Bosque County does not issue building permits. Its Environmental office permits septic systems across the whole county, towns included, as TCEQ’s authorized agent, and outside city limits the County Floodplain Office permits any building or fill in a mapped floodplain at no fee. Clifton, Valley Mills and Meridian publish their own building permit processes, and the county leaves floodplain permits inside cities to the cities.
What needs a county permit in Bosque County?
County permit
- Building, placing fill or altering a waterway in the floodplain (rural areas)
- New homes and substantial improvements in a flood hazard area
- Installing, altering, extending or repairing a septic system, on any size of tract
- A 911 address for a new rural home site (free)
No county permit
- Building permit for a house, barn or shop outside the floodplain
- Electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits
- Septic systems installed before September 1, 1989 (grandfathered), unless altered or repaired
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Bosque County?
| Area or work | Who issues permits |
|---|---|
| Clifton | The City: plan review, permits and inspections; City Hall, 403 West Third Street, 254-675-8337 |
| Valley Mills (the Bosque County part) | The City publishes a building permit application and fees; City Hall, 101 W Avenue E, 254-932-6146 |
| Meridian (county seat) | The City’s Permitting and Inspections office: building permit application, plan review checklist, inspection request form and an adopted 2026 fee schedule; file by email or at City Hall, 201 N. Main St., 254-435-2381 |
| Morgan | The City says its Community Development Department handles building and code enforcement, but posts no permit form or fee; City Hall, 908 Mary Street, 254-635-2106 |
| Cranfills Gap, Iredell, Walnut Springs | The published sources do not say; ask city hall (Cranfills Gap 254-597-2756, Iredell 254-364-2436, Walnut Springs 254-797-3721) |
| Floodplain, unincorporated county | County Floodplain Office (Office of Emergency Management), 254-233-9867 |
| Floodplain, inside cities | Each city |
| Septic systems, whole county including the towns | Bosque County Environmental, 110 South Main, Suite 106, Meridian, 254-233-9868 |
| Rural 911 addresses | 911 Addressing Coordinator, 500 Highway 174, Meridian, 254-435-6234 |
City addresses are assigned by the cities, not the county coordinator. The county offices share the mailing address PO Box 647, Meridian, TX 76665.
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Get a free quote →Trades and inspections in the cities
The county has no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. In Clifton, the City reviews plans for remodels and new construction and enforces the 2018 International codes, the 2015 energy code and the 2017 National Electrical Code. Its building inspector works part-time, three days a week, so inspections must be booked through City Hall at least 48 hours ahead, and a residential permit usually takes 5 to 7 business days to approve.
County fees and filing
Floodplain permit: the county application shows a $0.00 permit fee. Email the completed application to BosqueOEM@bosquecounty.gov; the county reviews it and approves or denies it. Inside a flood hazard area, attach one copy of the plans and specifications. An approved permit is valid for one year and must be renewed if the work is not finished.
Septic permit: applications use the state’s TCEQ-0235 form and are processed by the county Environmental office, which also posts a partial list of local septic providers. Its web page lists no fee amounts.
911 address: no charge. The coordinator visits the gate, records its GPS position and calls with the new number.
Inspections and records
Septic: every new, altered, extended or repaired system is inspected by the county. Systems other than standard treatment tanks need a maintenance contract on file, and their inspection reports, due every 4 months, must reach the county within 10 days of each inspection. The county runs homeowner maintenance courses that certify owners to inspect their own aerobic systems.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Floodplain: the county may require a survey to set the base flood elevation, and an elevation certificate is required before a permit is issued for any work in the floodplain. If any part of a property is in the floodplain, the county treats the whole property as in it. Building in the floodway is prohibited unless extensive engineering and floodproofing are provided.
Local details
Flood maps: official maps can be viewed at the County Floodplain Office in Meridian, or online through FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. The county’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was adopted on December 13, 2010.
Flood insurance: completing the county floodplain process qualifies a home for the National Flood Insurance Program.
Valley Mills: the city lies partly in McLennan County; the City posts a single building permit application and fee sheet on its Forms & Permits page.
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
Rather not deal with the Bosque County building department?
Get a free quote →Bosque County permit search and official resources
County and city pages:
- Texas TCEQ OSSF Permits
- Bosque County Government
- Official Floodplain Permit Application
- Bosque County Floodplain Administration
- Bosque County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
- Bosque County Environmental (septic)
- Septic permit application (TCEQ-0235)
- Bosque County 911 Addressing
- City of Clifton Building Inspections
- City of Valley Mills forms and permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Bosque County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Bosque County?
No county building permit exists. You need a county septic permit and a 911 address, plus a floodplain permit if any part of the property is in the floodplain.
How much is a Bosque County floodplain permit?
Nothing: the application shows a $0.00 fee. You may still need to pay a surveyor for the base flood elevation and elevation certificate.
Does an old septic system need a permit?
Systems installed before September 1, 1989 are grandfathered, but any alteration, extension or repair needs a permit and inspection.
Who issues building permits in Clifton?
The City of Clifton. Apply through City Hall (254-675-8337) with a site drawing; approval usually takes 5 to 7 business days.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How do I get a 911 address in Bosque County?
Call the county 911 Addressing Coordinator at 254-435-6234 for a rural address; inside a city, the city assigns it.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bosque County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.