Brown County issues no building permit for houses. Its Permitting Department in the courthouse in Brownwood issues two county permits: a $20 Development Permit for building, placing fill or altering land (plus a $100 inspection fee in a floodplain), and a $210 septic (OSSF) permit that includes two inspections. Brownwood, Early and Bangs take their own building permit applications.
Which county permits apply in Brown County?
Development Permit ($20)
- Any construction or placing of a structure, including a house or mobile home
- Improvements to an existing structure
- Dredging, altering land or waterways, and placing fill
- Needs the legal plat, a 911 address and, in a flood area, the project plans
- In a floodplain, a $100 inspection fee covers two inspections; each extra one is $50
Septic permit ($210)
- Installing, modifying or repairing a septic system on a tract of 10 acres or less
- Tracts over 10 acres: registration with a site evaluation, layout and legal description, on a separate county form
- Needs the legal plat, soil evaluation, system design and a 911 address
The county lists no building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit of its own.
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Get a free quote →Permit offices and jurisdiction boundaries
| Area or work | Who issues permits |
|---|---|
| Brownwood | City Planning & Development Department: building, trade and sign permits inside city limits |
| Early | City of Early Planning and Zoning (Development Services), which handles building permits; 960 Early Blvd., 325-643-5451, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Bangs | City of Bangs: a Construction Permit Application emailed to the utility billing clerk; electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits under $10,000 in valuation are $84.61; City Hall, 109 S. 1st St., 325-752-6223 |
| Blanket | The published sources do not say; ask city hall |
| Development and septic permits, county | Brown County Permitting Department, Courthouse Room 322, 200 S. Broadway, Brownwood, TX 76801, 325-643-1985 |
Rita Thompson is the county’s inspector and designated representative for permitting. The county pamphlet says the Development and septic permits apply to property in Brown County without separating city and rural land, so owners inside a city should ask both offices. TCEQ names Brown County as its septic (OSSF) agent for the whole county, but its Abilene regional office (Region 3, 325-698-9674) lists Bangs, Brownwood and Early among the cities it serves, so check with both before designing a system in those cities.
Septic permits in detail
The septic application (revised January 22, 2025) names the site evaluator, designer and installer and asks for the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the living area and the water source. The design package must include a site evaluation with at least two soil borings or backhoe pits at opposite ends of the drain field area; soil with less than 24 inches of suitable depth below the drain field is unsuitable.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Construction must not start before the application is approved. The authorization to construct lasts one calendar year: if the installer has not called for the construction inspection by then, it expires and a new application and fee are needed. A licence to operate the system is issued after a successful inspection. The $210 fee covers two inspections, and each further inspection is $50; registering a system on a tract over 10 acres costs $25.
Systems that need a maintenance contract use the county’s certification and homeowner maintenance forms, and the Permitting page links homeowner maintenance classes.
How to get Brown County permits
Lots in Brownwood, Early or Bangs also go through the city’s own building permit process.
Both county permits require the legal plat and a 911 address.
Submit the $20 application to the Permitting Department; in a flood hazard area, use the floodplain version and attach the project plans.
Have a site evaluator and designer prepare the soil evaluation and layout, then file the $210 septic application.
The installer calls the county for the septic construction inspection within a year of approval.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Inspections and project closeout
The county inspects septic systems before issuing the licence to operate. A Development Permit is valid for one year and must be renewed if the work is not finished. Inside Brownwood and Early, building inspections are booked with the city; the City of Bangs schedules its inspections at 1-877-837-8775.
Lake Brownwood and the flood order
Every owner must follow the Brown County Flood Damage Prevention Order. Around Lake Brownwood, an RV may stay in the flood hazard area (the impoundment area up to 1,435 feet above sea level) only if it is on site for fewer than 180 days, fully licensed and ready for highway use, or permitted under the flood order. An RV counts as highway-ready when it sits on its wheels or jacks, is attached only by quick-disconnect utilities and has no permanent additions.
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 Brown County building department?
Get a free quote →Brown County official permit resources
County forms and city pages:
- Brown County Permitting
- Brown County permit pamphlet
- Septic permit application packet (January 2025)
- Development Permit application
- Development Permit application, flood plain
- City of Early Development Services
- City of Bangs Construction Permit Application (PDF)
- TCEQ septic authorized agent search
- TCEQ on-site sewage permits
- Brown County Commissioners Court
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Brown County permit FAQ
Does Brown County require a building permit for a house?
There is no county building permit, but the county requires a $20 Development Permit before any construction or placement of a structure, plus a septic permit where a system is installed.
How much is a septic permit in Brown County?
$210, including two inspections, on the application revised January 22, 2025; any extra inspection is $50. Tracts over 10 acres register the system on a separate form for $25.
How long is a Brown County permit valid?
One year for both the Development Permit and the septic authorization to construct.
Can I leave an RV at Lake Brownwood?
In the flood hazard area, only for fewer than 180 days, fully licensed and road-ready, or with a permit under the county flood order.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Brownwood?
The City of Brownwood’s Planning & Development Department, for property inside the city limits.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Brown County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.