County Building Permits
Madison County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Madison County. Permit controls include OSSF, floodplain development, electric service, driveway access on county right of way, and related rural-development permits.
- Department
- Madison County Rural Development / Wastewater Office, Madison County Floodplain, County Commissioner (precinct)
- Address
- Madison County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Madisonville, TX 77864; Wastewater Office, 101 W. Main, Suite B-22, Madisonville, TX 77864; Floodplain Coordinator, 101 W. Main, Suite B-13, Madisonville, TX 77864
- Phone
- 936-241-6200; Wastewater 936-348-2152; Floodplain 936-348-3810
Application Process
- Determine the specific county permit type: OSSF, floodplain development, electric service, driveway access, or other rural-development permit.
- Obtain 911 address or address verification through the county permit page if needed.
- Complete the permit-specific application and gather required support documents (survey/site map for driveway, site and elevation info for floodplain, septic forms for OSSF).
- Submit the application to the correct county office (OSSF to Wastewater, floodplain to Floodplain Coordinator, driveway to County Commissioner for the applicable precinct).
- Wait for county review and permit issuance. No work may start until permit is issued.
- Complete required inspections or final signoff (driveway commissioner inspection, OSSF county inspection, floodplain compliance documentation).
Typical processing time: Not publicly specified
General Requirements
Unincorporated Madison County does not operate a general countywide building-permit program. Verified permit triggers are OSSF permits, floodplain development permits, driveway access permits on county right of way, electric service permits, and certain food-establishment permits.
Required Documents
- Varies by permit type
- Survey or site map for driveway access
- Detailed site, builder, and flood-elevation information for floodplain development
- Septic application and maintenance certification for OSSF
- Permit validity
- Driveway permit becomes null and void if driveway facilities are not constructed within six months from issuance. Expiration rules for floodplain and OSSF permits were not publicly documented.
- Building code
- No public source showed countywide adoption of a general building code for all unincorporated construction.
- Owner-builder
- No public owner-builder rule was clearly posted in the county sources reviewed.
- Contractor requirements
- No countywide general contractor license requirement was clearly posted in the reviewed materials.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Driveway: Application Fee None at this time; OSSF: $200 residential modification, $400 new residential
- Permit fee formula
- Flat fees by permit type
- Payment note
- OSSF payment by check or money order payable to Madison County; cash not accepted
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Adding a layer of gravel to an existing gravel driveway
- Seal coating an existing asphalt driveway
- General maintenance of existing driveway not involving resurfacing
Important: Unincorporated Madison County applies a narrower permit structure focused on OSSF, floodplain, driveway access, and related rural-development controls rather than a comprehensive building-permit program. Confirm permit requirements with the applicable county office before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Wastewater Office 936-348-2152 (phone)
- Floodplain Coordinator 936-348-3810 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Wastewater Office: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Permit-specific. Driveway: application, preliminary approval, construction, final inspection by County Commissioner. OSSF: application, issuance, installation, county inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No public source showed countywide adoption of a general building code for all unincorporated construction.
- Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
- Driveway Permit Packet
- Floodplain Development Permit Application
- OSSF Fee Schedule
- 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 Madison County Rural Development / Wastewater Office, Madison County Floodplain, County Commissioner (precinct) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- Unincorporated Madison County does not operate a general countywide building-permit program. Verified permit triggers are OSSF permits, floodplain development permits, driveway access permits on county right of way, electric service permits, and certain food-establishment permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is Driveway: Application Fee None at this time; OSSF: $200 residential modification, $400 new residential. Fees are calculated as: Flat fees by permit type.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- 1. Determine the specific county permit type: OSSF, floodplain development, electric service, driveway access, or other rural-development permit. 2. Obtain 911 address or address verification through the county permit page if needed. 3. Complete the permit-specific application and gather required support documents (survey/site map for driveway, site and elevation info for floodplain, septic forms for OSSF). 4. Submit the application to the correct county office (OSSF to Wastewater, floodplain to Floodplain Coordinator, driveway to County Commissioner for the applicable precinct). 5. Wait for county review and permit issuance. No work may start until permit is issued. 6. Complete required inspections or final signoff (driveway commissioner inspection, OSSF county inspection, floodplain compliance documentation).
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly specified.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- The following work is generally exempt: Adding a layer of gravel to an existing gravel driveway; Seal coating an existing asphalt driveway; General maintenance of existing driveway not involving resurfacing. Note: Unincorporated Madison County applies a narrower permit structure focused on OSSF, floodplain, driveway access, and related rural-development controls rather than a comprehensive building-permit program. Confirm permit requirements with the applicable county office before proceeding.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Madison County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Wastewater Office 936-348-2152, Floodplain Coordinator 936-348-3810.
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