Kleberg County, Texas Building Permit Guide

Kleberg County does not issue building permits or enforce a building code outside city limits. In the unincorporated county the approvals that apply are a septic (OSSF) permit, issued for the county by the City of Kingsville Health Department for $235, a rural 911 address from the county, and the county’s floodplain sign-off. Inside Kingsville, the City’s Building Services Division issues all building and trade permits.

What approvals apply in unincorporated Kleberg County?

The county’s 2024 Hazard Mitigation Action Plan states that the county defers to the State of Texas on building codes and has no code enforcement in place, so there is no county plan review, building permit or building inspection for a house or barn outside the cities. What a rural owner does need:

The county takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, but the same plan notes that it has not yet adopted a flood damage prevention ordinance and lists actions to address that. The plan counts three repetitive flood-loss homes in the unincorporated county.

Who issues permits in Kleberg County?

The Census lists two cities in Kleberg County. Each issues its own building permits; the county issues none.

Kingsville’s subdivision regulations apply up to 2 miles beyond its city limits, in its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Dividing land there means platting under the City’s rules, and the City’s drainage design guide applies, with the stricter of its criteria and those of Kleberg County Drainage District No. 1 or TxDOT governing. The City’s building code itself applies within its corporate limits.

Septic permits for rural Kleberg County

The City of Kingsville Health Department reviews septic applications for Kleberg County under rules adopted by the Commissioners Court; TCEQ lists the county as the authorized agent for the entire county, Kingsville included, with the program run by the City’s Environmental Health staff. Its permit sheet sets one fee, $235, for every on-site sewage facility.

• A professional engineer or registered site evaluator does the required soil and site evaluation.
• Planning materials are prepared by an appropriate designer; proprietary and non-standard systems need a registered sanitarian or professional engineer, and TCEQ staff in Austin may review non-standard plans.
• The application goes in the property owner’s name with the planning materials, the site and soil evaluation, the signed form and directions to the site.
• Once approved, an Authorization to Construct is issued, valid for one year.
• The installation must be inspected before it is covered. The permit sheet asks for at least 5 working days’ notice; the Health Department’s web page says 48 working hours.
• After a passed inspection the permit is mailed to the owner.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work outside the cities has no county permit; inside Kingsville, each licensed trade contractor buys a separate City permit.

Building on rural land in Kleberg County: the steps

Inspections in the unincorporated county

With no county building code, the only county-side inspection is the septic installation check by the Health Department’s designated representative before the system is covered. Inside Kingsville, the City’s Building Services Division inspects footings, framing, trades and finals, and bills each inspection separately.

For the rural address, the form asks which side of the road (north, south, east or west) the address will be on, whether the driveway is shared and with which address, and the distance to the nearest addresses and roads.

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

Kleberg County official permit resources

• Kleberg County Officials Directory
• Kleberg County Emergency Management / 9-1-1 Addressing
• Kleberg County Rural Address Application Form
• Kleberg County 2024 Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Update
• City of Kingsville Health Department: On-Site Sewage Facilities
• How to obtain an OSSF permit (Kingsville Health Department / Kleberg County)
• City of Kingsville Planning & Development Services
• City of Kingsville subdivision regulations (ETJ)
• City of Corpus Christi Development Services
• TCEQ: Getting a Septic Permit

Kleberg County permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit to build a house in unincorporated Kleberg County?

No county building permit exists; the county enforces no building code. You still need a septic permit, a rural address and the floodplain building permit the county’s address form refers to.

Who issues septic permits in Kleberg County?

The City of Kingsville Health Department, as Kleberg County’s designated representative. The fee is $235 for any on-site sewage facility; call 361-592-3324.

How long is a septic Authorization to Construct good for?

One year from the date it is issued.

How do I get a rural address in Kleberg County?

Send the Rural Address Application to the 911 Addressing Coordinator at the courthouse, 700 E. Kleberg Ave. (361-595-8593), with the legal description and directions to the site.

Who issues building permits in Kingsville?

The City of Kingsville’s Building Services Division at 410 W. King (361-595-8019), for all work inside city limits.

Does Kingsville regulate land outside its city limits?

Its subdivision and drainage rules reach 2 miles beyond the city limits, so land divided there is platted under City rules, while the City’s building code applies inside its corporate limits.

Simplify Kleberg County permitting with Alliance Permitting

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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kleberg County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.