Census Bureau estimates for 2025 put 50,397 Hood County residents in the unincorporated balance of the county. Granbury is the largest city (13,263), followed by DeCordova (3,296) and Tolar (1,472); Lipan, Stockton Bend and the Hood County part of Cresson are the other incorporated places.
This guide covers Hood County’s development, floodplain, septic and plat rules and the City of Granbury. The county’s pages give two addresses for the Development office, both listed below.
What requires a permit in Hood County?
Hood County does not issue permits or perform inspections for residential home construction or remodeling. For a house (or a mobile home) in unincorporated Hood County you need:
- a septic permit from Hood County Environmental Health;
- a Road Access Permit from Hood County Road Operations;
- a Water Well Permit from the Upper Trinity district if drilling a well;
- possibly a floodplain development permit before any construction or excavating in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →A new business building needs a Site Development Permit Application to the Development Office under Section I of the Hood County Development Regulations; inside a city’s ETJ that city’s rules may also apply. In-ground swimming pools need a permit from Environmental Health.
Who handles permitting in Hood County?
Development Department (Development, Subdivision and Floodplain Regulations, platting and filing): the Development Director is at 5417 Acton Hwy, Granbury, 817-408-2515, Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed one hour for lunch. The floodplain page lists Floodplain Administrator Clint Head, CFM, 817-408-2515, at Hood County Development, 1402 W Pearl Street, Suite 2, Granbury, TX 76048.
Environmental Health: 5417 Acton Hwy, Granbury, 817-579-3288, Environmental@hoodcounty.texas.gov. An OSSF permit is required for every installation, modification and replacement.
Fire Marshal: Commissioners’ Court has made the County Fire Marshal responsible for NFPA855 compliance for Battery Energy Storage Systems.
Granbury: Building Inspections, Permits & Code Enforcement, 116 W. Bridge St., 682-279-8234, inspections@granbury.org.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Plats, septic and the Development Commission
The Hood County Development Commission meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in Hood County Annex #1, 1410 W. Pearl Street, Granbury. Under the county’s OSSF order, after the initial two-year service policy a homeowner may maintain the system serving their own homestead only after approved training, and must report testing results every four months.
Hood County permit costs and fees
- Preliminary plat (no floodplain): 1-4 lots $300.00 + $10.00 per lot; 5-19 lots $400.00 + $10.00 per lot; 20+ lots $800.00 + $10.00 per lot; with floodplain $600.00 + $100.00 per lot
- Final plat with an approved preliminary: $400.00; minor/amending plat or re-plat $300.00 + $25.00 per lot
- Floodplain Development Permit: $100.00 (variance request $60.00)
- On-site (septic) permit: $200.00 from Environmental Health
- Engineering review: the applicant pays 100% of the costs; starting before approval doubles the listed fees
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Building permits in Granbury
Only contractors and subcontractors registered with the city can obtain permits; mechanical, electrical and plumbing subcontractors pull their own permits. Applications, document uploads and inspection requests go through the city’s OpenGov portal. Since July 21, 2026 Granbury permits under the 2023 NEC and 2024 I-Codes, and the city must approve a form board survey before plumbing is installed in a new building.
Inspections in Hood County
On county land, Environmental Health permits, reviews and inspects septic systems; the county does not inspect houses. In Granbury all inspection requests go through OpenGov, and requests received by 4:30 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.
Official Hood County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Rather not deal with the Hood County building department?
Get a free quote →- Hood County Development FAQs
- Hood County development and plat fees
- Hood County floodplain
- Hood County Environmental Health
- Granbury Building Inspections, Permits & Code Enforcement
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a county building permit for a house in Hood County?
No. Hood County does not issue permits or perform inspections for residential home construction; you still need septic and road access permits and possibly a floodplain permit.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Does an in-ground pool need a county permit in Hood County?
Yes, from Hood County Environmental Health.
What happens if I start before approval?
Starting development or construction before approval doubles the listed fees.
Simplify Hood County permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Check whether the site is inside a city or on county land, and which office handles each permit there
- Prepare the county septic, floodplain, plat or road paperwork alongside any city building permit
- Track each approval and inspection through to the final sign-off
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →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 Hood County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Hood County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hood County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.