DeWitt County’s own requirements sheet says no county permit is required for building or contractors outside city limits. What the county does permit runs through the County Judge’s Office at the courthouse, 307 N. Gonzales, Cuero (361-275-0916): floodplain development permits from $25 to $425, and driveway, pipeline and right-of-way permits on county roads. Septic systems are permitted by the Victoria County Public Health Department ($130 for a new DeWitt County system), and Cuero, Yoakum, Yorktown and Nordheim handle building inside their own limits.
What needs a county permit in DeWitt County?
County or health permit needed
- Building, adding to or substantially improving a structure, or placing a manufactured home, in a Special Flood Hazard Area
- Fill, grading, excavation, drainage work or watercourse changes in the floodplain
- A new or reconstructed driveway onto a county road
- Oil and gas well locations, pipelines and irrigation lines over 2 inches (floodplain permit regardless of flood zone), plus pipeline permits in county right-of-way
- A septic (on-site sewage) system
- RV parks and subdivisions, through the precinct commissioner
No county permit
- A house, barn or shop outside city limits and outside the floodplain (a $20 exemption package is available for structures the Floodplain Administration finds outside it)
- Contractor registration in the unincorporated county
- Driveways onto state highways, which go to TxDOT instead
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Manufactured home ownership and installation fall under the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and water wells under the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District (361-275-8188).
Who issues permits in DeWitt County?
| Office | What it handles |
|---|---|
| County Judge’s Office, DeWitt County Courthouse, 307 N. Gonzales, Cuero, TX 77954; 361-275-0916 | Floodplain regulations and floodplain development permits, county driveway permit forms, septic permit fee payment |
| Precinct commissioners (barns in Cuero, Yoakum and Yorktown) | Driveway permits and inspection on county roads, RV park and subdivision regulations |
| Victoria County Public Health Department, Environmental Services, 2805 N. Navarro, Victoria; 361-578-6281 | Septic (OSSF) applications, design review and inspections for DeWitt County |
| Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission; 361-578-1587 | 9-1-1 addresses |
| TxDOT Cuero office; 361-275-3821 | Driveways from state highways |
Cities and towns in DeWitt County
The county issues no building permits, so building, electrical and plumbing permits exist only inside the incorporated places:
- Cuero (county seat): the City’s Building Department at 212 E. Main issues construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, moving permits and zoning applications, with online filing and contractor registration through MGO; 361-275-6114 ext. 135.
- Yoakum (partly in DeWitt County, partly in Lavaca County): the City’s Inspection and Permits office takes applications through its online permit portal and enforces the 2021 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code; 361-293-6321.
- Yorktown: the City lists a Water/Utility/Permits Director at City Hall, 102 W. Main; 361-564-2611.
- Nordheim: the City’s website publishes no permit information; the City office is on 361-938-5223.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Outside these limits, including the cities’ ETJs, there is no county building permit or building inspection.
Septic systems in DeWitt County
DeWitt County’s septic program is run by the Victoria County Public Health Department’s Environmental Services division, which also covers Calhoun and Victoria Counties. Packets are available at the Cuero-DeWitt County Health Department, 106 N. Gonzales, Cuero, and at the Victoria office; completed applications go to Victoria in person, by mail or by fax. The fee for a new DeWitt County installation is $130, paid at the County Judge’s office in Cuero, and the receipt goes in with the application.
An application needs the signed application, the fee receipt, a property description with owner verification, a plat showing the system for lots of 2 acres or less, a soil and site evaluation by a certified evaluator or professional engineer, the system design with setbacks, wells, easements and water bodies marked, a floodplain certification or FEMA map location, and any required affidavit or maintenance contract. Systems inside a city’s ETJ may need a variance granted by the city council.
DeWitt County permit fees
The floodplain fees below were approved by Commissioners Court on October 22, 2018 and updated April 14, 2023.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial building in the flood hazard area | $425 |
| Home over 2,000 sq ft, or barn or shop over 2,000 sq ft | $225 |
| Home under 2,000 sq ft, manufactured home, or substantial improvement over 1,000 sq ft | $200 |
| Barn or shop under 1,000 sq ft without restroom, or substantial improvement under 1,000 sq ft | $50 |
| Barn, shop or portable building under 400 sq ft, or temporary permit | $25 |
| Oil and gas well location, pipeline, or irrigation line over 2 in | $20 application plus $300 permit |
| Engineering review beyond the initial review | $250 per hour |
| Permit package for a structure outside the flood hazard area | $20 |
| FIRMette map with information letter / FIRMette only | $10 / $10 |
| Septic system, new installation | $130 |
Inspections in DeWitt County
There are no county building inspections outside city limits. In the floodplain, the application records the base flood elevation and the proposed lowest floor and utility elevations; an addition or alteration worth 50% or more of the structure’s value makes the whole building a substantial improvement, and floodproofed non-residential buildings must be protected at least 1 ft above base flood elevation. Subdivisions of 50 lots or 5 acres must provide base flood elevation data.
Rather not deal with the DeWitt County building department?
Get a free quote →Driveway work on a county road is inspected and approved by the precinct commissioner. Before installing, have underground utilities marked through Dig-Tess (800-344-8377), and build within 90 days or the permit lapses. Commercial driveways must post reflective 911 address numbers at least 4 inches tall at the gate.
Septic systems are inspected by the Victoria County Public Health Department’s designated representatives.
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 →DeWitt County permit resources
- DeWitt County permits, regulations and applications
- Requirements and Regulations for DeWitt County
- Floodplain development permit fee schedule
- Floodplain development permit application
- County driveway access permit
- On-site sewage facility application packet
- City of Cuero inspections and permits
- City of Yoakum inspection and permits
- TCEQ on-site sewage facilities
DeWitt County permit FAQ
Do I need a building permit to build a house in unincorporated DeWitt County?
No. The county’s requirements sheet says no permit is required outside city limits. You may still need a floodplain permit, a septic permit and a county driveway permit.
Who issues septic permits in DeWitt County?
The Victoria County Public Health Department’s Environmental Services division (361-578-6281). The $130 fee for a new system is paid at the County Judge’s office in Cuero.
How much is a floodplain permit in DeWitt County?
From $25 for a small barn or portable building to $200 for a home under 2,000 sq ft, $225 for a larger home and $425 for a commercial building in the flood hazard area.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Cuero and Yoakum?
The cities themselves: Cuero’s Building Department at 212 E. Main (361-275-6114) and Yoakum’s Inspection and Permits office (361-293-6321).
Do I need a permit for a driveway onto a county road?
Yes. The County Commissioner for the precinct issues and inspects it, and it lapses if not built within 90 days. Driveways onto state highways go through TxDOT.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about DeWitt County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.