Nueces County, Texas Building Permit Guide

Nueces County has no county building permit. In the unincorporated county, the Department of Public Works (Nueces County Courthouse, 901 Leopard St., Room 103, Corpus Christi; 361-888-0490) issues Floodplain Development Permits, approves driveways and utility lines in county roads, and reviews subdivision plats for the Commissioners Court. A driveway permit costs $550 and plats start at $990. Corpus Christi, Robstown, Port Aransas and the other cities issue building permits inside their own limits.

What needs a county approval in Nueces County?

Public Works describes its job as managing development in the rural parts of the county through subdivision rules, floodplain permits and permits for utilities in county rights-of-way. Outside city limits that means:

Who handles permits in Nueces County?

Fees are paid by check to Nueces County.

Cities and towns in Nueces County

• Corpus Christi (317,241 residents in the county): the City’s Development Services Department issues building permits inside city limits.
• Robstown (10,324): the City has its own Inspections Department, which posts a 2026 fee schedule, a notice of code adoption and a list of permits, and a Plumbing/Electrical/Mechanical Board.
• Port Aransas (3,773): the City’s Development Services Department has a Building Official and takes building permit applications online; call 361-749-4111.
• Bishop (3,040): the City issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fence and demolition permits from City Hall, 203 E. Main St. (361-584-2567). Its fee schedule adopted October 1, 2025 charges a $60 building inspection fee plus 48 cents per sq ft of living area (24 cents for non-living area, $70 minimum); permits expire after 90 days, inspections need 24–48 hours’ notice, and contractors must register with the City ($150 a year).
• Agua Dulce (662) and Petronila (65): the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask city hall. The state floodplain directory lists 361-246-6717 for Agua Dulce.
• Driscoll (665): the City’s website has no permit page; City Hall is at 133 W. Dragon St. (361-387-3011).
• Aransas Pass, Ingleside and Portland lie almost entirely in San Patricio County (the Census counts 17 Aransas Pass residents and none from the other two on the Nueces side). Ingleside’s Development Services issues permits throughout that city (361-776-3815), Aransas Pass has its own Building Department and Portland its own Development Services.

Septic, wells and utilities outside the cities

Septic: TCEQ lists Nueces County as the authorized agent for on-site sewage systems across the county, with the work done by the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District; Port Aransas is covered by Nueces County WCID 4 instead. A septic system permit is one of the attachments the county’s floodplain permit application asks for, along with a ground well water supply permit where one applies.

Utility connections: on a floodplain permit, final utility connections may not be made until the County Engineer has approved the building as compliant with the flood ordinance, and utility companies are told of that rule.

Lines in county roads: utilities and pipelines file a Notice of Proposed Utility Line with a map and detailed plans, and no work starts in the right-of-way until the County Engineer approves it and the utility permit fee is paid. A copy of the approved notice stays on the job site.

Trade permits: the county issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits; inside a city, the city handles them.

Nueces County Public Works fees

The schedule does not list a separate fee for a single-structure floodplain permit.

How to build outside the cities: 6 steps

Floodplain, driveway and coastal requirements

Floodplain: the 2022 Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance applies only outside city limits. A new or substantially improved home in a flood hazard area must have its lowest floor, including any basement, at or above the base flood elevation, certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor. The owner furnishes an elevation certificate before the permit is issued. Variances from the ordinance are decided by the Commissioners Court on a showing of undue hardship.

Driveways: private driveways may be up to 24 feet wide and commercial driveways up to 45 feet. Driveway pipe is reinforced concrete with 6:1 sloped ends, and the owner pays for the pipe. For an approved private driveway, Public Works installs the culvert pipe and the fill and base inside the right-of-way; in subdivisions platted after December 2006 the developer or lot owner builds the driveway to the subdivision standards, and commercial owners pay for all material and installation.

Mustang and Padre islands: parts of the barrier islands are coastal high hazard areas with special construction requirements, and the county’s Beach Management Plan can apply where sand dunes are regulated by state law.

The county carries out no building inspections; it inspects work in its rights-of-way, such as utility lines, during construction.

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

Nueces County official permitting resources

• Nueces County floodplain development
• Nueces County Floodplain Development Permit application
• Nueces County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (2022)
• Nueces County Public Works schedule of fees
• Nueces County driveway permits
• Nueces County subdivision and platting requirements
• Nueces County utility line installation
• City of Corpus Christi Development Services
• TCEQ on-site sewage permits

Nueces County building permit FAQ

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

The county issues no building permit. You may need a Floodplain Development Permit, a septic permit and a $550 driveway permit from Public Works if the house is in a flood hazard area and takes access from a county road.

When is a county floodplain development permit required?

Whenever a structure is built or land is altered in a mapped flood hazard area outside city limits, and an elevation certificate must be provided before the permit is issued.

How high must a house be built in a Nueces County flood zone?

The lowest floor must be at or above the base flood elevation, certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor.

How much does it cost to plat land in Nueces County?

The plat application fee is $990 under 1 acre, $1,430 for 1 to 5 acres and $1,870 over 5 acres, with construction plan review and inspection fees on top when improvements are built.

Who issues building permits in Corpus Christi and Robstown?

Each city: Corpus Christi’s Development Services at 2406 Leopard Street (361-826-3240), and Robstown’s Inspections Department.

Where is the Public Works office?

Nueces County Courthouse, 901 Leopard St., 1st floor, Room 103, Corpus Christi; 361-888-0490, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m.

Simplify Nueces 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 Nueces County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.