County Building Permits
Kerr County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kerr County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas outside City of Kerrville and City of Ingram limits. County does not require general building permits but regulates floodplain work, driveway access, utility right-of-way, subdivision, and OSSF/septic permits.
- Department
- Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility
- Address
- 3766 TX 27, Kerrville, TX 78028
- Phone
- (830) 896-9046
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Kerr County, outside Kerrville or Ingram city limits.
- Determine which county permit applies: floodplain, driveway, utility right-of-way, subdivision, or OSSF/septic.
- For floodplain work, determine if any structure portion touches FEMA Zone A, AE, or Floodway. If so, a floodplain permit is required even for repairs.
- For floodplain permitting, obtain elevation certificate if required and submit completed floodplain development permit application to floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov.
- For driveway or utility work, download the relevant application from the engineer page and coordinate with county engineer.
- For septic work, use Application for OSSF Development Permit through Environmental Health Department and comply with TCEQ Chapter 285.
- Pay applicable county fees and complete any county inspection or approval steps tied to the specific permit type.
Typical processing time: No general processing time published; floodplain disaster-repair permits may be processed at no cost under county relief programs.
Source: Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility
General Requirements
Kerr County does not require general building permits or certificates of occupancy in unincorporated areas. Specific permits required for: floodplain work in FEMA Zones A, AE, or Floodway; new or modified driveways to county-maintained roads; utility work in county rights-of-way; subdivision and manufactured home rental community development; and OSSF/septic installation.
Required Documents
- Floodplain permit application (if applicable)
- Elevation certificate (if required for floodplain work)
- Driveway permit application (if applicable)
- OSSF development permit application and supporting septic design materials (if applicable)
- Property identification (Kerr CAD property ID recommended)
- Proof of location in unincorporated area
- Permit validity
- No published county validity or expiration rule for narrow permit programs.
- Building code
- No general county building code adopted for unincorporated area enforcement. Controls are floodplain, subdivision/MHRC, OSSF, driveway, and right-of-way based.
- Owner-builder
- No county owner-builder building-permit rules published because Kerr County does not require general building permits. Evaluate separately whether Texas HB 2833 private-inspection rules apply to residential projects.
- Contractor requirements
- No county contractor-registration program for general building. OSSF and septic work subject to applicable TCEQ licensing and registration rules.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Narrow program fees appear to be permit-specific and flat or schedule-based. Driveway fee conflict: Road and Bridge states no fee required; 2025 flood guide states $25. Confirm with county engineer.
- Payment note
- For engineer-related permits, call ahead for appointment. For OSSF work, use posted Environmental Health application and fee materials.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County Engineer: (830) 896-9046 (phone)
- Environmental Health - OSSF: (830) 896-9020 (phone)
- Floodplain submittals: floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- County engineer page advises calling ahead and making an appointment because staff are often in the field.
- Inspection hours
- Engineer: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; OSSF: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: No countywide general building inspection sequence because there is no general county building permit. Sequence depends on narrow permit type: floodplain compliance, driveway access, or OSSF installation.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No general county building code adopted for unincorporated area enforcement. Controls are floodplain, subdivision/MHRC, OSSF, driveway, and right-of-way based.
- Kerr County Road and Bridge
- Kerr County Appraisal District
- Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District
- 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 Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kerr County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Kerr County, TX?
- Kerr County does not require general building permits or certificates of occupancy in unincorporated areas. Specific permits required for: floodplain work in FEMA Zones A, AE, or Floodway; new or modified driveways to county-maintained roads; utility work in county rights-of-way; subdivision and manufactured home rental community development; and OSSF/septic installation.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Kerr County, TX?
- Fees are calculated as: Narrow program fees appear to be permit-specific and flat or schedule-based. Driveway fee conflict: Road and Bridge states no fee required; 2025 flood guide states $25. Confirm with county engineer..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kerr County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Kerr County, outside Kerrville or Ingram city limits. 2. Determine which county permit applies: floodplain, driveway, utility right-of-way, subdivision, or OSSF/septic. 3. For floodplain work, determine if any structure portion touches FEMA Zone A, AE, or Floodway. If so, a floodplain permit is required even for repairs. 4. For floodplain permitting, obtain elevation certificate if required and submit completed floodplain development permit application to floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov. 5. For driveway or utility work, download the relevant application from the engineer page and coordinate with county engineer. 6. For septic work, use Application for OSSF Development Permit through Environmental Health Department and comply with TCEQ Chapter 285. 7. Pay applicable county fees and complete any county inspection or approval steps tied to the specific permit type.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Kerr County, TX?
- Typical processing time is No general processing time published; floodplain disaster-repair permits may be processed at no cost under county relief programs..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kerr County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County Engineer: (830) 896-9046, Environmental Health - OSSF: (830) 896-9020, Floodplain submittals: floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov. County engineer page advises calling ahead and making an appointment because staff are often in the field..
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