San Augustine County, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office

Street address

San Augustine County Courthouse, 100 W Columbia, San Augustine, TX 75972, Room 105

Phone

(936) 275-2762

jeffboyd@co.san-augustine.tx.us

Coverage

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.

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for San Augustine County

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.

Scope of work

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.

Exempt

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.

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

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.
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.
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.

Source: San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 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.

01

Verify the parcel is in unincorporated San Augustine County, not inside San Augustine or Broaddus city limits.
02

Note that the county does not require general building permits and does not perform building inspections in unincorporated areas.
03

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.
04

If the project requires an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) rather than public sewer, contact ANRA (Angelina & Neches River Authority).
05

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.
06

If an aerobic system is required, complete and record the required affidavits and include the authority-filed copy with the application packet.
07

After ANRA issues the Permit to Construct, the permit is valid for one calendar year.
08

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.
09

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective May 1, 2025

Fee type

Amount

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.

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 periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective May 1, 2025) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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 sequence: County materials describe floodplain determination first where applicable. For OSSF, the sequence is Permit to Construct, installation, closing inspection, then License to Operate.

Source: San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated San Augustine County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: ANRA OSSF fees are flat fees by system type. County general building permit fee not applicable..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX, follow these steps: 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.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX typically run 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.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated San Augustine County, TX via: ANRA for OSSF closing inspection. For OSSF: The installer must request inspection at least five working days before the system will be ready..

last verified April 2026 source San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office ↗ entry id permits/texas/san-augustine/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with San Augustine County Commissioners Court / County Judge's Office before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.