County Building Permits
Kaufman County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kaufman County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Kaufman County. Regulation applies to public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily dwellings covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter C. The county does not issue permits for one- and two-family dwellings.
- Department
- Kaufman County Fire Marshal's Office
- Address
- 101 N. Houston Street, Kaufman, TX 75142
- Phone
- 469-376-4122
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Custom County Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Verify project eligibility. One- and two-family dwellings are not subject to the county permit program.
- Review applicable code sections and site/civil plans guidance from the Fire Marshal's office.
- Prepare digital submittal files per county formatting requirements.
- Submit application and required documents through the Kaufman County Permits Portal.
- County Fire Marshal reviews application for completeness.
- Pay plan review and application fees as invoiced.
- Respond to any corrections or comments and resubmit revised documents if required.
- Obtain permit approval and schedule inspections.
Typical processing time: Processing time varies by project scope and complexity. Contact the Fire Marshal's office for specific timelines.
General Requirements
Building permits are required for public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily dwellings in unincorporated Kaufman County. One- and two-family dwellings are exempt from the county permit program.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plan
- Civil plans per county guidelines
- Construction plans and specifications
- Project scope information
- Building code
- 2024 International Fire Code with Kaufman County amendments
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- One- and two-family dwellings
Important: The county permit program does not cover residential one- and two-family dwellings. Confirm project applicability with the Fire Marshal's office before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 469-376-4122 (phone)
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2024 International Fire Code with Kaufman County amendments
- 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 Kaufman County Fire Marshal's Office before applying.
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