Burleson County says it has no authority to adopt or enforce building codes or require building inspections in its unincorporated areas, so no county building permit exists there. The county does require an OSSF (septic) permit for every new, altered or repaired system ($330 residential, $540 commercial), a floodplain development permit for building in a mapped floodplain, and access and utility permits for work in county right-of-way. Caldwell, Somerville and Snook handle building permits inside their own city limits.
What needs a permit in unincorporated Burleson County?
County permit needed
- Any new, modified or repaired septic system (OSSF), whatever the acreage
- Any development or construction inside a mapped floodplain
- A driveway or culvert onto a county road right-of-way
- Utility lines laid in county road right-of-way
- Subdividing land, including manufactured home rental communities and RV parks
No county permit
- A building permit or building inspection for a house, barn or shop outside the cities
- A floodplain permit for development outside the floodplain
Wetlands can bring separate federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which the county points to on its floodplain page.
Who issues permits in Burleson County?
The county’s permit work is split between three offices in Caldwell. Inside the three cities, the city issues building permits and handles floodplain questions.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Permit | Office and contact |
|---|---|
| Septic (OSSF), whole county including Caldwell, Somerville and Snook (TCEQ agent) | Environmental Department, Burleson County Courthouse, 100 W. Buck St., Suite 303, Caldwell, TX 77836; 979-567-2360 |
| Floodplain development | Floodplain office, Suite 303 of the courthouse |
| Driveway and culvert access | 911 Addressing Office, 3rd floor of the courthouse, then the Road & Bridge precinct |
| Utilities in county right-of-way | Road & Bridge Department and County Engineer, 1516 FM 166, Caldwell; 979-567-0076 |
| Subdivision plats | County Judge, County Engineer and the precinct Commissioner |
| Main county number | 979-567-2333, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
Cities and towns in Burleson County
- Caldwell: the city handles building permits and floodplain questions; the county gives 979-567-3271.
- Somerville: the city handles building permits and floodplain questions; the county gives 979-596-1122.
- Snook: the city handles building permits and floodplain questions; the county gives 979-272-3021.
When land in the county is inside a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the county requires that city’s approval notice before it accepts a plat.
Septic systems, floodplain and road permits
OSSF (septic) permits
The county applies its own OSSF order, which is stricter than the state rules on lot size. Since November 1, 2023, each single-family dwelling needs at least 1 acre with public water or 2 acres with a private well, and each unit of a duplex or other multi-family building counts as a separate dwelling. Lots subdivided before that date need at least 1/2 acre with public water or 1 acre without; a system on a lot under 1/2 acre must be designed by a Registered Sanitarian or Professional Engineer.
Only a licensed installer may build, alter or extend a septic system; owners may not install their own. Each structure served by a system needs its own physical address, and a new building can connect to an existing system only if that system was designed for both. Buying a property with an existing system means filing an OSSF application to transfer ownership, with floor plans so the county can check the sizing.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Floodplain permits
Burleson County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces a Flood Damage Prevention Order adopted June 23, 2008. Before building in a mapped floodplain, file the development permit application with the property’s legal description from the deed and one copy of the plans and specifications at Suite 303. You can check whether a lot is in the floodplain on the FEMA flood map.
Driveways, culverts and utilities
An access permit for a driveway onto a county road is free. Road & Bridge inspects the spot, sets the culvert size within 7 days and inspects the finished work. The county policy calls for a driveway at least 24 feet wide, a culvert of at least 16-gauge corrugated steel pipe and 24 feet long, and no concrete within 1 foot of the road edge. Utility companies notify the County Engineer before working in county right-of-way; approval can take up to two weeks and work must start within 60 days.
Burleson County permit fees
- OSSF permit: $330 residential, $540 commercial, paid by check or money order to Burleson County.
- Driveway access permit: no application fee; the owner pays for the pipe, rock backfill and installation.
- Subdivision plat: $3,000 plus $100 per lot; a simplified plat is $100, plus an $80 recording fee to the County Clerk on a separate check.
- Subdivision exception: $50 filing fee to the County Clerk.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a septic permit in Burleson County
The 911 Addressing office must issue or verify the physical address first, and its verification letter goes in the application.
The installer, or a site evaluator, engineer or sanitarian working with them, does the site and soil evaluation, picks the system and draws the design.
Bring the application packet, the installer’s Technical Information Sheet, the soil evaluation, design, any recorded affidavit or maintenance contract and the fee to the courthouse. Applications cannot be emailed, and screenshots of documents are not accepted.
The county’s designated representative must approve or deny the plans within 30 days and issues the authorization, valid for one year, to your installer.
The installer builds the system and calls for the construction inspection.
It is issued when the system passes; call the Environmental office if you have not received it within 7 days.
Inspections in Burleson County
Because the county cannot require building inspections, nobody inspects the house itself in the unincorporated area. The county does inspect what it permits: the septic system before a License to Operate is issued, and the driveway and culvert after installation, with any deficiencies to be fixed within six weeks. Floodplain plans are reviewed before construction starts.
Rather not deal with the Burleson County building department?
Get a free quote →Subdivisions, RV parks and new roads
The Subdivision Regulations approved March 18, 2025 cover manufactured home rental communities and RV parks as well as ordinary subdivisions, and septic permitting is part of them. Start with a pre-development meeting with the County Judge, then file the plat application with PDF and DWG copies of the plat showing water availability, sewage type, a floodplain study and drainage plan, plus any TxDOT access permit. New roads must be named, mapped and validated before addresses are issued, which can take 3 to 4 weeks. The County Engineering Design Guidelines were last updated November 10, 2025.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Burleson County official resources
- Burleson County construction permits
- Burleson County Environmental Department (septic)
- How to get a septic permit (November 2025)
- OSSF application packet
- Floodplain development permit application
- Flood Damage Prevention Order (2008)
- Driveway access permit and culvert policy
- Utility construction permit in county right-of-way
- Subdivision regulations and plat fees
- TCEQ on-site sewage facilities
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Burleson County permit FAQ
Do I need a building permit in Burleson County?
Not in the unincorporated county, which has no building code or inspections. Inside Caldwell, Somerville or Snook, contact the city for its building permit.
How much is a septic permit in Burleson County?
$330 for a residential system and $540 for a commercial one, paid by check or money order.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much land do I need for a septic system?
For land subdivided since November 1, 2023, at least 1 acre per home with public water or 2 acres with a private well.
Can I install my own septic system?
No. The county requires a licensed installer for every new, altered or extended system.
Do I need a floodplain permit?
Only for development inside a mapped floodplain. File it at Suite 303 of the courthouse before construction starts.
Is there a fee for a driveway culvert permit?
No. The access permit is free, but you pay for the culvert pipe and installation, and the county sets the pipe size.
Simplify Burleson County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Texas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Burleson County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Burleson County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Burleson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.