Navarro County regulates more than most Texas counties. Its Commissioners Court has applied Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code 233.151–233.157 to unincorporated areas, so a new house or duplex must be built to the 2008 International Residential Code, with three inspections by an inspector the builder hires and notice to the county before work starts. Navarro County Planning & Development also charges a Development Permit for construction outside the Richland Chambers lake zoning area, issues lake-area building permits inside it, and handles septic, floodplain, addressing and plats.
Navarro County sits on the I-45 corridor south of Dallas with Corsicana as the seat, and it contains a large share of Richland Chambers Reservoir — one of the biggest lakes in Texas. Lake-area development carries floodplain and septic siting constraints that inland parcels do not, and shoreline subdivisions frequently carry deed restrictions the county does not administer.
Growth pressure from the southern metroplex has reached the corridor, so city limits and extraterritorial jurisdictions around Corsicana have moved. A parcel that read as clearly rural a few years ago may not be now.
Covers unincorporated Navarro County. Corsicana, Kerens, Rice, Blooming Grove, Dawson, Frost, Mildred, Angus, Retreat, Oak Valley, Eureka, Richland, Barry, Navarro, Emhouse, Goodlow, and Powell handle their own territory — confirm whether the parcel is inside a city limit or an ETJ before assuming county rules apply.
Check every county record before you build. A rural Navarro County build needs a Development Permit (or a lake-area building permit within 5,000 feet of Richland Chambers), notice of residential construction, an OSSF permit before the septic goes in, floodplain compliance if the parcel touches a mapped hazard area, a plat if land is being divided, and an address before utilities connect. The county doubles all fees if construction begins before permits are issued.
What requires a county permit in Navarro County?
The question in unincorporated Navarro County is not which building permit you need. It is which environmental and land records your project triggers, whether the parcel touches Richland Chambers or a mapped floodplain, and whether it is genuinely outside every city limit.
On-site sewage carries the clearest statewide requirement. Texas requires a permit for any OSSF under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and TCEQ rules at 30 TAC 285, administered locally by an authorized agent.
Still required
- On-site sewage facility permit — required statewide
- Licensed site evaluation as part of the OSSF application
- Continuous maintenance contract on aerobic and surface application systems
- Floodplain development where the parcel touches a mapped hazard area
- Lake-area building permit and lakeshore zoning within 5,000 feet of Richland Chambers; Development Permit elsewhere
- Subdivision plat when land is divided
- 911 address assignment for new structures
- Driveway or culvert access onto a county road
Not required by the county
- County plan review — the county does not review plans
- County building inspections — the three required inspections are done by an inspector the builder hires
- County construction inspections across the trades
- County certificate of occupancy
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Navarro County building department: who handles permitting
Navarro County Planning & Development, 601 N. 13th Street, Suite 1, Corsicana (903-875-3311; Monday to Friday 8am–4:30pm, closed noon–1pm), runs the county’s permitting: Development Permits, lake-area building permits and zoning around Richland Chambers, notices of residential construction, septic permits as TCEQ authorized agent, floodplain development permits, 911 addressing, and subdivision plats for Commissioners Court. Within 2,000 feet of the Richland-Chambers flood pool, septic permits come from the Tarrant Regional Water District instead.
