Colorado County has no county building permit, no zoning and no certificate of occupancy for unincorporated land, but no construction may start there without a development permit from the County’s Floodplain Management / 9-1-1 Rural Addressing office (979-732-6380). A home costs $30 plus $10 for the 911 sign, a septic system needs its own OSSF permit ($250 for a house), and Columbus, Weimar and Eagle Lake each permit construction inside their limits.
What approvals apply outside the cities?
The County does not regulate the private use of land in unincorporated areas and does not issue letters of occupancy, so there is no county building permit or building inspection. The County’s development permit application states that no construction can begin without a development permit, and that a septic permit is needed for every septic installation or repair.
County approvals
- Development permit and 911 address for a new house, manufactured or modular home, or a substantial improvement
- Development permit for commercial buildings, cell towers, pipelines, water and oil wells
- OSSF permit for any new septic system, repair or tank replacement
- Elevation certificate for buildings in a mapped flood hazard area
- Culvert permit for a driveway onto a county road
- Right-of-way permit for work inside a county road right-of-way
- Plat approval to divide land
Not issued by the County
- Building permits or building inspections
- Zoning approvals
- Certificates or letters of occupancy
Who issues permits in Colorado County?
Outside the cities, the County’s permit office in Columbus handles development permits, 911 rural addressing, floodplain management and septic systems; TCEQ lists the County as its septic agent for the unincorporated area only, so a septic system inside Columbus, Eagle Lake or Weimar is permitted by TCEQ’s Region 12 office in Houston. Inside the three incorporated cities, the city issues building and trade permits:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place (2025 population) | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Columbus (3,821), county seat | City of Columbus: building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and demolition permits through the SmartGov Community Portal; contractors register first. City Hall, 605 Spring St., 979-732-2366 |
| Eagle Lake (3,546) | City of Eagle Lake: building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and manufactured home permits; City Building Official/Inspector 979-310-3065, City Hall 979-234-2640 |
| Weimar (2,197) | City of Weimar, with permitting and inspections handled by SAFEbuilt; City Hall, 106 E. Main St., 979-725-8554 |
| Unincorporated Colorado County | No building permit; County development permit, 911 address, floodplain review and OSSF permit |
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Floodplain Management / 9-1-1 Rural Addressing (development permits) | 305 Radio Lane, Columbus, TX 78934; 979-732-6380; ccpermits@co.colorado.tx.us |
| On-Site Sewage Facility (septic) office | 305 Radio Lane, Columbus; 979-732-2435 |
| County Judge (road right-of-way permits) | 400 Spring St., Room 107, Columbus; 979-732-2604 |
Development permit, septic and county fees
The owner must fill in and sign the development permit application and bring proof of ownership: the first page of the deed with the County Clerk’s stamps, or a current tax receipt. Staff may ask you to mark the planned entrance and building site. A green permit plaque is issued and must be visible from the road for the whole job, and the permit is good for one year to start construction. For commercial projects, the County sends the documents to an engineering firm to decide whether a drainage review is needed; if so, you pay that firm directly.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic systems follow their own process: apply and pay, have a soil survey and site evaluation done by a licensed site evaluator, registered sanitarian or engineer, and submit the design for approval. The County then issues a Permit to Construct to the installer, who must call for the final inspection before covering the system. Surface irrigation and spray aerobic systems need a two-year maintenance contract, and OSSF permits are valid for one year.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential development permit | $30 |
| Commercial development permit | $350 |
| 911 address sign | $10, plus $10 if mailed |
| OSSF permit: single-family home / commercial | $250 / $350, application and inspections included |
| OSSF minor repair: home / commercial | $75 / $100 |
| OSSF major repair or replacement: home / commercial | $250 / $350 |
| OSSF redesign / re-inspection | $50 each time / $100 |
| Road right-of-way permit | $100 ($1,000 for oil and gas), plus $500 per open cut |
| Preliminary plat | $300 plus $25 per lot for the first 50 lots, then $20 and $15 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Six steps for a Colorado County project
Inside Columbus, Weimar or Eagle Lake, apply to the city instead of the County for the building permit.
Bring the stamped deed page or a current tax receipt; the owner signs the application.
File the application at the permit office, 305 Radio Lane, and pay $30 for a home or $350 for commercial work, plus the sign.
The office records the flood zone; in a special flood hazard area, plan the lowest floor at least 12 inches above base flood elevation and supply an elevation certificate.
Apply for the OSSF permit, complete the site evaluation and get the design approved before the installer starts.
For access from a county road, ask the precinct commissioner for a culvert permit and install it within one year.
Inspections and flood rules
The County does not carry out building inspections. The inspections it does make are of septic systems: the installer schedules the final OSSF inspection, the system may not be covered until it passes, and the landowner then receives the final permit. A re-inspection costs $100 when the system is not ready or the visit is after hours or at a weekend. The precinct commissioner inspects driveway culverts after installation; driveway culverts must be at least 20 ft wide.
Under the County’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, re-adopted in November 2010 with the February 4, 2011 flood maps, new homes and substantial improvements in special flood hazard areas must have the lowest floor at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation, certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor. Inside the cities, building inspections are done by the city: in Weimar, email SAFEbuilt by 4 p.m. for a next-day inspection.
Rather not deal with the Colorado County building department?
Get a free quote →Dividing land in Colorado County
Subdivisions are governed by the County’s Development Regulations, revised June 26, 2006, which include road and drainage standards and manufactured home rules. A regular subdivision pays $300 plus a per-lot fee and any outside engineering review costs. A Limited Land Division of up to four lots plus a remainder tract, each at least one acre, has no County application fee, and the usual 52.8 ft frontage rule can be met instead with a recorded access easement at least 30 ft wide.
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 →Colorado County official resources
- Colorado County Floodplain Management, 911 Rural Addressing and Septic
- Residential 911 address and development permit process
- Commercial development permit process
- Development permit application
- County zoning and certificate of occupancy information
- Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
- OSSF permitting process
- OSSF fees
- County road use and permit forms
- Development and Subdivision Regulations (2006)
- City of Columbus permit applications
- City of Weimar building and permitting
- City of Eagle Lake code enforcement and permits
Colorado County permit FAQ
Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Colorado County?
No county building permit exists, but you need a County development permit ($30 for a home) before any construction starts, and an OSSF permit for a septic system.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a septic permit in Colorado County?
$250 for a single-family home and $350 for commercial, including the application, permit and inspections.
Does Colorado County have zoning?
No. The County has no zoning authority over the private use of land in unincorporated areas, and it does not issue certificates of occupancy.
Who issues building permits in Columbus, Weimar and Eagle Lake?
Each city: Columbus through its SmartGov portal, Weimar through SAFEbuilt, and Eagle Lake through its City Building Official.
How high must a house be built in a Colorado County floodplain?
The lowest floor must be at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation, with a certification from an engineer, architect or land surveyor.
Can I split my land without a full subdivision plat?
A Limited Land Division allows up to four lots of at least one acre plus a remainder tract, with no County application fee.
Simplify Colorado 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 Colorado County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Colorado County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Colorado County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.