Hill County does not publish a building permit or building inspection program for the unincorporated county. What it does require is a $100 Hill County Development Permit, which records the floodplain determination and assigns the 911 address, and a $600 septic (OSSF) permit from Development Services at 218 N Waco Street in Hillsboro (254-337-1210). Inside Hillsboro, the City issues its own building permits.
What needs a county permit in Hill County?
County permits
- Development Permit ($100) for residential construction, a mobile home, an RV park, a septic system, a tiny home community, a business, or a temporary or short-term rental community; it also covers a new 911 address
- Floodplain review on the same form: the Floodplain Administrator decides whether the site lies in the 100-year floodplain
- On-site sewage facility (septic) permit ($600) for new systems, replacement systems or tanks, re-hooking to a new structure and relocating spray heads
- Culvert permit under the county’s Culvert Setting Policy, applied for and paid through 911 Addressing
- Plat approval under the Hill County Subdivision Rules (2025) when land is divided
Not a county permit
- A county building permit or county building inspections: the county website lists none
- Construction inside a city that permits its own work, such as Hillsboro
Commercial and RV park septic systems must be approved by TCEQ as well as the county’s OSSF Designated Representative, and the county warns this can add substantial delay before an Authorization to Construct is issued.
Who issues permits in each part of Hill County?
The Census counts 14 incorporated places in Hill County. The table groups them by what official sources say about building permits.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Area | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Hillsboro (about 9,000 residents) | City of Hillsboro: all residential and commercial construction, accessory buildings and pools need City permits and inspections, which a third-party provider carries out. Inspection department, 955 Corsicana Hwy, 254-580-1144. |
| Whitney | City of Whitney: a permit is needed for any construction or alteration, contractors must register with the City, and SAFEbuilt (940-521-0470) and the Fire Inspector review plans and inspect. City Hall, 115 W. Jefferson, 254-694-2261. |
| Hubbard | City of Hubbard Building Permits and Inspections Department: permits, plan review, inspections and certificates of occupancy; Permit Clerk at City Hall, 118 N. Magnolia, 254-576-2576 ext. 202. |
| Itasca | City of Itasca Code Compliance and Planning & Zoning: residential and commercial building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, pool, fence and demolition applications and contractor registration; City Hall, 134 N. Hill St., 254-687-2201. |
| Abbott, Aquilla, Blum, Bynum, Carl’s Corner, Covington, Malone, Mertens, Mount Calm, Penelope | The published sources do not say; ask the town hall before building. |
| Unincorporated county | No county building permit. The county Development Permit, septic permit and culvert permit still apply. |
| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Development Services (OSSF permits) | 218 N Waco St, Hillsboro, TX 76645; 254-337-1210. Director: John Crawson, 254-283-6862 |
| Payments and OSSF Designated Representative | Support Services Building, 218 N Waco St; 254-283-6846; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| 911 Addressing (Development Permits, culverts) | Support Service Center, 218 N. Waco St.; 254-283-6846 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Hillsboro publishes a map of its city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction; the county’s subdivision rules include an affidavit stating whether a new subdivision lies within a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Hill County fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hill County Development Permit (includes the floodplain determination and 911 address) | $100 |
| OSSF Authorization to Construct, any system, residential or commercial | $600 |
Development Services takes cash, checks and debit or credit cards, with a convenience fee on card payments. The Development Permit fee can also be paid online or by a check made out to Hill County and mailed with the form. Culvert permits are paid through the county’s online payment link on the 911 Addressing page. An older 2022 septic form still linked on the county website shows lower fees through the Sheriff’s office; the January 2026 process and the $600 fee replace it.
Septic systems in Hill County
Since January 1, 2026, Development Services runs the whole septic process: applications and fees are taken at the Support Services Building, and once the fee is paid the OSSF Designated Representative coordinates every inspection. The application, which is the request for an Authorization to Construct, asks for:
- The deeded owner and the 911 site address, with the Development Permit number
- Proof of the legal description, such as the deed or a survey, and the property ID
- Whether water comes from a well or a provider
- The building’s size, whether it is site-built or a manufactured home, and the number of bedrooms (or employees and buildings for commercial use)
- The licensed site evaluator and the licensed installer
- The system design, which the installation must follow
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →An Authorization to Construct is valid for one year from issue unless revoked. The county posts a list of septic installers on its Development Services page.
How to start a project in unincorporated Hill County
Hillsboro, Whitney, Hubbard and Itasca permit work inside their limits, and Hillsboro maps its extraterritorial jurisdiction; for the other towns, ask town hall.
If the property has no established driveway, stake where the new one will go before applying.
Complete Section 1 of the form and email it to 911 Addressing or mail it to 218 N. Waco St., Hillsboro, with the $100 fee.
The county takes a GPS point for the 911 map, the Floodplain Administrator records whether the site is in the 100-year floodplain, and you receive the new address.
Submit the OSSF application with the site evaluation and design and pay $600 at the Support Services Building.
The OSSF Designated Representative schedules the septic inspections. If the driveway needs a culvert, apply under the county’s Culvert Setting Policy.
Rather not deal with the Hill County building department?
Get a free quote →Floodplain rules and inspections
When the Floodplain Administrator finds the site is in the 100-year floodplain, the permit sets an elevation in feet above mean sea level to which the project must be built or flood-proofed under the county’s Flood Damage Prevention Order. The application then needs plans showing the location, dimensions and lowest-floor elevations, an engineer’s or architect’s flood-proofing certificate for non-residential buildings, and details of any change to a waterway. The owner must provide an Elevation Certificate within 10 business days of finishing the foundation. A site found outside the floodplain is recorded as exempt from the order.
The county does not inspect houses or other buildings outside the cities. Its inspections are of septic systems, through the OSSF Designated Representative.
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 →Hill County official resources
- Hill County Development Services and OSSF permits
- OSSF permit application (PDF)
- Septic installer list (PDF)
- 911 Addressing, Development Permits and culverts
- Hill County Development Permit form (PDF)
- Culvert Setting Policy and permit application (PDF)
- Hill County Subdivision Rules 2025 (PDF)
- City of Hillsboro Building Inspection/Permits
- City of Whitney permits and building
- City of Hubbard building permits and inspections
- City of Itasca forms and applications
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Hill County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Hill County?
The county publishes no building permit, but a new house needs the $100 Hill County Development Permit (floodplain check and 911 address) and, with a septic system, a $600 OSSF permit.
How much is a septic permit in Hill County?
$600 for any system, residential or commercial, paid at the Support Services Building, 218 N Waco St in Hillsboro.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How do I get a 911 address in Hill County?
File the Development Permit with 911 Addressing and pay $100. The county takes a GPS point on site and contacts you with the address.
Who issues building permits in Hillsboro?
The City of Hillsboro, not the county. Its inspection department is at 955 Corsicana Hwy (254-580-1144).
Does Hill County regulate building in the floodplain?
Yes. The Development Permit includes a floodplain determination, and buildings in the 100-year floodplain must meet the elevation the permit sets, with an Elevation Certificate after the foundation is finished.
Why does my RV park septic permit take longer?
Septic systems for commercial use and RV parks need TCEQ approval as well as the county’s, which the county says can cause substantial delays.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hill County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.