County Building Permits
Refugio County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Refugio County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies only in unincorporated Refugio County. The county controls are narrower and include floodplain-related development permitting, OSSF or septic permitting, subdivision regulations, and requirements for manufactured home rental communities.
- Department
- County Judge's Office
- Address
- Refugio County Courthouse, 808 Commerce Street, Room 104, Refugio, TX 78377
- Phone
- 361-526-4434
Online Permit Portal
Platform: County Forms and Documents • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Refugio County and not inside Austwell, Bayside, Refugio, or Woodsboro.
- Determine which county control applies: Development Permit Application for floodplain-related development review, OSSF application packet for septic work, or subdivision and manufactured-home-rental-community regulations.
- For floodplain or development review, complete the county Development Permit Application and attach a vicinity map. If in a floodplain, provide one copy of plans and specifications for the proposed construction.
- For OSSF work, submit the full application packet to the County Judge's Office, including the completed application, site or soil evaluation by certified site evaluator or professional engineer, planning materials, deed or appraisal copy, map or directions to the site, any required maintenance documents or affidavits, and the permit fee.
- If the project involves subdivision activity or manufactured home rental community, follow the separate county regulations and forms in addition to any floodplain or OSSF requirements that apply.
- Await county review and approval before beginning regulated work. The OSSF packet expressly warns not to begin construction before application approval.
Typical processing time: No general county permit turnaround was posted. Incomplete applications can delay approval.
Source: County Judge's Office
General Requirements
The county does not publicly document a general countywide building-permit program for all ordinary vertical construction in unincorporated Refugio County. Verified controls are narrower: Development Permit Application tied to flood-hazard review and related county controls (residential, non-residential, fill placement, and alteration of natural waterways or drainage courses); OSSF permit packet for new construction and modification of on-site sewage facilities; and separate regulations for subdivisions and manufactured home rental communities.
Required Documents
- For county development permit: applicant information, property location, location description with vicinity map, nature of proposed construction, description of proposed construction, and one copy of plans and specifications if in a floodplain
- For OSSF work: completed application, site or soil evaluation by certified site evaluator or professional engineer, planning materials, deed or appraisal copy and plat if applicable, map or directions to the site, maintenance documents for aerobic or surface-application systems where applicable, affidavits where applicable, and required fee
- Owner-builder
- The OSSF packet is submitted in the property owner's name. No broader county owner-builder guidance was identified for general construction. No public county HB 2833 implementation guidance was identified.
- Contractor requirements
- For OSSF work, a certified site evaluator or professional engineer is required for the site and soil evaluation. Designer license number for the PE or RS is required where applicable. Installer registration information required. No separate countywide general contractor registration program for ordinary unincorporated building work was identified.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $20 Development Permit; $180 residential OSSF permit
- Permit fee formula
- Flat fees: Development Permit Application shows $20 permit fee. OSSF checklist shows $180 for residential and $225 for commercial permits.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the County Judge's Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: For OSSF work, the permit to operate is granted following successful inspection of the installed system. For floodplain-regulated development, the county's public HMAP confirms local permitting, inspection, and recordkeeping in the floodplain, but the county does not publish a detailed public inspection sequence.
Additional Resources
- County Judge
- Refugio County HMAP
- Subdivision Regulations
- Requirements for Manufactured Home Rental Communities
- 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 County Judge's Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Refugio County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Refugio County, TX?
- The county does not publicly document a general countywide building-permit program for all ordinary vertical construction in unincorporated Refugio County. Verified controls are narrower: Development Permit Application tied to flood-hazard review and related county controls (residential, non-residential, fill placement, and alteration of natural waterways or drainage courses); OSSF permit packet for new construction and modification of on-site sewage facilities; and separate regulations for subdivisions and manufactured home rental communities.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Refugio County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $20 Development Permit; $180 residential OSSF permit. Fees are calculated as: Flat fees: Development Permit Application shows $20 permit fee. OSSF checklist shows $180 for residential and $225 for commercial permits..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Refugio County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Refugio County and not inside Austwell, Bayside, Refugio, or Woodsboro. 2. Determine which county control applies: Development Permit Application for floodplain-related development review, OSSF application packet for septic work, or subdivision and manufactured-home-rental-community regulations. 3. For floodplain or development review, complete the county Development Permit Application and attach a vicinity map. If in a floodplain, provide one copy of plans and specifications for the proposed construction. 4. For OSSF work, submit the full application packet to the County Judge's Office, including the completed application, site or soil evaluation by certified site evaluator or professional engineer, planning materials, deed or appraisal copy, map or directions to the site, any required maintenance documents or affidavits, and the permit fee. 5. If the project involves subdivision activity or manufactured home rental community, follow the separate county regulations and forms in addition to any floodplain or OSSF requirements that apply. 6. Await county review and approval before beginning regulated work. The OSSF packet expressly warns not to begin construction before application approval.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Refugio County, TX?
- Typical processing time is No general county permit turnaround was posted. Incomplete applications can delay approval..
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