Houston County government publishes no building permit, building inspection or floodplain permit program for the unincorporated county. It is, however, TCEQ’s septic (OSSF) authorized agent for the unincorporated area and the City of Crockett, with its permit office at 1212 E. Houston Avenue in Crockett (936-544-7608). A rural owner also needs a 9-1-1 address from the county Addressing Coordinator (936-544-7427), the Commissioners Court’s rules for objects in county road right of way, and plat recording at the County Clerk ($120). Crockett, Grapeland and Kennard process building permits at their city halls.
What the county handles
County items
- A septic (OSSF) permit for a new or changed system in the unincorporated county or inside Crockett
- A 9-1-1 physical address for property in the unincorporated rural area, assigned by the Addressing Coordinator
- Mailboxes and other objects in county right of way, under a 2016 Commissioners Court order
- Recording plats and replats with the County Clerk, with a tax certificate and the approval of the Commissioners Court or the city, as required
Not listed by the county
- Building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits outside the cities
- A floodplain development permit or subdivision rules: no such page or form is posted
The Commissioners Court page lists a Community Service/Environmental Officer, whose report the court receives at its regular meetings; the county does not describe that office as issuing permits. On May 26, 2026 the court signed a petition to the Governor and state officials asking for data center safeguards, including permitting in unincorporated areas and drainage engineering for unplatted developments.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in each Houston County city?
Five incorporated cities lie in Houston County. What their official sources say:
| Area | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Grapeland | Grapeland City Hall processes applications for building permits, zoning requests and business licences. 202 South Main Street, 936-687-2115, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A 2017 ordinance (No. 171411) sets its fee schedule for development, construction and trade permits. |
| Kennard | The City’s website says its building permits and inspections office permits construction, reviews plans and issues certificates of occupancy; the completed application goes back to City Hall, 310 W Main St, 936-655-2248. |
| Crockett (county seat) | The City’s Building Official, who is also the code enforcement officer, issues building, electrical, plumbing, gas, house-moving and fence permits and inspects the work; the building and fence applications are on the City’s forms page. City Hall, 200 N. 5th St.; 936-544-5156 ext. 208. |
| Latexo, Lovelady | The published sources do not say; ask city hall (Lovelady 936-636-7313). |
| Unincorporated county | No county building permit is published. |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Courthouse (main number) | 401 East Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX 75835; 936-544-3255 |
| Commissioners Court | 401 East Goliad Avenue, Suite 202, Crockett; meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. |
| Precinct county barns | Precinct 1: 936-687-2381; Precinct 2: 936-544-5172; Precinct 3: 936-636-7178; Precinct 4: 936-655-2662 |
| 9-1-1 Addressing Coordinator | 600 Bradshaw, Crockett, TX 75835; 936-544-7427 |
| Septic (OSSF) permits, unincorporated county and Crockett | County OSSF office, 1212 E. Houston Avenue, Crockett, TX 75835; 936-544-7608; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
The county Fire Marshal investigates fires across the county and inside Crockett, Kennard, Latexo and Lovelady.
Houston County fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Recording a plat or map (tax certificate required) | $120 |
| Each extra plat page | $25 |
| Recording a replat (tax certificate required) | $70 |
A plat is recorded only after the Commissioners Court, or the city where city approval is required, has approved it. Building permit fees inside Grapeland follow the City’s 2017 permit fee ordinance.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to start a rural project in Houston County
Crockett, Grapeland, Kennard, Latexo and Lovelady are incorporated; everything else is unincorporated county with no county building permit.
The Addressing Coordinator will only assign an address to property with an established driveway.
Use the county’s online request form, giving the GPS coordinates of the driveway and the planned building in decimal degrees, the Houston County Appraisal District parcel ID and the road name.
Place it at least 3 feet from the driving surface, with the post behind the ditch so county equipment can keep the drainage clear.
Once the Commissioners Court or the city has approved a plat, record it with the County Clerk with a current tax certificate.
Crockett, Grapeland and Kennard take building permit applications at their city halls; a septic system in the county or in Crockett also needs the county’s OSSF permit.
Rural addressing and right-of-way rules
The 9-1-1 Addressing office assigns official physical addresses in the unincorporated area and keeps the county’s emergency map current for fire, police and EMS crews; the coordinator suggests calling or making an appointment if you are unsure what to send. Under the Commissioners Court’s May 24, 2016 order, the county can remove, or require the owner to move, any mailbox or other object in county right of way that is unsafe or creates a hazard.
Rather not deal with the Houston County building department?
Get a free quote →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
Houston County official resources
- Houston County website
- Houston County 9-1-1 Addressing
- Online 9-1-1 address request
- What to provide for a 9-1-1 address (PDF)
- Mailbox placement order (PDF)
- Houston County Commissioners Court
- County Clerk fee chart 2024 (PDF)
- Grapeland City Hall
- Grapeland city ordinances
- City of Kennard building permits and inspections
- City of Crockett: obtaining permits
- City of Crockett forms
- TCEQ authorized agent search
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Houston County permit FAQs
Does Houston County issue building permits?
No. The county posts no building permit or building inspection program for the unincorporated area; Crockett, Grapeland and Kennard handle permits inside their limits.
Who issues septic permits in Houston County?
The county’s OSSF office at 1212 E. Houston Avenue in Crockett (936-544-7608), for the unincorporated county and the City of Crockett.
How do I get an address for a new home in rural Houston County?
Submit the county’s online 9-1-1 address request with GPS coordinates, the appraisal district parcel ID and the road name. An established driveway is required first.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Grapeland?
Grapeland City Hall at 202 South Main Street processes building permit applications (936-687-2115).
How much does it cost to record a plat in Houston County?
$120 for a plat or map, plus $25 for each extra page, and $70 for a replat. A tax certificate must be filed with it.
Where can I put a mailbox on a county road?
At least 3 feet from the driving surface, with the post behind the ditch.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Houston County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.