County Building Permits
Caldwell County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Caldwell County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Texas does not impose statewide building permitting. In unincorporated Caldwell County, the county regulates subdivision, development, floodplain, septic, residential construction, and commercial site construction under its Development Ordinance rather than operating a full city-style building department.
- Department
- Caldwell County Sanitation / Development Services
- Address
- 1700 FM 2720, Lockhart, TX 78644
- Phone
- (512) 398-1803
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm the property is in unincorporated Caldwell County because city limits and ETJ rules can change the applicable permitting path.
- Contact county staff to schedule the appropriate review, especially for residential or commercial site construction, subdivision/development, floodplain matters, or septic permits.
- For commercial site construction, complete the mandatory pre-application conference with the relevant Precinct Commissioner and county staff before filing the permit package.
- Submit the required county form set. The county posts separate forms for residential construction, commercial construction, floodplain review, septic, variances, and traffic impact analysis.
- For residential permits, submit ownership documentation plus a plat or metes-and-bounds description and survey sketch as required by the ordinance.
- Post the approved permit on site and keep it visible from the nearest major roadway during construction.
General Requirements
The county Development Ordinance requires a Residential Construction Permit for construction or installation of a residential structure, additions that increase bedrooms or bathrooms, and major fire/flood reconstruction. A commercial site construction permit is required for development or alteration of improvements for non-residential uses.
- Permit validity
- Residential construction permits are valid for 2 years or until construction is complete, whichever comes first.
- Building code
- No countywide general building code adoption for all construction was identified. The county instead regulates development and site construction through its Development Ordinance.
Fees
- Payment note
- Development-related fees published: development agreements start at $1,000 for 0-10 acres; traffic impact assessment fees start at $750 for 0-10 acres; licensing agreement fees start at $500 for 0-10 acres, each plus reimbursement of outside engineering and legal costs.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Enclosure of an existing staircase or porch
- Carports for fewer than 10 cars
- Decks
- Roof replacement
- Remodeling of an exterior facade
- Sidewalk construction
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (512) 398-1803 (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: County staff state they handle residential and commercial site construction permits; the ordinance also authorizes county entry for inspections tied to the permit.
Additional Resources
- Building code: No countywide general building code adoption for all construction was identified. The county instead regulates development and site construction through its Development Ordinance.
- Development Ordinance
- 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 Caldwell County Sanitation / Development Services before applying.
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