County Building Permits
Somervell County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Somervell County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Somervell County. Somervell County does not publish a city-style general building department or clearly documented countywide general building permit program for ordinary vertical construction. The verified county permit controls are narrower: OSSF permits, floodplain administration, and county land-development controls such as subdivision and RV park regulations.
- Department
- Somervell County On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) program; Somervell County Emergency Management / Floodplain Administration
- Address
- OSSF office: 112 Allen Drive, Glen Rose, TX 76043; Emergency Management: 102 NE Vine Street, Glen Rose, TX 76043
- Phone
- OSSF office: (254) 898-3920; Emergency Management: (254) 897-2135
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Somervell County and not inside Glen Rose city limits.
- Determine whether the project triggers a county-controlled approval (documented county permit programs are OSSF permits and floodplain administration).
- For septic or wastewater disposal work, choose a site and soil evaluator; complete the OSSF application; provide house floor plan; provide a legal description; provide a scale drawing showing the system and surroundings; and provide any required professional design, maintenance contract, or affidavit for aerobic or non-standard systems.
- Submit the OSSF application and required supporting materials to the county OSSF office.
- If the property is in a regulated floodplain, contact the county floodplain authority before development.
- Complete installation and obtain final inspection before the system and trenches are covered.
- Do not assume a general county building permit exists for ordinary unincorporated construction.
Typical processing time: TCEQ rules require the permitting authority to approve or deny OSSF applications within 30 days after receiving the complete application and fee.
General Requirements
No clearly documented general county building permit requirement was found for ordinary construction in unincorporated Somervell County. Verified county permit controls include OSSF permits for on-site sewage systems and floodplain management review for development in the county's regulated flood hazard areas. County subdivision and RV park rules may also apply to land development.
Required Documents
- Site and soil evaluation
- Completed OSSF application
- House floor plan
- Legal description document (warranty deed, metes and bounds, or survey)
- Scale drawing of the proposed system and surroundings
- For aerobic and non-standard systems: design by a P.E. or R.S., signed maintenance contract, and notarized affidavit with legal description
- Building code
- No public countywide general building-code adoption for ordinary unincorporated construction was identified. The verified county technical regulatory framework is the county OSSF order plus TCEQ OSSF rules under 30 TAC Chapter 285. Floodplain administration is tied to the county's FEMA and NFIP program participation.
- Owner-builder
- For OSSF, the owner signs the application and authorizes the county designated representative to enter the property for site and soil evaluation and inspection.
- Contractor requirements
- For OSSF work, the county forms require licensed site evaluators and installers. Aerobic or non-standard systems must be designed by a P.E. or R.S. where required.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $350.00 for residential OSSF permit (conventional or aerobic)
- Permit fee formula
- Flat-fee schedule: $350.00 for residential conventional or aerobic permits; $425.00 for commercial aerobic permits
- Reinspection fee
- $150.00
- Penalty (no permit)
- Non-compliant contract late fee $25.00, increased by $25.00 for each repeat offense; maintenance provider non-compliance fee $25.00 per offense
- Payment note
- The county OSSF page publishes online credit-card payment information, but the reviewed public materials did not clearly state whether online payment equals online permit submission.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- OSSF on a tract of 10 acres or more where the field line or disposal area is not closer than 100 feet to the property line
- Emergency repairs may proceed before permitting if notice is given to the permitting authority within 72 hours and the permit application is submitted within 30 days
Important: No public exempt-work list was found for a county general building permit program. Confirm state-law exceptions with Somervell County before relying on them locally.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- OSSF office: (254) 898-3920 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Inspection sequence includes site and soil evaluation, application and supporting materials, system design as needed, installation, and final inspection before the system and trenches are covered. The OSSF application states the permit to operate will be granted following successful inspection of the installed system.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No public countywide general building-code adoption for ordinary unincorporated construction was identified. The verified county technical regulatory framework is the county OSSF order plus TCEQ OSSF rules under 30 TAC Chapter 285. Floodplain administration is tied to the county's FEMA and NFIP program participation.
- On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF)
- Emergency Management / Floodplain Administration
- Flood Insurance Study
- RV Park Policy
- 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 Somervell County On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) program; Somervell County Emergency Management / Floodplain Administration before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Somervell County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- No clearly documented general county building permit requirement was found for ordinary construction in unincorporated Somervell County. Verified county permit controls include OSSF permits for on-site sewage systems and floodplain management review for development in the county's regulated flood hazard areas. County subdivision and RV park rules may also apply to land development.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $350.00 for residential OSSF permit (conventional or aerobic). Fees are calculated as: Flat-fee schedule: $350.00 for residential conventional or aerobic permits; $425.00 for commercial aerobic permits.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Somervell County and not inside Glen Rose city limits. 2. Determine whether the project triggers a county-controlled approval (documented county permit programs are OSSF permits and floodplain administration). 3. For septic or wastewater disposal work, choose a site and soil evaluator; complete the OSSF application; provide house floor plan; provide a legal description; provide a scale drawing showing the system and surroundings; and provide any required professional design, maintenance contract, or affidavit for aerobic or non-standard systems. 4. Submit the OSSF application and required supporting materials to the county OSSF office. 5. If the property is in a regulated floodplain, contact the county floodplain authority before development. 6. Complete installation and obtain final inspection before the system and trenches are covered. 7. Do not assume a general county building permit exists for ordinary unincorporated construction.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- Typical processing time is TCEQ rules require the permitting authority to approve or deny OSSF applications within 30 days after receiving the complete application and fee..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- The following work is generally exempt: OSSF on a tract of 10 acres or more where the field line or disposal area is not closer than 100 feet to the property line; Emergency repairs may proceed before permitting if notice is given to the permitting authority within 72 hours and the permit application is submitted within 30 days. Note: No public exempt-work list was found for a county general building permit program. Confirm state-law exceptions with Somervell County before relying on them locally.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Somervell County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: OSSF office: (254) 898-3920.
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