Gonzales County does not issue building permits, has no zoning outside the cities and requires no certificate of occupancy unless a fire code inspection calls for one. For construction in the unincorporated county, the Gonzales County Permit Office (Office of Emergency Management and Fire Marshal, 1811 Water Street) issues floodplain permits ($100 for a home), septic permits ($310 for a conventional system) and driveway permits off county roads ($50 for a home), plus fire permits and plan review for commercial buildings and rental communities.
What needs a county permit in Gonzales County?
County permits
- Floodplain development permit for new buildings, additions, improvements, fill, grading, clearing or wells in a regulated floodplain
- Septic (OSSF) permit for a new or replacement system, and a repair permit for an existing one
- Driveway permit for a new or widened driveway, a culvert, paving a dirt drive, or any work between a county road and the fence line
- Bore permit for each pipeline or utility crossing under a county road
- Fire permits and plan review for commercial buildings and rental communities, including sprinklers, alarms, fuel tanks and large tents
- Plat approval to subdivide land, and permits for temporary water lines and seismic work
Not required by the county
- A building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit for a house or business outside city limits
- Zoning approval: the unincorporated county has none
- A certificate of occupancy, unless requested for fire code approval
- Driveway permits for adding gravel, seal coating or routine upkeep
Driveways onto state highways are permitted by TxDOT, not the county.
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in each part of Gonzales County?
The Census lists four incorporated places with residents in Gonzales County: the City of Gonzales (about 7,200 residents), part of Nixon (about 2,400; the rest of Nixon is in Wilson County), Waelder (about 950) and Smiley (about 500).
| Area | Who issues permits |
|---|---|
| City of Gonzales | The City’s Building Official, 1920 St. Joseph, 830-519-4920, takes applications (online or by email) for building, re-roof, demolition, moving and change-of-occupancy work; painting, minor repairs and fences of 6 ft or less are exempt |
| Nixon (Gonzales County part) | Nixon Code Compliance Department, 100 W. 3rd Street, 830-263-3699: construction permit applications go by email to codecompliance@nixon.texas.gov, and inspections are booked with the City’s inspector, Bureau Veritas (817-335-8111) |
| Smiley | The City of Smiley’s own building permit form (building, sign, demolition and moving), filed at City Hall, 207 Steele |
| Waelder | The published sources do not say how Waelder handles building permits; City Hall is on 830-788-7331. The county sends work inside any city’s limits or ETJ to that city. |
| Unincorporated county: floodplain, septic, driveways, road bores, fire | Gonzales County Permit Office (Office of Emergency Management, Fire Marshal and Permits), 1811 Water Street, Gonzales, TX 78629; 830-672-6209; permits@co.gonzales.tx.us; Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Subdivision plats | Commissioners Court, with applications filed at the County Judge’s office, Courthouse, 414 St. Joseph Street, Suite 200 |
| 9-1-1 addresses | Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission, as named on the county septic checklist |
| State highway driveways | TxDOT |
The county subdivision rules apply everywhere outside the cities except in a city’s ETJ where the county has a written policy handing subdivision review to that city or to joint city-county review. The County Fire Marshal, Jimmy Harless, CFM, is also the county’s designated representative who approves septic repair permits.
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Get a free quote →County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Floodplain development permit: residential / commercial | $100 / $350 |
| Septic permit: conventional system | $310 |
| Septic permit: aerobic or engineered system | $410 |
| Septic permit: commercial or industrial system | $510 |
| Septic repair or connection to an existing system / re-inspection | No charge / $50 |
| Driveway: home, or farm and ranch use | $50 |
| Driveway: mini-storage, mobile home or RV park, commercial business or pipeline | $400 |
| Driveway: oil field location | $1,000 |
| County road bore | $400 per crossing |
| Fire sprinkler system, 200 heads or fewer / more | $500 / $500 plus $0.50 per extra head |
| Fire alarm system, 50 devices or fewer | $200 |
| Flammable or combustible liquid tank | $150 per tank |
| Tent over 400 sq ft / over 600 sq ft | $50 / $100 |
Fire permits not approved before work starts cost three times the normal fee. The October 2024 subdivision rules also list $500 for a residential driveway with a 20-ft culvert and $1,000 with a longer culvert, which the June 2025 driveway checklist does not repeat; either way the owner supplies the culvert. Plat fees under the same rules run from $1,000 plus $75 per lot for a final plat with no new streets to $1,250 plus $100 per lot with streets, plus an engineer review fee of $1,500 plus $150 per lot.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to permit a new home in unincorporated Gonzales County
If the house site is in a regulated floodplain, file the floodplain development permit with a construction elevation certificate; approval takes 5–7 business days and lasts one year.
Bring the application, a map of the driveway location and the fee to the Permit Office before any driveway work, or apply to TxDOT on a state highway.
The address comes from the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission and is needed for the septic permit; post the reflective address sign at the driveway entrance.
A site evaluator, registered sanitarian or engineer reports on the soil; Type Ia or IV soils, floodplain sites and some subdivisions need an engineered design.
Submit the application, site evaluation, address, appraisal district abstract card, proof of ownership, driveway permit and, for aerobic systems, the recorded affidavit and maintenance contract; review takes about 5–7 working days.
The county inspects the system before it is covered, then grants the licence to operate.
Floodplain, septic and subdivision rules
Floodplain: no living space is allowed below the base flood elevation, only parking, access and storage; enclosures below it must be vented, and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment must sit above it. A finished construction elevation certificate is due when the building is complete, and the permit stays open until it is received. In the floodplain, the septic permit is not issued until the floodplain permit for the house is approved.
Rather not deal with the Gonzales County building department?
Get a free quote →Septic: a licence to construct expires after one year. Aerobic and other systems that need maintenance require a certificate recorded in the county deed records and a contract with an approved maintenance company; after a sale, the signed contract must reach the county within 30 days.
Subdivisions: the rules adopted October 28, 2024 set a minimum lot of 1.5 acres in rural subdivisions and a quarter acre in urban subdivisions. A plat is not needed when every lot is over 10 acres with at least 100 ft of road frontage, for agricultural, ranch, wildlife or timber use, or for a division into four or fewer lots for close relatives; the owner files an Affidavit of Land Location and Exception, which counts as denied until the county signs an order accepting it.
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 →Gonzales County official resources
- Gonzales County permits and forms
- Zoning and permitting letter, 2026 (PDF)
- Septic permit checklist and application (PDF)
- Floodplain development permit application (PDF)
- Driveway permit checklist and application, June 2025 (PDF)
- County road bore permit (PDF)
- Fire Marshal inspection fee sheet (PDF)
- Subdivision Rules and Regulations, October 2024 (PDF)
- City of Gonzales building permits and inspections
- City of Nixon Code Compliance Department
- City of Smiley permit forms
Gonzales County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Gonzales County?
No. The county issues no building permit and has no zoning outside the cities, but you may need a floodplain permit, a septic permit and a driveway permit.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a septic permit in Gonzales County?
$310 for a conventional system, $410 for an aerobic or engineered system and $510 for a commercial one. Repairs carry no fee.
How long does a septic permit take?
The Permit Office asks for 5–7 working days once the site evaluation and all documents are in.
Do I need a permit for a driveway off a county road?
Yes, for a new or widened driveway, a culvert or paving; the fee is $50 for a home. Adding gravel or seal coating needs no permit.
Does the county issue certificates of occupancy?
Only when one is requested for fire code inspection and approval.
Who handles permits inside the City of Gonzales?
The City of Gonzales Building Official at 1920 St. Joseph (830-519-4920). The county refers all work inside a city’s limits or ETJ to that city.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Gonzales County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.