Unincorporated Refugio County

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.

Note: Because the county does not publicly document a general countywide building-permit program for all ordinary unincorporated construction, do not assume ordinary work outside the county's verified floodplain, OSSF, subdivision, driveway, or similar limited programs requires a county building permit.

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.

1. 01
   Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Refugio County and not inside Austwell, Bayside, Refugio, or Woodsboro.
2. 02
   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. 03
   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. 04
   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. 05
   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. 06
   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 ↗

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

Typical 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.