County Building Permits
Smith County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Smith County has no local building policies for construction in unincorporated areas other than subdivision regulations. Septic permits may apply under On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) requirements.
- Department
- Phone
- 903-590-4605
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the property is in unincorporated Smith County and not inside any city limits.
- If the project involves an on-site sewage facility, work through the county's designated OSSF process.
- If the site is in a regulated floodplain, review the county floodplain regulation before work.
- For subdivision or road-access issues, use the county subdivision and road policies as applicable.
General Requirements
No county-issued general building permit requirement was identified for ordinary building construction in unincorporated Smith County. Septic permits are required for on-site sewage facilities in certain cases.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: OSSF-related inspections are handled through the county's designated septic process. No county building-inspection program for ordinary construction was identified.
Additional Resources
- County Ordinances and Policies
- OSSF Contractor RTS Environmental LLC
- 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 before applying.
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