Dawson County, Texas Building Permit Guide

Dawson County has no county building permit or building code for unincorporated land. TCEQ lists the County as its authorized agent for septic (on-site sewage) permits everywhere in the county, Lamesa included, with the work handled through the South Plains Public Health District (806-559-8895). Building permits come from the City of Lamesa, whose Inspections Department issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits inside the city and takes applications online through iWorQ. Ackerly and O’Donnell, which straddle the county line, and tiny Los Ybanez publish nothing on permits.

Who issues building permits in Dawson County?

Dawson County has four incorporated places. What each one publishes about construction permits:

Building and trade permits in Lamesa

The Lamesa Inspections Department enforces the City’s construction codes and its zoning and subdivision ordinances, inspects residential and industrial construction and supports the Planning and Zoning Committee and the Board of Adjustments. Permits must be secured before work starts, by phone or in person by the contractor, or through the fillable application on the City’s iWorQ portal. The permit types the City lists are:

A contractor new to Lamesa fills out the City’s registration form and uploads it with the first permit application, and solar work is applied for on the electrical permit application. Since January 1, 2020, every out-of-town electrical, plumbing, mechanical or construction company must pull a permit for any work it does in Lamesa, and call for an inspection once the work is done.

Lamesa permit hours and septic systems

Lamesa’s inspection staff are in the office from 8 to 9 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and permits are issued only in those two windows; the rest of the day the inspectors are in the field and can be reached by cell phone or email.

Septic systems anywhere in Dawson County, inside Lamesa as well as on rural land, are permitted by the County as TCEQ’s authorized agent. The South Plains Public Health District posts the application and authorization to construct, which asks for the installer, site evaluator and (where needed) designer, a soil test hole at least 24 inches deeper than the drain field, and a scaled drawing of the system; a lot under 1 acre needs a variance.

Inspections in Lamesa

Give the Inspections Department 24 to 48 hours’ notice to schedule an inspection, by calling 806-872-2124 ext. 329 or emailing cityinspector@ci.lamesa.tx.us; permit holders can also find their permit on the iWorQ portal and request the inspection there. Certificates of Occupancy are among the permits the City issues. On unincorporated land the County publishes no building inspection service.

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

Dawson County permit search and official resources

• City of Lamesa permit process and permit types
• Lamesa iWorQ permit portal
• Lamesa Building Inspection contacts
• Lamesa Code Enforcement & Inspections
• Dawson County Judge
• Dawson County Clerk
• Dawson County official website
• South Plains Public Health District documents (septic application)
• TCEQ septic authorized agent search
• TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits

Dawson County permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit for a house in rural Dawson County?

No. The County has no building permit or building code for unincorporated land. A septic system does need a permit from the County’s on-site sewage program, run through the South Plains Public Health District (806-559-8895).

Who issues building permits in Lamesa?

The City of Lamesa Inspections Department at 601 S. 1st St. (806-872-2124 ext. 329). Applications can be filed through the City’s iWorQ portal or by the contractor by phone or in person.

When are permits issued in Lamesa?

Between 8 and 9 a.m. and between 1 and 2 p.m. on weekdays, when inspection staff are in the office.

How much notice does Lamesa need for an inspection?

24 to 48 hours.

Do out-of-town contractors need a Lamesa permit?

Yes. Since January 1, 2020, out-of-town electrical, plumbing, mechanical and construction companies must pull a permit for any work in Lamesa.

Simplify Dawson 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dawson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.