Motley County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Motley County outside Matador and Roaring Springs.

Department

Motley County; narrower authorities are Motley County floodplain administration through the County Judge and OSSF or septic permitting through TCEQ Region 02 - Lubbock

Address

Motley County Courthouse, 701 Dundee Ave, Matador, TX 79244

Phone

806-347-2621

Email

mcjudgemeador@gmail.com

Website

https://www.co.motley.tx.us/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Verify the parcel is in unincorporated Motley County and outside Matador and Roaring Springs.
2. Determine whether the project touches one of the narrower verified county controls. Verified controls are floodplain administration and OSSF or septic permitting.
3. For septic work, use TCEQ OARS to confirm the permitting authority. The current OARS result for Motley County points to Region 02 - Lubbock.
4. For OSSF work, obtain a site evaluation, prepare planning materials, complete TCEQ-0235, and submit the application package and fee to TCEQ Region 2.
5. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny the planning materials and permit application within 30 days of receipt.
6. The installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the OSSF is ready for inspection.
7. If the project involves development in a mapped flood hazard area, contact the County Judge before starting work because Motley County is listed with a floodplain administrator.
8. Do not assume an ordinary county building permit exists. No public countywide vertical-construction permit program was identified.

Typical processing time: TCEQ states OSSF permit applications must be approved or denied within 30 days of receipt

Source: Motley County; narrower authorities are Motley County floodplain administration through the County Judge and OSSF or septic permitting through TCEQ Region 02 - Lubbock

General Requirements

No public countywide general building permit requirement was found for ordinary construction in unincorporated Motley County. For OSSF work, TCEQ states a permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies. For floodplain-regulated development, a county floodplain administrator is verified but no public county trigger list or floodplain permit form was located.

Required Documents

• For OSSF work: owner information, site information, legal description support, and planning materials tied to the proposed system (TCEQ Form TCEQ-0235)

Permit validity

Under the published TCEQ OSSF rules, an authorization to construct is valid for one calendar year from issuance. If no construction inspection is requested within that year, the authorization expires and a new application and fee are required before installation.

Owner-builder

TCEQ states a homeowner may install an OSSF if the local permitting authority allows it and the system is for a single-family dwelling the homeowner owns on property the homeowner owns, no part of the property will be developed for sale or lease, and all permitting-authority requirements are met.

Contractor requirements

TCEQ states anyone assisting with OSSF installation generally must hold the appropriate installer license unless a stated exception applies. State trade licensing may apply.

Fees

Payment note

Verify current OSSF fees and payment method directly with TCEQ Region 2 before filing because no Motley County-specific fee sheet was found

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• The 10 acre rule may exempt an OSSF from permitting if all TCEQ conditions are met
• A permit is not required for listed emergency OSSF repairs, but those repairs must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin
• Some existing or grandfathered systems may not need a permit if the stated conditions are satisfied

Important: OSSF-specific state exemptions verified by TCEQ only. No public exempt-work list found for a county general building permit program because no countywide general building permit program was identified.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Contact TCEQ Region 2 - Lubbock (in-person)

Scheduling deadline

For OSSF work, the installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the date the system will be ready for inspection

Inspection hours

TCEQ Region 2 office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: For OSSF work, the published sequence is application and planning review, authorization to construct, installation, notice to the permitting authority, and construction inspection.

Additional Resources

• County Home Page
• County Judge Page
• TCEQ OSSF Permit Guidance
• TCEQ OARS County Search
• TCEQ Region 2 Contacts
• TCEQ On-site Sewage Facility Rules
• Texas Flood NFIP
• License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Motley County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Motley County, TX?

No public countywide general building permit requirement was found for ordinary construction in unincorporated Motley County. For OSSF work, TCEQ states a permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless an exemption applies. For floodplain-regulated development, a county floodplain administrator is verified but no public county trigger list or floodplain permit form was located.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Motley County, TX?

1. Verify the parcel is in unincorporated Motley County and outside Matador and Roaring Springs. 2. Determine whether the project touches one of the narrower verified county controls. Verified controls are floodplain administration and OSSF or septic permitting. 3. For septic work, use TCEQ OARS to confirm the permitting authority. The current OARS result for Motley County points to Region 02 - Lubbock. 4. For OSSF work, obtain a site evaluation, prepare planning materials, complete TCEQ-0235, and submit the application package and fee to TCEQ Region 2. 5. TCEQ states the permitting authority must approve or deny the planning materials and permit application within 30 days of receipt. 6. The installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the OSSF is ready for inspection. 7. If the project involves development in a mapped flood hazard area, contact the County Judge before starting work because Motley County is listed with a floodplain administrator. 8. Do not assume an ordinary county building permit exists. No public countywide vertical-construction permit program was identified.

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

Typical processing time is TCEQ states OSSF permit applications must be approved or denied within 30 days of receipt.

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

The following work is generally exempt: The 10 acre rule may exempt an OSSF from permitting if all TCEQ conditions are met; A permit is not required for listed emergency OSSF repairs, but those repairs must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin; Some existing or grandfathered systems may not need a permit if the stated conditions are satisfied. Note: OSSF-specific state exemptions verified by TCEQ only. No public exempt-work list found for a county general building permit program because no countywide general building permit program was identified.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact TCEQ Region 2 - Lubbock. For OSSF work, the installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days before the date the system will be ready for inspection.