County Building Permits
Real County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Real County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Texas Updated March 2026
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of Real County outside Camp Wood and Leakey city limits.
- Department
- Real County Government
- Address
- Real County Courthouse, 146 Highway 83 South, Leakey, TX 78873
- Phone
- (830) 232-5304
- Website
- https://www.co.real.tx.us/
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is outside Camp Wood and Leakey city limits. If it is near a boundary, verify jurisdiction at the parcel level before relying on county-only procedures.
- Determine whether the project triggers one of the county's verified narrow approval programs: floodplain development permits, subdivision and land-development review, OSSF review, or county road underground conduit permits.
- For floodplain-related development, contact the County Judge or Flood Plain Coordinator before new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers, or subdivision work. The county adopted a development permit system.
- For subdivision and land-development matters, obtain the application form from the County Judge's office and proceed through the county's platting process with optional sketch plan, development plan, and final plat review.
- For county road underground conduit work, use the published permit request form and coordinate advance written approval and on-site presence of designated county personnel.
- For on-site sewage facility (OSSF) projects, confirm OSSF requirements directly with the county through the County OSSF Inspector role.
- Obtain written county direction before construction if the work could affect floodplain status, subdivision rules, septic, or county road access.
Typical processing time: Plat application must be filed at least 30 days before the regular Commissioners Court meeting.
Source: Real County Government
General Requirements
No public countywide general building permit requirement for all unincorporated construction. County controls are narrower: floodplain development permits apply to new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals; subdivision rules and regulations are effective December 9, 2024; county road underground conduit permits apply to conduit work.
Required Documents
- For floodplain matters: exemption certificate for development outside flood plain or elevation certificate for development within flood plain
- For subdivision matters: application from County Judge's office plus development-plan and final-plat materials
- For road cuts: underground conduit request form with applicant information, road crossing location, GPS coordinates, planned construction date, and conduit specifications
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50.00 (exemption certificate for development outside flood plain); $100.00 (elevation certificate for development within flood plain)
- Permit fee formula
- Floodplain permit fees are flat fees. Subdivision fees are deposit-plus-hourly-review: $1,000 engineering review, $2,000 geoscientist review, $500 county road supervisor review, $500 county OSSF inspector review, $1,500 attorney review, $500 flood plain coordinator review, then hourly charges at $200 per hour for engineer and geoscientist fees.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Class C misdemeanor for failure to apply for required floodplain permit with monetary penalties and possible civil enforcement.
- Payment note
- Subdivision review deposits are paid with the filing of a development plan or, if no development plan is filed, with the filing of the final plat application. No public online payment portal.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective January 24, 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Real County Government to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County Judge (phone)
- Flood Plain Coordinator (phone)
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday
Typical inspection sequence: Floodplain permit review under development permit system; county review of subdivision materials; pre-approval plus on-site oversight and post-work inspection for county road underground conduit crossings.
Additional Resources
- County Home Page
- County Judge Page
- County Contact Page
- County News Page
- 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 Real County Government before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Real County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Real County, TX?
- No public countywide general building permit requirement for all unincorporated construction. County controls are narrower: floodplain development permits apply to new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals; subdivision rules and regulations are effective December 9, 2024; county road underground conduit permits apply to conduit work.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Real County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $50.00 (exemption certificate for development outside flood plain); $100.00 (elevation certificate for development within flood plain). Fees are calculated as: Floodplain permit fees are flat fees. Subdivision fees are deposit-plus-hourly-review: $1,000 engineering review, $2,000 geoscientist review, $500 county road supervisor review, $500 county OSSF inspector review, $1,500 attorney review, $500 flood plain coordinator review, then hourly charges at $200 per hour for engineer and geoscientist fees..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Real County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is outside Camp Wood and Leakey city limits. If it is near a boundary, verify jurisdiction at the parcel level before relying on county-only procedures. 2. Determine whether the project triggers one of the county's verified narrow approval programs: floodplain development permits, subdivision and land-development review, OSSF review, or county road underground conduit permits. 3. For floodplain-related development, contact the County Judge or Flood Plain Coordinator before new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers, or subdivision work. The county adopted a development permit system. 4. For subdivision and land-development matters, obtain the application form from the County Judge's office and proceed through the county's platting process with optional sketch plan, development plan, and final plat review. 5. For county road underground conduit work, use the published permit request form and coordinate advance written approval and on-site presence of designated county personnel. 6. For on-site sewage facility (OSSF) projects, confirm OSSF requirements directly with the county through the County OSSF Inspector role. 7. Obtain written county direction before construction if the work could affect floodplain status, subdivision rules, septic, or county road access.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Real County, TX?
- Typical processing time is Plat application must be filed at least 30 days before the regular Commissioners Court meeting..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Real County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County Judge, Flood Plain Coordinator.
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This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.