County Building Permits
Terry County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Terry County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies only to unincorporated Terry County, not Brownfield, Meadow, or Wellman. Verified narrower county controls are floodplain administration and on-site sewage facility (OSSF) authority.
- Department
- Terry County / County Judge
- Address
- Terry County Courthouse, 500 W Main St, Brownfield, TX 79316
- Phone
- (806) 637-6421
- Website
- https://www.co.terry.tx.us/
Application Process
- Before work in unincorporated Terry County, verify whether the parcel lies in a regulated floodplain. Terry County's floodplain administrator is Bobby Votaw.
- If the project will use an on-site sewage facility (OSSF), verify OSSF permitting requirements. Terry County is a TCEQ-authorized OSSF agent per TCEQ's 2024 authorized-agent report.
- For new residential construction in unincorporated county territory without a county-administered building inspection program, review Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F for private-inspection requirements.
- Contact the county judge or county offices for project-specific permit and inspection requirements.
Source: Terry County / County Judge
General Requirements
No public evidence of a general county building-permit program for unincorporated Terry County was found. Verified narrower county controls are: floodplain-development review where applicable, and OSSF/septic permitting authority.
Required Documents
- Floodplain or OSSF application materials (contact county for specifics)
- Building code
- No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated Terry County found in reviewed sources. Floodplain and OSSF standards apply where applicable.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders in unincorporated areas should not assume no inspections apply. For qualifying unincorporated residential projects, Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F may require private staged inspections instead of city-style county inspections.
- Contractor requirements
- No public local county contractor-registration or contractor-license program found.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Terry County / County Judge to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County Judge: (806) 637-6421; Floodplain Administrator Bobby Votaw: (806) 637-4547 (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: No public county general building-inspection sequence found. Floodplain and OSSF inspection methods not posted in reviewed county materials.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No countywide general building code adoption for unincorporated Terry County found in reviewed sources. Floodplain and OSSF standards apply where applicable.
- Terry County - County Judge
- Texas Flood - Floodplain Basics
- 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 Terry County / County Judge before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Terry County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Terry County, TX?
- No public evidence of a general county building-permit program for unincorporated Terry County was found. Verified narrower county controls are: floodplain-development review where applicable, and OSSF/septic permitting authority.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Terry County, TX?
- 1. Before work in unincorporated Terry County, verify whether the parcel lies in a regulated floodplain. Terry County's floodplain administrator is Bobby Votaw. 2. If the project will use an on-site sewage facility (OSSF), verify OSSF permitting requirements. Terry County is a TCEQ-authorized OSSF agent per TCEQ's 2024 authorized-agent report. 3. For new residential construction in unincorporated county territory without a county-administered building inspection program, review Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F for private-inspection requirements. 4. Contact the county judge or county offices for project-specific permit and inspection requirements.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Terry County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County Judge: (806) 637-6421; Floodplain Administrator Bobby Votaw: (806) 637-4547.
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