County Building Permits

Upton County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Upton County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Texas Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Upton County only. No countywide general building-permit program for ordinary vertical construction was publicly identified. Verified permit controls cover OSSF/septic systems and county road right-of-way pipeline/utility crossings.

Department
Upton County Judge's Office and Commissioners Court
Address
Upton County Courthouse, 205 E 10th St, Rankin, TX 79778
Phone
(432) 693-2321
Website
https://www.co.upton.tx.us/

Application Process

  1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Upton County. If the site is inside McCamey or Rankin, use city rules instead.
  2. Determine whether the project triggers one of the county's verified permit programs.
  3. For an OSSF/septic project, contact Upton County as the TCEQ authorized agent. Submit the application and planning materials required by the local permitting authority.
  4. For a county road right-of-way pipeline or utility crossing, use the county PDF form with applicant information, road and precinct location, pipeline description, construction method, timeline, and an attached map or sketch.
  5. Submit the pipeline or utility crossing application to the Upton County Judge's Office at P.O. Box 482, Rankin, TX 79778, or by the submission methods listed on the form.
  6. Wait for county approval before starting county right-of-way work.
  7. If the project also requires septic, floodplain, driveway, subdivision, utility, or state approvals, confirm those separately.

Typical processing time: OSSF: 30 days per TCEQ. County right-of-way pipeline/utility crossing: no public estimate found.

Source: Upton County Judge's Office and Commissioners Court

General Requirements

No public county source was found establishing a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary vertical construction. TCEQ requires a permit for OSSF/septic systems. County pipeline/utility crossing permits required for work in county road right-of-way.

Required Documents

  • For OSSF: application and planning materials required by the local permitting authority
  • For county right-of-way pipeline/utility crossing: completed county form plus an attached map or sketch showing the location and description of the proposed work
Permit validity
County right-of-way pipeline/utility crossing permit term: maximum of two weeks unless specifically extended by Commissioners Court action.
Building code
No public Upton County countywide building-code adoption program was found for unincorporated areas. TCEQ OSSF rules and county right-of-way permit control apply to their respective areas.
Owner-builder
TCEQ homeowner guidance states almost all OSSFs require a permit and that work may be performed directly by the homeowner when it is the homeowner's single-family residence; if someone is paid for any part of the process, that person must be state-licensed.
Contractor requirements
OSSF designers, installers, inspectors, and related personnel are governed by state licensing rules through TCEQ. The county right-of-way form asks whether the work will be performed by a contractor and, if yes, requires the contractor name.

Fees

Payment note
The county pipeline/utility crossing form includes office-use fields for payment receipt but does not publish a fee amount. Confirm current fees directly with the county before filing.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Limited septic permitting exemptions per TCEQ guidance, including qualifying 10-acre-rule systems and certain emergency repairs that must still be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin

Important: No public county exempt-work list was found for a general building-permit program because no countywide general building-permit program was publicly identified.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: OSSF inspections occur as part of the septic permit process under TCEQ-authorized-agent administration. No public sequence found for county right-of-way inspections.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Upton County Judge's Office and Commissioners Court before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Upton County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Upton County, TX?
No public county source was found establishing a countywide general building permit requirement for ordinary vertical construction. TCEQ requires a permit for OSSF/septic systems. County pipeline/utility crossing permits required for work in county road right-of-way.
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Upton County, TX?
1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Upton County. If the site is inside McCamey or Rankin, use city rules instead. 2. Determine whether the project triggers one of the county's verified permit programs. 3. For an OSSF/septic project, contact Upton County as the TCEQ authorized agent. Submit the application and planning materials required by the local permitting authority. 4. For a county road right-of-way pipeline or utility crossing, use the county PDF form with applicant information, road and precinct location, pipeline description, construction method, timeline, and an attached map or sketch. 5. Submit the pipeline or utility crossing application to the Upton County Judge's Office at P.O. Box 482, Rankin, TX 79778, or by the submission methods listed on the form. 6. Wait for county approval before starting county right-of-way work. 7. If the project also requires septic, floodplain, driveway, subdivision, utility, or state approvals, confirm those separately.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Upton County, TX?
Typical processing time is OSSF: 30 days per TCEQ. County right-of-way pipeline/utility crossing: no public estimate found..
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Upton County, TX?
The following work is generally exempt: Limited septic permitting exemptions per TCEQ guidance, including qualifying 10-acre-rule systems and certain emergency repairs that must still be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin. Note: No public county exempt-work list was found for a general building-permit program because no countywide general building-permit program was publicly identified.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Unincorporated Upton County can be complicated.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.
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