County Building Permits
Grayson County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Grayson County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Grayson County does not run a general countywide residential building permit program for unincorporated single-family homes. The county requires building permits in unincorporated areas for commercial, public, and multifamily residential buildings of four or more units, plus moved-in buildings and substantial improvements within the county fire-code scope.
- Department
- Grayson County Development Services / Grayson County Fire Marshal
Online Permit Portal
Platform: MyGovernmentOnline • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Confirm the property is in unincorporated Grayson County and outside any city limits.
- Determine whether the project falls within the county's fire-code authority: commercial, public-accessible, or multifamily residential construction with four or more units; moved-in buildings; or substantial improvements.
- Apply through the county's MGO permit link and upload required plan submittals.
- Complete inspections and obtain the county certificate of compliance when applicable.
- Separately handle septic, floodplain, E-911/development certificate, or culvert matters through Development Services as required.
Source: Grayson County Development Services / Grayson County Fire Marshal
General Requirements
In unincorporated areas, the county requires building permits for new commercial, public-accessible, and multifamily residential buildings with four or more units; pre-built buildings moved onto property; and substantial improvements under Local Government Code Chapter 233.
- Building code
- The county's authority is tied to its adopted county fire code and Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 rather than a general countywide residential code program.
Fees
- Payment note
- Confirm current county fire/building permit fees directly in MGO or with the Fire Marshal.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Single-family dwellings
- Duplexes
- Triplexes
- Purely agricultural buildings where no workers are present and the public does not enter
Important: Single-family dwellings, duplexes, and triplexes are outside the county fire-code building permit program.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- MGO Connect portal (online)
Typical inspection sequence: County inspections for covered fire-code projects, then certificate of compliance.
Additional Resources
- Building code: The county's authority is tied to its adopted county fire code and Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 rather than a general countywide residential code program.
- Verify contractor license: Texas TDLR License Lookup
- Grayson County Fire Marshal Permits
- Grayson County Development Services
- 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 Grayson County Development Services / Grayson County Fire Marshal before applying.
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