Kenedy County, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified)

Street address

Kenedy County Courthouse, 101 East La Parra Avenue, Sarita, TX 78385

Phone

(361) 294-5224

Coverage

Unincorporated Kenedy County. Publicly verified controls are narrower than city-style general building permits: pipeline/utility-line permits for work affecting county roads, telecommunications antenna/tower permits, floodplain administration, and OSSF authorized-agent status. Applicants should confirm project-specific jurisdiction and applicable overlays.

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Kenedy County

No comprehensive county building-permit requirement for ordinary construction was found. Publicly verified permits are limited to: (1) Pipeline/utility-line permits when installation affects opened county roads, streets, or intersections and is regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission; (2) Telecommunications antenna/tower permits for FCC/FAA-licensed installations; (3) Floodplain permits where NFIP applies (Kenedy County is listed as an NFIP community); (4) OSSF permits (Kenedy County is a TCEQ authorized agent). Confirm project-specific requirements with county staff.

Scope of work

Permit?

Pipeline installations that do not cross any opened county road, street, or intersection do not require a county permit (unopened roads exempt).

Exempt

Exempt Pipeline installations that do not cross any opened county road, street, or intersection do not require a county permit (unopened roads exempt).

Note: No comprehensive exempt-work list for unincorporated Kenedy County was found. County controls are limited to specific permit programs rather than a comprehensive building code with exemptions.

Required documents

Completed county permit form (pipeline, antenna/tower, floodplain, or OSSF)
For pipeline permits: Texas Railroad Commission permit, owner and contractor contact information, facility size, and plan/map showing compliance
For antenna/tower permits: FCC/FAA licenses or permits, owner and contractor contact information, plan/map, blueprints, start and completion dates, location and description of work, and site-specific spacing/distance information
For OSSF permits: Site evaluation, soil analysis, septic design, and 911 address (details depend on county application packet)
For floodplain permits: Elevation certificate and site-specific documentation (details depend on county application packet; not published online during research)

Permit validity: No general county building permit validity period was found in public records.
Contractor requirements: No general county contractor licensing program identified. Published forms require owner/contractor identification. Separate state or federal requirements may apply by trade or facility type (e.g., TCEQ rules for OSSF work).

Source: Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified) ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Depends on Kenedy County Commissioners Court meeting schedule; no numeric turnaround time was publicly posted.

01

Determine whether the project falls within one of the documented county permit programs: pipeline/utility-line permits, telecommunications antenna/tower permits, floodplain permits, or OSSF permits.
02

For pipeline/utility-line installations: Complete the county Notice of Proposed Utility Line Activity form; gather Texas Railroad Commission permit, owner/contractor information, and route plan showing compliance with each county road/street/intersection to be bored under. Separate applications required for each opened county road, street, or intersection crossing.
03

For telecommunications antenna/tower installations: Submit the county form with FCC/FAA licenses or permits, owner/contractor contact information, plan/map, blueprints, start and completion dates, and site-specific information.
04

Submit completed form(s) and required documentation to the Kenedy County Commissioners Court (in person at the courthouse).
05

County Commissioners Court considers and acts on the application at a regular or special meeting.
06

Upon approval, submit the applicable permit fee to the County Judge.
07

For antenna/tower work, notify the County Judge 48 hours before construction starts.
08

Proceed with approved work subject to permit conditions.

Typical processing time: Depends on Kenedy County Commissioners Court meeting schedule; no numeric turnaround time was publicly posted.

Source: Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Kenedy County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Permit fee formula

Flat fees where documented: Pipeline/utility-line permit: $1,500.00 for each utility facility under each opened county road, street, or intersection. Telecommunications antenna/tower permit: $1,500.00 per permit after approval.

Payment submitted to the County Judge upon permit approval. No online payment method was publicly identified; confirm payment options with the county.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Contact County Judge or Commissioners Court (in-person)

Scheduling deadline: For antenna/tower work: Notify County Judge 48 hours prior to start of construction.

Typical sequence: No public county inspection sequence was found for general construction. For antenna/tower permits, the form requires 48-hour advance notice before work begins.

Source: Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Kenedy County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Flat fees where documented: Pipeline/utility-line permit: $1,500.00 for each utility facility under each opened county road, street, or intersection. Telecommunications antenna/tower permit: $1,500.00 per permit after approval..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the project falls within one of the documented county permit programs: pipeline/utility-line permits, telecommunications antenna/tower permits, floodplain permits, or OSSF permits. 2. For pipeline/utility-line installations: Complete the county Notice of Proposed Utility Line Activity form; gather Texas Railroad Commission permit, owner/contractor information, and route plan showing compliance with each county road/street/intersection to be bored under. Separate applications required for each opened county road, street, or intersection crossing. 3. For telecommunications antenna/tower installations: Submit the county form with FCC/FAA licenses or permits, owner/contractor contact information, plan/map, blueprints, start and completion dates, and site-specific information. 4. Submit completed form(s) and required documentation to the Kenedy County Commissioners Court (in person at the courthouse). 5. County Commissioners Court considers and acts on the application at a regular or special meeting. 6. Upon approval, submit the applicable permit fee to the County Judge. 7. For antenna/tower work, notify the County Judge 48 hours before construction starts. 8. Proceed with approved work subject to permit conditions.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX typically run Depends on Kenedy County Commissioners Court meeting schedule; no numeric turnaround time was publicly posted.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Pipeline installations that do not cross any opened county road, street, or intersection do not require a county permit (unopened roads exempt).. Note: No comprehensive exempt-work list for unincorporated Kenedy County was found. County controls are limited to specific permit programs rather than a comprehensive building code with exemptions. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kenedy County, TX via: Contact County Judge or Commissioners Court. For antenna/tower work: Notify County Judge 48 hours prior to start of construction..

last verified April 2026 source Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified) ↗ entry id permits/texas/kenedy/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Kenedy County Commissioners Court / County Judge (no general county building department publicly identified) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.