Bandera County issues no building permit for homes, but the County Engineer’s Permits & Inspections office at 1212 Hackberry Street in Bandera (830-796-3175) issues development (floodplain) permits and septic permits for land outside the City of Bandera. A residential development permit application costs $50 and a standard home septic permit $210, and the land needs a 911 address first. Inside Bandera city limits, the City issues building permits.
What does Bandera County permit?
The county regulates development through its Flood Damage Prevention Court Order, adopted April 9, 2020, its on-site sewage facility rules and its Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. It does not review or inspect house construction.
County permits
- Development permit for new construction, a mobile home, an RV site, improvements to an existing structure, fill, or changes to a waterway or drainage course
- On-site sewage facility (septic) permit and licence, for every system whatever the lot size
- Septic modification permit
- Subdivision plats and replats
- Manufactured home rental community plans
Not a county permit
- Building code review or inspection of a house in the unincorporated county
- Building, trade and most other permits inside the City of Bandera, which the City issues
- Septic systems inside the City of Bandera, which the county’s septic rules exclude
A permit for an RV alone does not carry over: if a permanent building later replaces the RV, a new development permit is required. The county development permit covers its floodplain rules only and does not override deed restrictions or subdivision regulations.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Bandera County?
Permits & Inspections works within the County Engineer’s office; Dieter Werner is the County Engineer. The office also houses the county’s OSSF designated representative, who enforces the septic rules. Fees can be paid online.
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| County Engineer, Permits & Inspections | 1212 Hackberry Street, second floor, Bandera, TX 78003; 830-796-3175 (metro 830-460-8183); engineer@banderacounty.org |
| Office hours | Permits & Inspections, Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (lunch 12:00 to 12:45), Friday until noon |
| Rural Addressing (911 addresses) | 3360 State Hwy. 173 North, 830-796-8343, addressing@banderacounty.org |
| County Fire Marshal | 1212 Hackberry Street, 830-460-8183 |
| Area | Who issues permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Bandera County (including Lakehills, Medina, Pipe Creek and Tarpley) | No building permit; County Engineer for development, floodplain and septic permits |
| City of Bandera (the only incorporated town) | City of Bandera Permitting, 511 Main Street, 830-522-3126, permitting@banderatx.gov |
The City of Bandera’s permitting stops at its city limit line, except for sign permits, and many Bandera mailing addresses lie outside it. The City sends owners outside its limits to the County Engineer’s office.
Septic permits and fees
TCEQ’s authorized-agent search lists Bandera County as the septic agent for the entire county and names no separate agent for the City of Bandera, although the county’s own order leaves the city out. Bandera County’s septic rules cover the whole county except the City of Bandera and areas already regulated under another rule, and they are stricter than the state minimum in one way: every septic system must be licensed, regardless of lot size or acreage. Residential and commercial applications are separate, and the county publishes site evaluation, design information and site schematic forms for installers.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential development permit application | $50 |
| Commercial development permit application | $400 |
| Residential septic, non-aerobic, under 500 gallons a day | $210 |
| Residential septic, aerobic or 500 gallons a day or more | $400 |
| Commercial septic | $400 |
| Septic modification | $210 |
| Septic re-inspection | $45 |
| Major subdivision plat | $3,000 plus $250 per lot |
| Minor subdivision plat | $500 |
| Replat | $150 plus $190 public notice |
If the home is in the special flood hazard area, the county will not issue the septic system’s licence to operate until it has a final foundation elevation certificate. When land with a septic system is sold, the seller can ask the county to re-inspect the system. Trade work (electrical, plumbing and HVAC) has no county permit in Bandera County.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a Bandera County development permit
Use the online request with the GPS point where the driveway meets the road and the Property ID from the appraisal district. It is free and takes about 7 to 10 business days.
Find out whether the site is in the special flood hazard area or a floodway, and whether the lot meets the county minimum for its water and sewer type.
Attach an area map or survey and a copy of the deed, and describe the work, water source and sewage system.
In a flood hazard area, include one set of plans and specifications; in a floodway, a no-rise letter sealed by a licensed professional engineer.
Submit the residential or commercial septic application together with the installer’s site evaluation, design information and site schematic.
Pay the county fees at the office or online, and keep the elevation certificate and septic licence with the property records.
County inspections and records
The county inspects septic systems through its OSSF designated representative; a failed system inspection costs $45 to re-inspect. Floodplain compliance is documented with elevation certificates, and in the special flood hazard area the final foundation elevation certificate has to be filed before the septic system is licensed. There is no county framing, electrical or final building inspection on a house.
Display the 911 address with reflective numbers at least 3 inches tall on the house and driveway or entrance. Road & Bridge sells address signs for $22 one-sided or $25 two-sided. Before any outdoor burning, fill in the county’s burn registration form or call the Sheriff’s Office at 830-796-4507.
Rather not deal with the Bandera County building department?
Get a free quote →Inside the City of Bandera, the City schedules interim and final inspections at 830-522-3126, requires every contractor to register, and requires a pre-application meeting for new construction, additions and major remodels.
Lot size rules for new subdivisions
The county’s Subdivision and Land Development Regulations set minimum lot sizes by water and sewer service, measured excluding any floodway on the lot:
- Private well and septic system: 10 acres, with 200 feet of road frontage
- Public water and a septic system: 5 acres, with 150 feet of frontage
- Public water and public sewer: half an acre, with 100 feet of frontage
Lots on a cul-de-sac turnaround need 50 feet of frontage measured as a chord. The minimums do not apply when two or more lots in an existing recorded subdivision are combined.
Texas building code
Texas has no single statewide building code: state law makes the International Residential Code the base code for homes in cities and the International Building Code the base for commercial buildings, with each city choosing the edition and its own amendments, while the National Electrical Code and the energy code apply statewide. Outside city limits most counties issue no building permits for homes. Texas building code rules
Bandera County official permit resources
Bandera County Engineer documents and the City of Bandera permit page:
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Bandera County Development Permit Application (revised January 2025)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
- Bandera County Engineer, Permits and Inspections
- Bandera County Regulatory and Permitting Fees
- Bandera County on-site sewage facility rules
- Bandera County Flood Damage Prevention Court Order (2020)
- Bandera County Subdivision and Land Development Regulations
- Bandera County Rural Addressing
- City of Bandera Permitting
Bandera County permit FAQ
Do I need a building permit to build a house in Bandera County?
Not outside the City of Bandera; the county has no building permit. The county permits that apply to a new home are the development permit, which needs a 911 address first, and a septic permit unless the house connects to a public sewer.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much does a septic permit cost in Bandera County?
$210 for a standard residential system under 500 gallons a day, and $400 for an aerobic system, a larger system or a commercial one.
Who do I call about permits outside Bandera city limits?
The County Engineer’s Permits & Inspections office, 830-796-3175 or 830-460-8183.
What is the minimum lot size for a well and septic system?
10 acres in a new subdivision, outside any floodway, under the county’s subdivision rules.
Do I need an elevation certificate?
If the site is in the special flood hazard area, yes: the septic licence to operate is not issued until the final foundation elevation certificate is filed. Floodway projects also need an engineer’s no-rise letter.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bandera County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.