Kerr County, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility

Street address

3766 TX 27, Kerrville, TX 78028

Phone

(830) 896-9046

floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov

Coverage

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.

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Kerr County

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.

Note: There is no public exempt-work list for general county building permits because Kerr County does not publish a general unincorporated building-permit program. Outside the county's narrow permit programs, Road and Bridge states the county does not require building permits or certificates of occupancy.

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

Building code: No general county building code adopted for unincorporated area enforcement. Controls are floodplain, subdivision/MHRC, OSSF, driveway, and right-of-way based.
Permit validity: No published county validity or expiration rule for narrow permit programs.
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.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No general processing time published; floodplain disaster-repair permits may be processed at no cost under county relief programs.

01

Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Kerr County, outside Kerrville or Ingram city limits.
02

Determine which county permit applies: floodplain, driveway, utility right-of-way, subdivision, or OSSF/septic.
03

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.
04

For floodplain permitting, obtain elevation certificate if required and submit completed floodplain development permit application to floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov.
05

For driveway or utility work, download the relevant application from the engineer page and coordinate with county engineer.
06

For septic work, use Application for OSSF Development Permit through Environmental Health Department and comply with TCEQ Chapter 285.
07

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Kerr County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

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.

For engineer-related permits, call ahead for appointment. For OSSF work, use posted Environmental Health application and fee materials.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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 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.

Source: Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Kerr County permits

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

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

Building permit fees in unincorporated Kerr County, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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..

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

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kerr County, TX, follow these steps: 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.

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

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Kerr County, TX typically run No general processing time published; floodplain disaster-repair permits may be processed at no cost under county relief programs.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kerr County, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kerr County, TX 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..

last verified April 2026 source Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility ↗ entry id permits/texas/kerr/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Kerr County Engineer and Environmental Health Department On-Site Sewage Facility before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Kerr County