County Building Permits
San Augustine County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated San Augustine County only. The county does not require building permits, does not perform building inspections in unincorporated areas, and has not passed ordinances regulating zoning. Floodplain review and OSSF permitting through ANRA (Angelina & Neches River Authority) may apply.
- Department
- San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office
- Address
- San Augustine County Courthouse, 100 W Columbia, San Augustine, TX 75972, Room 105
- Phone
- (936) 275-2762
Application Process
- Verify the parcel is in unincorporated San Augustine County, not inside San Augustine or Broaddus city limits.
- Note that the county does not require general building permits and does not perform building inspections in unincorporated areas.
- Check floodplain status with the County Judge's Office if the site may be in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area. Provide specific location, latitude/longitude in decimal degrees, or physical address.
- If the project requires an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) rather than public sewer, contact ANRA (Angelina & Neches River Authority).
- For OSSF: Obtain a Permit to Construct by completing a site evaluation, having a site design prepared, and submitting the application packet, originals, and fees to ANRA.
- If an aerobic system is required, complete and record the required affidavits and include the authority-filed copy with the application packet.
- After ANRA issues the Permit to Construct, the permit is valid for one calendar year.
- After installation, the installer must request the closing inspection within five days of installation and at least five working days before the system will be ready for inspection.
- After a satisfactory inspection, ANRA issues the License to Operate to the property owner.
Typical processing time: ANRA can usually complete a new Permit to Construct within a matter of days, but state law allows up to 30 days. County floodplain review timing not published.
Source: San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office
General Requirements
No general county building permit is required in unincorporated areas according to the county's posted April 30, 2021 letter. Narrower permit controls apply: floodplain permits may be required for sites in mapped flood hazard areas, and ANRA requires an OSSF permit to construct, alter, repair, extend, or operate an on-site sewage facility where public sewer is unavailable.
Required Documents
- For floodplain review: specific location, latitude/longitude in decimal places, or at minimum the physical address
- For new OSSF permits: Permit to Construct application, fee, original site evaluation, site design, affidavit to the public if applicable, and aerobic treatment system information sheet
- Permit validity
- No general county building permit exists. ANRA states a Permit to Construct an OSSF is valid for one calendar year from issuance. If no construction inspection is requested within one year, the authorization expires and a new application and fee are required.
- Building code
- No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated San Augustine County was found. The county expressly states it has not passed ordinances regulating zoning and does not require general building permits or inspections in unincorporated areas.
- Owner-builder
- No county owner-builder program was found because the county does not run a general building permit program.
- Contractor requirements
- No county general contractor licensing program was found. For OSSF work, ANRA requires licensed and registered providers for the relevant septic-system roles.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- ANRA OSSF fees are flat fees by system type. County general building permit fee not applicable.
- Reinspection fee
- $200.00 (ANRA OSSF reinspection); County floodplain reinspection fees not publicly posted.
- Payment note
- ANRA states no refunds after the 5-day grace period on OSSF fees. No county general building permit payment instructions apply because no general program was found.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective May 1, 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- OSSF: No permit required if the system was installed before the effective date of the controlling order, ordinance, or resolution in areas where the local governmental entity had an approved order, ordinance, or resolution dated before September 1, 1989.
Important: General county building permits are not applicable because the county states it does not require building permits in unincorporated areas. Floodplain exemptions have not been publicly documented; verify directly with the County Judge's Office when a site may be in a mapped floodplain.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ANRA for OSSF closing inspection (in-person)
- Scheduling deadline
- For OSSF: The installer must request inspection at least five working days before the system will be ready.
Typical inspection sequence: County materials describe floodplain determination first where applicable. For OSSF, the sequence is Permit to Construct, installation, closing inspection, then License to Operate.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated San Augustine County was found. The county expressly states it has not passed ordinances regulating zoning and does not require general building permits or inspections in unincorporated areas.
- Verify contractor license: Texas TDLR Contractor License Lookup
- County Home Page
- City Offices
- Permits and Septic Info
- ANRA OSSF Overview
- ANRA Authorized Installers and Providers
- 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 San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
San Augustine County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- No general county building permit is required in unincorporated areas according to the county's posted April 30, 2021 letter. Narrower permit controls apply: floodplain permits may be required for sites in mapped flood hazard areas, and ANRA requires an OSSF permit to construct, alter, repair, extend, or operate an on-site sewage facility where public sewer is unavailable.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- Fees are calculated as: ANRA OSSF fees are flat fees by system type. County general building permit fee not applicable..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- 1. Verify the parcel is in unincorporated San Augustine County, not inside San Augustine or Broaddus city limits. 2. Note that the county does not require general building permits and does not perform building inspections in unincorporated areas. 3. Check floodplain status with the County Judge's Office if the site may be in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area. Provide specific location, latitude/longitude in decimal degrees, or physical address. 4. If the project requires an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) rather than public sewer, contact ANRA (Angelina & Neches River Authority). 5. For OSSF: Obtain a Permit to Construct by completing a site evaluation, having a site design prepared, and submitting the application packet, originals, and fees to ANRA. 6. If an aerobic system is required, complete and record the required affidavits and include the authority-filed copy with the application packet. 7. After ANRA issues the Permit to Construct, the permit is valid for one calendar year. 8. After installation, the installer must request the closing inspection within five days of installation and at least five working days before the system will be ready for inspection. 9. After a satisfactory inspection, ANRA issues the License to Operate to the property owner.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- Typical processing time is ANRA can usually complete a new Permit to Construct within a matter of days, but state law allows up to 30 days. County floodplain review timing not published..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- The following work is generally exempt: OSSF: No permit required if the system was installed before the effective date of the controlling order, ordinance, or resolution in areas where the local governmental entity had an approved order, ordinance, or resolution dated before September 1, 1989.. Note: General county building permits are not applicable because the county states it does not require building permits in unincorporated areas. Floodplain exemptions have not been publicly documented; verify directly with the County Judge's Office when a site may be in a mapped floodplain.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: ANRA for OSSF closing inspection. For OSSF: The installer must request inspection at least five working days before the system will be ready..
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