Montague County does not publish a building permit or building code for homes outside city limits. Its permits cover on-site sewage facilities, issued by the County’s sewage inspector at 940-531-2179 for $410 for a conventional system on a lot of at least 2 acres, floodplain development inside FEMA flood zones, and subdivision plats, which start at a $2,000 application fee. Inside Bowie and Nocona, the city handles building permits.
What approvals may apply in Montague County?
Building a house or barn on rural land does not require a county building permit, but these county approvals apply when the project calls for them:
County permits
- Septic system (OSSF): a County permit before any part of a system is installed; a single-family home on a septic system with public water or a private well needs at least 2 acres
- Floodplain development permit: required before any development in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, including new buildings, additions, clearing, fill, grading, drilling, roads and parking
- Subdivision plat: dividing land goes through the subdivision regulations approved May 28, 2024
- Manufactured home rental communities and RV parks: covered by separate County regulations and plat fees
Not a county permit
- A county building permit or building inspection for houses, shops or barns: the County publishes none
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits outside the cities: the County publishes none
- Work inside Bowie, Nocona or Saint Jo, which the city handles
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who administers local permitting?
In unincorporated Montague County, permits come from the County’s sewage inspector (septic), the floodplain administrator (flood zones) and the Commissioners Court (plats). The County Judge’s office is the general contact. The three cities each handle their own territory:
| Place (2025 population) | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Bowie (6,113) | City of Bowie: a pre-permit application for remodels, roofs, fences, irrigation, trade work and taps, plan review for new homes and commercial buildings, and Certificates of Occupancy; 940-872-1114 |
| Nocona (3,277) | City of Nocona: the city code adopts a building code and provides a plumbing inspector and a city electrician; City Hall, 102 Clay St., 940-825-3282 |
| Saint Jo (956) | The published sources do not say; ask city hall |
| Unincorporated Montague County | No county building permit; County septic, floodplain and plat approvals |
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Sewage inspector (OSSF permits) | 940-531-2179; Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| County Judge’s office | P.O. Box 475, Montague, TX 76251; 940-894-2401; fax 940-894-3999; Monday–Friday 8:00–5:00, closed 12:00–1:00 |
| Courthouse | 11339 TX-59, Montague, TX 76251 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic permits and county fees
The County is the permitting authority for septic systems. Its September 2025 permit process requires a site and soil evaluation by an engineer, sanitarian or licensed site evaluator, a system design by an engineer, sanitarian or licensed installer that the County approves, and a plat or survey showing the legal description and lot size. The County approves or denies an application within 30 days.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Conventional septic permit | $410 |
| Aerobic septic permit | $510 |
| Commercial or multi-unit septic permit | $560 |
| Floodplain permit or final plat engineering review | $275 minimum |
| Plat application | $2,000 |
| RV park application | $2,000 plus $10 per lot |
| Plat in a designated floodplain | $275 |
| Plat revision | $300 plus advertising if needed |
| Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District review | $1,500 |
| Recording a plat or revision (County Clerk) | $85 for the first page plus $5 per page |
Septic fees are paid in cash, check or money order. An aerobic system also needs a maintenance contract signed by the homeowner and a licensed maintenance provider, and a certified copy of the notarized affidavit to the public after it is filed with the County Clerk. Plat fees go to the County Clerk with the application, and anything due after approval within 10 days.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Six steps for a Montague County project
Inside Bowie or Nocona, start with the city’s permit process instead.
If any part of the work is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, file the County’s Floodplain Development Permit Application before starting.
A home on a septic system needs at least 2 acres under the County’s rules.
Hire a site evaluator, sanitarian or engineer for the soil work, and a designer the County will approve.
Submit the application, technical information, plat or survey and fee to the sewage inspector, and wait for approval before installing anything.
The system is inspected after installation and before it is covered.
Inspections and documentation
Septic: the County inspects each system after installation and before cover-up. Following the inspection, the County issues its notice of approval.
Flood zones: the floodplain administrator, or a designee, inspects during the project and at completion. Every new building in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs an elevation certificate showing the lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation, and some projects also need a substantial improvement determination, a floodproofing certificate or a no-rise certification from an engineer.
Rather not deal with the Montague County building department?
Get a free quote →Subdivisions: plat applications must include engineering plans sealed by a Texas professional engineer and the County’s road standards apply to new subdivision 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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Montague County official resources
- Montague County Sewage Inspector and OSSF forms
- OSSF permit process (September 2025)
- Application for installation of an on-site sewage facility
- Order adopting rules for on-site sewage facilities
- Floodplain Development Permit Application
- Subdivision Regulations (May 28, 2024)
- Manufactured Home Rental Community Regulations
- Court ordered policies and procedures
- City of Bowie permit applications
- City of Nocona Code, Chapter 3: Construction Codes and Standards
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Montague County permit FAQ
Do I need a county building permit to build a house in Montague County?
The County publishes no building permit for unincorporated areas. You still need a County septic permit if the house uses a septic system, and a floodplain development permit if it sits in a FEMA flood zone.
How much is a septic permit in Montague County?
$410 for a conventional system, $510 for an aerobic system and $560 for commercial or multi-unit systems.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What is the minimum lot size for a septic system?
2 acres per single-family home, whether water comes from a public system or a private well.
How long does the County take to approve a septic permit?
The County approves or denies a complete application within 30 days.
How much does it cost to plat a subdivision?
The plat application fee is $2,000, plus $1,500 for the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and recording fees at the County Clerk.
Who issues building permits in Bowie and Nocona?
Each city handles its own: Bowie through its online permit applications and plan review, and Nocona under the construction codes in its city code.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Montague County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.