rules still apply where relevant.

Fees

Payment note: Because no public county permit fee schedule for floodplain or general building review was found, confirm any applicable county or local-authority fees directly before filing. OSSF fees depend on the actual permitting authority identified through TCEQ.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Houston County to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Contact county floodplain contact for floodplain matters; TCEQ-identified OSSF permitting authority for septic work (other)

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by narrow program. For OSSF, state guidance contemplates permit application and review through the permitting authority, then inspections under the local OSSF program. For floodplain work, no county public sequence document was found.

Additional Resources

Building code: No public countywide building code adoption for ordinary unincorporated construction was found. The county hazard mitigation plan states Houston County had adopted floodplain ordinances and minimum NFIP standards.
County Home Page
County Contact Page
County 911 Addressing Page
TCEQ OSSF Permit Guidance
FEMA/TWDB Community Contact Report
Houston County Hazard Mitigation Plan
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 Houston County before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Houston County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TX?: No evidence of a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary construction in unincorporated Houston County was found. The verified public record instead supports narrower permit and approval controls. TCEQ requires permits for OSSF work unless a specific exemption applies. Houston County publicly operates 911 addressing for rural addresses. The county hazard mitigation plan and FEMA/TWDB records support floodplain administration in unincorporated Houston County.
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TX?: 1. Confirm the tract is in unincorporated Houston County and not inside any city limits or ETJ with separate local review. 2. Do not assume a city-style county building permit exists. No clearly documented countywide building department for ordinary construction was found. 3. If the project involves floodplain development, contact Houston County's Floodplain Administrator through the County Judge contact identified in the FEMA/TWDB community contact report. 4. If the project needs an on-site sewage facility or septic system, use TCEQ's county-based local permitting-authority lookup and submit the required OSSF application and planning materials to the identified permitting authority. TCEQ states an OSSF permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, repair, and operate an OSSF unless a narrow exemption applies. 5. If the project is a new rural homesite or similar development, request a 9-1-1 address through the county 911 Addressing Coordinator page. 6. If the project is in a floodplain, septic-sensitive area, or otherwise unusual site condition, confirm any additional county or state requirements before starting work.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TX?: Typical processing time is TCEQ states the OSSF permitting authority must approve or deny a complete OSSF application within 30 days of receipt. No county processing estimate for floodplain review or any general building permit was found..
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Houston County, TX?: The following work is generally exempt: For OSSF work: certain emergency repairs and the 10-acre rule if all criteria are met. Note: No public exempt-work list was found for a county general building permit program. For OSSF work, TCEQ publishes narrow state exemptions. The public record reviewed does not support a countywide general building permit program for all construction in unincorporated Houston County.
How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Houston County, TX?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact county floodplain contact for floodplain matters; TCEQ-identified OSSF permitting authority for septic work.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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