County Building Permits
Johnson County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated properties in Johnson County not within incorporated city limits.
- Department
- Johnson County Public Works
- Address
- Johnson County Annex, 2 N Mill St, Suite 305, Cleburne, TX 76033
- Phone
- 817-556-6380
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Review Development Permit requirements and fee schedule on the county Public Works website.
- Download and complete the appropriate permit application for your project type (residential, commercial, mobile home, etc.).
- Prepare required supporting documents (site plans, plat, etc.) in PDF format.
- Submit completed application and documents by email to development@johnsoncountytx.org or in person at the Johnson County Annex.
- County staff reviews for completeness and procedural compliance, including FEMA floodplain assessment if applicable.
- Pay the permit fee upon approval notice.
- Obtain the issued Development Permit before beginning construction.
Typical processing time: Varies by project complexity; typically 5-10 business days for complete applications.
Source: Johnson County Public Works
General Requirements
Development Permits are required for new development in unincorporated Johnson County, including mobile homes and certain land-development activities.
Required Documents
- Completed Development Permit application
- Site plan or plat showing property boundaries and proposed work
- Proof of property ownership or authorization
- Floodplain certification if in flood zone
- Building code
- Johnson County does not enforce a comprehensive building code for construction in unincorporated areas; permits are limited to development, floodplain, and OSSF (septic) matters.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- See county fee schedule for Development Permit, OSSF, and other applicable county permit fees.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026-03).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Johnson County Public Works to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 817-556-6380 (phone)
- development@johnsoncountytx.org (email)
- Inspection hours
- Standard Johnson County business hours; contact Public Works for specifics.
Typical inspection sequence: Johnson County does not provide building inspections or certificates of occupancy for unincorporated construction. Development Permits are limited to land-development, floodplain, and septic (OSSF) oversight.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Johnson County does not enforce a comprehensive building code for construction in unincorporated areas; permits are limited to development, floodplain, and OSSF (septic) matters.
- 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 Johnson County Public Works before applying.
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