Madison County issues no building permit for homes outside city limits, but its Rural Development offices issue the permits a rural build depends on: septic ($400 for a home), a $30 electric service permit that the power company needs before connecting, floodplain development permits, driveway permits and 911 addresses. Madisonville issues its own building permits inside the city.
What needs a county permit in Madison County?
County permit or form
- Septic system (OSSF): new systems and modifications
- Electric service permit for a temporary pole or permanent connection
- Solar electric service waiver
- Floodplain development permit for any work in a mapped flood zone, including fill, clearing, pipelines and well sites
- Driveway access permit for a new entrance onto a county road
- 911 physical address
- Road use, pipeline and water line agreements for work affecting county roads
No county permit
- Building permit or building inspections for a house, barn or barndominium outside city limits
- Electrical wiring, plumbing or mechanical trade permits outside city limits
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Madison County?
| Area or work | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| City of Madisonville | The City: building and trade permits, plan review and inspections; City Hall, 210 W. Cottonwood St., 936-348-2748 |
| City of Midway | The City’s Building Permits & Inspections Department issues residential and commercial permits, reviews plans, inspects and issues certificates of occupancy; permit applications, contractor registration and inspection requests go through the City’s online Vertex portal. City Hall, 12250 Hwy 21 E, 936-348-6800 |
| Normangee (Madison County part) | The City posts only a mobile-home-as-dwelling permit application and its manufactured home ordinance, nothing on building permits; ask City Hall, 936-396-3691 |
| Septic systems outside the cities | Wastewater Office (Designated Representative), 101 W. Main, Suite B-22, Madisonville, 936-348-2152 |
| Floodplain, electric service, solar and 911 addressing | Rural Development / Floodplain, 101 W. Main, Suite B-13, Madisonville, 936-348-3810 |
| Driveways on county roads | County Commissioner for the precinct |
| Driveways on state highways | TxDOT |
The Wastewater Office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The courthouse is at 101 West Main Street, Madisonville (main line 936-241-6200). Madison County is TCEQ’s authorized agent for septic systems across the county except inside the City of Midway, and approved 79 systems in 2025 according to TCEQ’s report on authorized agents.
Electric service permits and trades
Outside the cities the county publishes no electrical, plumbing or mechanical trade permit, but it does control when power is connected. The Electric Service Permit ($30, cash, check or money order) covers a temporary pole or a permanent connection with Entergy, Mid-South, Houston County or Navasota Electric. Before you file it, the county septic inspector must sign the form to confirm whether a septic permit is needed (936-241-6200 ext. 1220). The office then checks the floodplain and the 911 address and notifies the power company.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →An application that still does not meet the development rules after six months can be closed without a permit, and an approved permit is valid for one year. Solar connections use the Solar Electric Service Waiver instead, with the installer’s TDLR number and a scope of work for each location.
Inside Madisonville, the City permits and inspects electrical, plumbing and mechanical work under the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2021 International codes.
Madison County permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Septic, residential (from October 1, 2025) | $400 |
| Septic, residential modification | $200 |
| Septic, commercial | $600 |
| Septic, commercial modification | $300 |
| Electric service permit | $30 |
Septic fees are paid by check or money order to Madison County; the Wastewater Office does not take cash. The site evaluation and system design are paid separately to the site evaluator or registered sanitarian, and installation to the installer. Culverts for a new driveway are bought and installed by the owner.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic, floodplain and driveway steps
Hire a site evaluator or registered sanitarian to test the soil and design the system; the county posts a partial list of evaluators, installers and designers.
Hire a TCEQ-licensed installer, then send the evaluation and plan of design to the Designated Representative, who must approve them before any installation starts.
Pay at 101 W. Main, Suite B-22; an aerobic system also needs the notarized affidavit and a two-year maintenance contract, and the owner must keep a maintenance contract after that.
The installer calls the Designated Representative for the final inspection, after which the county issues a notice of approval to operate.
Submit a scaled site plan, development plans with the lowest floor elevation and a flood emergency plan for the construction period. Work must start within six months, and the building may not be used until a Certificate of Compliance is issued.
File the driveway application with a survey or site map; the precinct commissioner approves the plan and makes the final inspection. Culverts must be at least 24 feet long and 15 inches across. Send a copy to Rural Development with the 911 address request, which takes 7–10 working days and needs a drawing of current and future structures and driveways.
Madisonville: plan review for new construction and large remodels takes up to 14 days. Every City permit needs at least a final inspection; inspections run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and are usually done the next business day. Contractor registration with the City is free and renewed each year.
Rather not deal with the Madison 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
Madison County permit search and official resources
County forms and city pages:
- Madison County permits and application forms
- Madison County Wastewater Office
- Madison County OSSF permit fees (October 2025)
- Madison County electric service permit application
- Madison County Floodplain
- Madison County floodplain development permit application
- Madison County driveway access permit and policy
- Madison County 911 physical address request
- City of Madisonville forms and permits
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Madison County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Madison County?
The county lists no building permit for homes or barns outside city limits. A septic permit, an electric service permit, a 911 address and, in a flood zone, a floodplain permit still apply.
How much is a septic permit in Madison County?
$400 for a new residential system and $600 for commercial since October 1, 2025, payable by check or money order.
Why do I need a county permit to get electricity?
The county’s $30 electric service permit confirms the septic, floodplain and 911 address checks before it notifies the power company to set a temporary pole or permanent service.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How long does a 911 address take?
Allow 7–10 working days after the request and site drawing reach Rural Development (936-348-3810).
Who approves a new driveway onto a county road?
The county commissioner for that precinct approves the plan and inspects the finished driveway; a state highway needs a TxDOT permit.
How long is plan review in Madisonville?
Up to 14 days for new construction and large remodel or renovation projects, according to the City’s permit page.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Madison County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.