Confirm requirements with Planning & Development directly. It posts its applications, fee schedule, court orders and the lakeshore zoning ordinance online, and a phone call resolves in minutes what desk research leaves ambiguous.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Building permits | Development Permit ($300) outside the Richland Chambers zoning area; lake-area building permit inside it; 2008 IRC for new homes |
| OSSF / septic | Navarro County Planning & Development, as TCEQ authorized agent; Tarrant Regional Water District within 2,000 ft of the Richland-Chambers flood pool |
| Governing rules | Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 366 and TCEQ rules at 30 TAC 285 |
| Floodplain, plats, roads | Navarro County Planning & Development, 601 N. 13th Street, Suite 1, Corsicana (903-875-3311; Monday to Friday 8am–4:30pm, closed noon–1pm); plats approved by Commissioners Court |
| County seat | Corsicana |
| Reservoir | Richland Chambers — county lakeshore zoning and lake-area building permits within 5,000 ft |
| State oversight | TDLR for electrical and accessibility; State Fire Marshal for fire code |
| Inside city limits | Corsicana, Kerens, Rice, Blooming Grove, Dawson, Frost, Mildred, Angus, Retreat, Oak Valley, Eureka, Richland, Barry, Navarro, Emhouse, Goodlow, and Powell |
Confirm jurisdiction first and septic second. On a Richland Chambers parcel the septic setbacks from the water frequently decide where the house can sit, so establish that before committing to a site plan.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Navarro County authorized 380 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Navarro County permits: record types and what each covers
The permit-type question works differently in a Texas county. Navarro County has no adopted building code for unincorporated areas and issues no residential building permits, so there is no record-type matrix of the kind Corsicana maintains. What exists is a set of environmental and land records, with lake proximity adding considerations on shoreline parcels.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What Navarro County actually issues
| Record | What triggers it | Who administers it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSSF permit to construct | Installing, altering, repairing, or extending an on-site sewage facility where no public sewer is available | Navarro County Planning & Development | Required statewide; a site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or engineer is part of the application |
| OSSF license to operate | Issued after the permit to construct requirements are met and the system passes inspection | Navarro County Planning & Development | On a sale, the new owner should tell the permitting authority; TCEQ does not require an inspection |
| Floodplain development permit | Placing fill, setting a structure, or developing in or near a mapped special flood hazard area | Navarro County Planning & Development (floodplain development permits) | Substantial improvement and substantial damage rules attach to existing structures |
| Subdivision plat | Dividing land in the unincorporated county | Commissioners Court and county engineering | Road, drainage, and access standards apply |
| 911 address assignment | New structures and new access points needing an address | County addressing / emergency management | Usually a prerequisite for utility service |
| Right-of-way and driveway culvert | New or modified access onto a county road | County road and bridge / precinct | Culvert sizing set by drainage conditions |
| Water well registration | Drilling a water well | the applicable groundwater conservation district | Groundwater districts operate independently of the county |
| Ch. 233 commercial / multifamily | New commercial buildings, public buildings and apartment buildings of four or more units, and substantial improvements, where the county has adopted a fire code | Commissioners Court | Scope is set by county order; confirm adoption before assuming it applies |
County reaches this
- On-site sewage facilities, everywhere in the state
- Floodplain development and substantial improvement
- Subdivision of land and county road access
- Addressing, and fire code where separately adopted
County generally does not
- Issue residential building permits in unincorporated areas
- Conduct residential construction inspections
- Issue a residential certificate of occupancy
- Enforce a residential building code absent a county order adopting one
Solar permits in Navarro County
Inside Corsicana city limits the picture changes completely: the city permits solar like any other municipality. The jurisdiction question is the first question.
Roofing permits in Navarro County
Navarro County sits on the I-45 corridor south of Dallas in the North Texas hail belt, roughly 105 mph ultimate design wind speed under the codes regional cities adopt, far from the designated catastrophe area and outside any TDI windstorm requirement. Hail governs, and open reservoir exposure adds wind loading on shoreline structures.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Texas has no single statewide building code and no general contractor licence: state law sets base codes and each city adopts its own edition and amendments, while most counties issue no building permits for homes outside city limits. The statewide solar, HOA and roofing rules are on the Texas page. Texas rules
Navarro County permit cost and fees
Navarro County charges no building permit fees because it issues no building permits. Costs attach to OSSF permitting and its licensed site evaluation, floodplain permitting where applicable, platting, and road access.
