County Building Permits
Ellis County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Ellis County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Ellis County. Note: Midlothian ETJ is handled by the City of Midlothian, not the county.
- Department
- Ellis County Department of Development; Ellis County Fire Marshal
- Address
- Waxahachie, TX (county offices); applicants directed to online portal
- Phone
- 972-825-5200
- dod@co.ellis.tx.us
Online Permit Portal
Platform: MyGovernmentOnline • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Create an account in the Ellis Permits portal (MyGovernmentOnline).
- Submit your development or septic application online with required documentation.
- Pay fees through the portal.
- County reviews application for compliance with development standards and septic regulations.
- Receive permit and approval comments through the portal.
- Print permit and begin work.
Typical processing time: Varies by application type; most processed through online portal
Source: Ellis County Department of Development; Ellis County Fire Marshal
General Requirements
Development permits are required for any structures erected or placed on property in unincorporated Ellis County. Septic permits are required for septic system installations. Fire code permits may be required by Ellis County Fire Marshal for commercial establishments, public buildings, and multifamily dwellings with four or more units.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Ellis County Department of Development; Ellis County Fire Marshal to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Additional Resources
- Verify contractor license: Texas TDLR License Lookup
- 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 Ellis County Department of Development; Ellis County Fire Marshal before applying.
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