In unincorporated Karnes County there is no county building permit, but every new development needs a Determination Development Permit from the Special Projects office, filed in the County’s iWorQ portal with a site plan and floor plan. Septic systems then need a County OSSF permit ($450 per tank for a home), and a new driveway onto a county road needs an entry permit. Inside Karnes City and Kenedy, the city issues building and trade permits.
What needs a county permit in Karnes County?
County approvals
- Determination Development Permit for all new development: new homes, residential and commercial projects, mobile homes, oil and gas well sites and pipelines, road crossings and waterlines
- On-site sewage facility (septic) permit for new, replacement and repaired systems, issued only after the development permit
- Entry (driveway) permit for an access drive on county right-of-way
- Road crossing and temporary waterline permits in county roads
- 9-1-1 address application
- Plat approval when land outside a city is subdivided
Not issued by the County
- Building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits for rural buildings
- Permits inside Karnes City, Kenedy, Runge or Falls City
- Driveway permits for tracts created in breach of the subdivision rules, unless a variance or non-standard plat was approved
Who issues permits in each part of Karnes County?
The County’s Special Projects office, 210 W. Calvert Ave., Suite 155, Karnes City, handles development, septic and road and bridge permits (830-780-3511, fax 830-780-2865; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m.). It is the TCEQ-authorized septic agent for the county, and its Designated Representative reviews septic plans and inspects systems.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Area | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Karnes City (county seat) | City Building Officials office at City Hall, 1007 N. Hwy 123 (830-780-3422, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.): building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits, valid 6 months (180 days). The City has no zoning ordinance. |
| Kenedy | City Building & Community Development, City Hall at 303 West Main Street (830-583-2230, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), with separate residential and commercial building permit applications. |
| Falls City | The City posts its own building, driveway, fence and right-of-way permit forms; City Hall 830-254-3242. |
| Runge | The published sources do not say; the town office is on 830-239-4121. |
| Unincorporated county | No building permit; County development, septic, driveway and plat rules apply. |
| A city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction | Subdivision plats are approved under the interlocal agreement between that city and the County. |
Karnes County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Septic (OSSF) permit, single-family home | $450 per tank |
| Septic (OSSF) permit, commercial | $500 per tank |
| Plat without roads | $100 per lot |
| Plat with roads | $3,000 + $100 per lot |
| Minimum for any new subdivision | $500 |
| Amending / revising / cancelling a plat | $200 / $100 per lot created / $100 per lot |
| Non-standard plat or variance | $100 |
| Recording a final plat with the County Clerk | $111 first page, $100 each additional page |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic fees are paid by personal check, cashier’s check or money order made out to Karnes County. The plat fees are Attachment 1 of the Subdivision and Development Rules approved on May 30, 2013, which note that fees are subject to change. The County’s permits page does not publish a fee for the development permit or driveway permit.
What each county application needs
- Determination Development Permit: applicant details, the 9-1-1 address (or a 9-1-1 address application first), subdivision, block and lot or the parcel ID and acreage, the flood map number and zone, the project type, and an uploaded hydraulic study, site plan or floor plan in PDF. A contractor with a current licence must be linked to the application.
- Septic permit: the application and technical sheet in the owner’s name, a deed or other proof of ownership, planning materials drawn to scale by a registered sanitarian or professional engineer (required for every system), soil tests from at least two excavations by a registered site evaluator, directions to the site and a copy of the installer’s licence.
- Entry permit: driveway site drawings, and whether the drive is permanent or a temporary construction entrance.
How to get county approval for a rural site
Apply in the iWorQ portal if the property has no address yet; the development permit asks for it.
Upload the site plan or floor plan and give the flood zone; this permit comes before any septic application.
A registered site evaluator does the soil tests and a registered sanitarian or engineer prepares the design.
Mail or deliver it to Special Projects. Once approved, the authorization to construct is good for one year.
File an entry application before building an access drive on county right-of-way.
Call Special Projects at least 5 working days before the septic system is covered, and 48 hours before pouring a permanent driveway.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →County inspections and septic rules
The Designated Representative inspects each septic installation before it is covered; call 830-780-3511 at least 5 working days ahead. If no final inspection has been made within one year of the authorization to construct, a new application and fee are required. Any change to the approved plans needs County approval before installation, and non-standard designs may be sent to TCEQ for review.
Aerobic systems need a recorded Affidavit to the Public and a maintenance contract for the first two years. For driveways, the County inspects permanent drives only and needs 48 hours’ notice before concrete is poured. Signs may not be placed on or over the road right-of-way, and fuel pumps, vendor stands, tanks or hydrants must sit at least 12 ft back from the right-of-way line.
Subdividing land in Karnes County
The Subdivision and Development Rules cover land outside the cities and set minimum lot sizes by utility type:
| Water and sewer | Standard spacing | Dense spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Public water and public sewer | No minimum | No minimum |
| Public water and conventional septic | 1 acre | 1/2 acre |
| Private well and public sewer | 1 acre | 1/2 acre |
| Private well and conventional septic | 2 acres | 1 acre |
Rather not deal with the Karnes County building department?
Get a free quote →Every plat must state that no structure may be occupied until a septic permit is obtained, unless it connects to a public sewer. Divisions are exempt from platting when the land is for agriculture, ranching, wildlife management or timber, when four or fewer parts go to relatives within the third degree, when every lot is over 10 acres, or when all lots are sold through the Veterans’ Land Board. A new subdivision application starts with 15 copies of the plat (18 x 24 in) showing contour lines, plus utility letters, tax certificates, a floodplain application and a drainage analysis. The County will not issue a driveway permit for a tract created in breach of these rules.
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 →Karnes County official resources
- Karnes County Special Projects and Permits
- Karnes County iWorQ permit portal
- Determination Development Permit application (portal)
- Driveway entry application (portal)
- Karnes County OSSF application packet (PDF)
- Karnes County OSSF installers list, 2025
- Karnes County Subdivision and Development Rules (PDF)
- Karnes County, Texas official website
- City of Karnes City building permits
- City of Kenedy Building and Community Development
- City of Falls City permits
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Karnes County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit for a house in rural Karnes County?
The County issues no building permit, but it requires a Determination Development Permit for all new development, and a septic permit if the house is not on a public sewer.
How much is a septic permit in Karnes County?
$450 per tank for a single-family home and $500 per tank for a commercial system.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Where do I apply for Karnes County permits?
Development, driveway, road crossing and 9-1-1 address applications are filed in the County’s iWorQ portal. Septic applications go to Special Projects at 210 W. Calvert Ave., Suite 155, Karnes City.
Who issues building permits in Karnes City?
The City’s Building Officials office at City Hall, 1007 N. Hwy 123 (830-780-3422). Its permits last 180 days.
Who issues building permits in Kenedy?
The City of Kenedy Building & Community Development department, which has separate residential and commercial applications.
Do I need a permit for a driveway onto a county road?
Yes. File an entry application in the portal; permanent drives are inspected, with 48 hours’ notice before the concrete pour.
How small can a lot be with a well and a septic system?
2 acres under standard spacing, or 1 acre where dense spacing applies.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Karnes County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.