The site evaluation is the line most often left out of an early budget. Blackland prairie soils across much of this county drain poorly, which frequently pushes a system toward aerobic treatment with its higher install cost and continuing maintenance obligation.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Development Permit $300; inside the Richland Chambers zoning area, lake-area building permit at 50¢ per sq ft |
| OSSF permit | $600 permit fee plus licensed site evaluation and system design |
| Aerobic system | Adds a continuous maintenance contract and a recorded affidavit |
| Floodplain development | County fee where applicable; elevation certificate may be required |
| Subdivision plat | Filing and review fees, plus survey and engineering |
| Road access / culvert | County fee plus materials and installation |
Planning a build in unincorporated Navarro County? Send us the parcel and scope and we’ll confirm jurisdiction and map the records that apply, starting with septic and floodplain.
Navarro County trade permits
There is no county trade permit program in unincorporated Navarro County. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is neither permitted nor inspected by the county. On-site sewage is the exception and it is permitted and inspected.
Electrical
No county permit or inspection. A TDLR-licensed electrician remains the standard, and TDLR retains enforcement authority in unincorporated areas.
Plumbing
No county permit for interior plumbing. The septic system is permitted through Navarro County Planning & Development with a licensed design behind it.
Mechanical / HVAC
No county permit or inspection. TDLR licensure applies to the contractor regardless of whether a permit exists.
Inside a city limit
Inside Corsicana, Kerens and the other cities, city rules govern trade work. Jurisdiction determines everything.
Rather not deal with the Navarro County building department?
Get a free quote →Navarro County permit application: how to apply step by step
Check against Corsicana, Kerens, Rice, Blooming Grove, Dawson, Frost, Mildred, Angus, Retreat, Oak Valley, Eureka, Richland, Barry, Navarro, Emhouse, Goodlow, and Powell, and their ETJs. The county posts a map of incorporated cities.
Determine whether the parcel touches a mapped special flood hazard area or carries Richland Chambers shoreline considerations before designing.
Soil testing on the specific parcel is required for OSSF permitting and determines system type. Blackland soils here frequently push toward aerobic treatment.
File with Navarro County Planning & Development at 601 N. 13th Street, Corsicana. Aerobic systems carry a continuous maintenance contract and a recorded affidavit.
Work platting through Commissioners Court if dividing land, obtain a 911 address, and permit driveway access onto county roads.
Before starting a new house, duplex or large addition, file the county’s Notice of Residential Construction, build to the 2008 IRC, and hire an approved inspector for the foundation, framing and final inspections.
Inspections in Navarro County
Navarro County staff do not inspect houses, but the county order requires three inspections on a new single-family house or duplex, or an addition that raises its size or value by more than half: at the foundation before concrete, at framing and mechanical before drywall, and on completion. The builder hires the inspector — a licensed engineer, registered architect, TREC-licensed inspector, ICC-certified residential combination inspector or another inspector listed in Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code 233.154. There is no county certificate of occupancy.
On-site sewage installations are inspected as part of the permitting process, and aerobic and surface application systems carry continuing maintenance and inspection obligations under state rules after the permit issues.
Private third-party inspection is worth considering on a new build. It gives a lender, insurer or future buyer independent documentation of the work.
Navarro County permit search and official resources
- Navarro County, Texas — official site
- TCEQ — getting a permit for an OSSF
- TCEQ — on-site sewage facilities for homeowners
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Frequently asked questions
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Navarro County?
Navarro County Planning & Development (903-875-3311). It issues the Development Permit, and lake-area building permits within 5,000 feet of Richland Chambers; takes the notice of residential construction required under the county’s IRC order; and issues septic, floodplain and address permits. Plats go to Commissioners Court and road access through the precincts. Inside Corsicana city limits, the city permits normally.
How do I get a permit in Navarro County?
Start by confirming the parcel is actually unincorporated, because that single question changes everything and a mailing address will not answer it. If it is, work the county’s own records: check first whether the county permit described above applies, then septic, since it constrains siting and carries the longest lead time, then floodplain, plat, addressing, and road access as the project triggers them.
What codes apply in Navarro County?
