County Building Permits
Navarro County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Navarro County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Public county records do not show a countywide city-style general building department for all unincorporated construction. Verified county controls are narrower: Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning and lake-area building permits, floodplain development permits in unincorporated areas, OSSF / septic permits, subdivision / replat regulation, 911 addressing, and county-right-of-way culvert / driveway controls.
- Department
- Navarro County Planning and Development Office; Navarro County OSSF program
- Address
- 601 N. 13th St., Suite 1, Corsicana, TX 75110
- Phone
- (903) 875-3311
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Navarro County and determine whether it is inside the county's 5,000-foot Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning jurisdiction or elsewhere in the unincorporated area.
- If the project is in the lake-area zoning jurisdiction, use the county residential building permit checklist and zoning materials. If outside that area, the county's posted construction packet is tied to 911 temporary addressing plus notices about septic, culvert, and floodplain rules.
- Submit any required floodplain development permit, OSSF / septic application, culvert / access permit, or plat / replat package, depending on the project.
- For OSSF work, provide the required site evaluation, design, installer information, and other TCEQ-required materials.
- Pay the applicable fee.
- Wait for county review and approval before beginning regulated work.
Source: Navarro County Planning and Development Office; Navarro County OSSF program
General Requirements
Public county records verified the following permit programs, but did not verify a universal county general building permit for all unincorporated construction: Lake area building permits in the Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning jurisdiction, Floodplain permits for development in floodplain-regulated areas, OSSF permits for all septic systems, including new, modified, or repaired systems, Culvert / driveway access permits on county easements and rights-of-way, Plat / subdivision approvals in the unincorporated county
Required Documents
- Varies by permit type; county forms reference site information, tax parcel information, subdivision details, 911 addressing materials, septic information, and floodplain or access documents as applicable.
- Building code
- No public countywide adoption of a general building code for all unincorporated areas was verified from the county materials reviewed. Verified county regulatory programs are zoning, floodplain, subdivision, access, and OSSF controls.
- Owner-builder
- No general county owner-builder rule was found in the public materials reviewed. For OSSF work, state-law licensing and exemption rules apply.
- Contractor requirements
- No county general contractor license program was publicly identified. OSSF work is tied to licensed installers under state law. The county packet warns that all septic systems must be permitted and installed by a licensed installer.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Floodplain permit $100.00; culvert permit $250.00; temporary use permit (RV) $150.00; lake-area building permit fee is area-based rather than a stated flat minimum
- Permit fee formula
- Lake-area building permits are listed at $0.25 per square foot; floodplain and zoning fees are flat; plat fees vary by lot count; OSSF fees vary by system type
- Reinspection fee
- OSSF reinspection is one-half of the original fee; county packet warns of possible $500.00 per day fines for septic violations
- Payment note
- Culvert permit notes say check or money order only
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Navarro County Planning and Development Office; Navarro County OSSF program to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Contact the Planning and Development Office or OSSF Inspector depending on permit type (in-person)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Varies by permit type; OSSF work follows county OSSF procedures, and lake-area / floodplain / access approvals follow the applicable county program
Additional Resources
- Building code: No public countywide adoption of a general building code for all unincorporated areas was verified from the county materials reviewed. Verified county regulatory programs are zoning, floodplain, subdivision, access, and OSSF controls.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Richland Chambers Lakeshore Area Zoning Ordinance
- OSSF Permit Procedures 2025
- Court Order Governing Culverts and Application
- Navarro County Incorporated Cities map
- 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 Navarro County Planning and Development Office; Navarro County OSSF program before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Navarro County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Navarro County, TX?
- Public county records verified the following permit programs, but did not verify a universal county general building permit for all unincorporated construction: Lake area building permits in the Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning jurisdiction, Floodplain permits for development in floodplain-regulated areas, OSSF permits for all septic systems, including new, modified, or repaired systems, Culvert / driveway access permits on county easements and rights-of-way, Plat / subdivision approvals in the unincorporated county
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Navarro County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is Floodplain permit $100.00; culvert permit $250.00; temporary use permit (RV) $150.00; lake-area building permit fee is area-based rather than a stated flat minimum. Fees are calculated as: Lake-area building permits are listed at $0.25 per square foot; floodplain and zoning fees are flat; plat fees vary by lot count; OSSF fees vary by system type.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Navarro County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Navarro County and determine whether it is inside the county's 5,000-foot Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning jurisdiction or elsewhere in the unincorporated area. 2. If the project is in the lake-area zoning jurisdiction, use the county residential building permit checklist and zoning materials. If outside that area, the county's posted construction packet is tied to 911 temporary addressing plus notices about septic, culvert, and floodplain rules. 3. Submit any required floodplain development permit, OSSF / septic application, culvert / access permit, or plat / replat package, depending on the project. 4. For OSSF work, provide the required site evaluation, design, installer information, and other TCEQ-required materials. 5. Pay the applicable fee. 6. Wait for county review and approval before beginning regulated work.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Navarro County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact the Planning and Development Office or OSSF Inspector depending on permit type.
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