By county order under Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code 233.153, a new single-family house or duplex in unincorporated Navarro County, or an addition that increases its size or value by more than 50 percent, must conform to the International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2008. Manufactured and modular homes are excluded. State rules govern on-site sewage facilities, and the county’s flood damage prevention order governs development in mapped flood hazard areas. Inside city limits, the municipality’s adopted codes apply in full.
Does Navarro County issue building permits?
Partly. Outside the Richland Chambers lakeshore zoning area the county charges a $300 Development Permit; inside it, it issues lake-area building permits at 50¢ per square foot. New homes must also meet the 2008 IRC under the county’s Subchapter F order, with builder-hired inspections. The county does not review plans. Septic, floodplain, platting, addressing, and road access permits apply as well. Confirm current requirements directly with the county before relying on any summary.
Does building near Richland Chambers change the requirements?
It can. Within 5,000 feet of Richland Chambers the county applies its lakeshore zoning ordinance and requires a lake-area building permit. Shoreline parcels also carry floodplain considerations that inland lots do not, septic within 2,000 feet of the flood pool is permitted by the Tarrant Regional Water District, and lake-area subdivisions frequently carry deed restrictions and POA covenants that bind the owner regardless. Establish all of these before designing.
What about property inside Corsicana city limits?
Then the county guidance does not apply. Corsicana is the county seat and permits and inspects construction inside its limits as a normal municipal building department, and the smaller cities govern their own territory. Because I-45 corridor growth has pushed city limits and ETJs outward, confirm the parcel against current boundaries rather than relying on how the area was classified a few years ago.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Navarro County?
Ask the county first. Navarro County issues its own permits in unincorporated areas (see who handles permitting above), so confirm whether a solar job needs one. The electrical work must be done by a TDLR-licensed electrician, and the utility runs its own interconnection review and Permission to Operate. Inside a city, the city’s solar permit applies. Under Tex. Prop. Code §202.010, a homeowners' association cannot ban a solar energy device outright, but it may require prior architectural approval and impose reasonable placement conditions.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Does a roof replacement require a permit in Navarro County?
Ask the county first. Navarro County issues its own permits in unincorporated areas (see who handles permitting above), so confirm whether a reroof needs one; the county floodplain rules can also reach the work through substantial improvement. Inside a city, the city’s roofing permit rules apply. Tex. Prop. Code §202.011 bars an HOA from prohibiting wind or hail resistant shingles.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Navarro County?
In a Texas county it is the difference between no county jurisdiction and possible county jurisdiction. Residential construction in unincorporated Navarro County is largely outside county authority. New commercial, public-accessible, and multifamily buildings, plus substantial improvements, are the categories Local Government Code ch. 233 lets a county reach — but only where Commissioners Court has adopted that authority, so confirm it rather than assuming.
Do trade permits need to be pulled separately in Navarro County?
Not in unincorporated Navarro County — there is no county trade permit program and no county trade inspection. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work should still be performed by contractors licensed through TDLR and the TSBPE, and the septic connection is permitted and inspected separately. Inside city limits, trade permits work normally.
What happens if I file under the wrong permit type in Navarro County?
Because Navarro County does not run a building permit program, the more common failure is filing nothing at all — assuming that no building permit means no requirements, and missing the septic, floodplain, plat, or addressing record the project actually triggered. Those are enforced, and unwinding them after construction is materially harder than filing them in order.
Can I apply for all Navarro County permit types online?
Largely no. Navarro County Planning & Development posts its application forms, fee schedule and court orders online, but applications are filed with the office at 601 N. 13th Street in Corsicana rather than through a permitting portal. Confirm current requirements with the office before starting — fees double if construction begins first.
Simplify Navarro County permitting with Alliance Permitting
An I-45 corridor county with a major reservoir, lakeshore zoning, a county IRC order with builder-hired inspections, and septic that decides siting on shoreline parcels — Navarro County projects turn on jurisdiction and county records rather than plan review. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Navarro County: we settle both before design.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction through issuance. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of July 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with Navarro County before filing. This is not legal advice.