Palo Pinto County does not issue building permits for houses or businesses outside city limits. In the unincorporated county, Public Works (100 SE 6th Ave, Suite 212, Mineral Wells; 940-659-1240) permits septic systems, from $260 for a standard system, and reviews subdivision plats, while the Office of Emergency Management handles floodplain development permits. Mineral Wells and Strawn run their own building permit offices.
What needs county approval in rural Palo Pinto County?
The county’s own pages list four approvals for land outside the cities. None of them is a building permit, and the county publishes no building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical inspection program.
County approvals
- On-site sewage facility (OSSF) permit: an authorization to construct is needed before any septic system is built or modified
- Floodplain development permit: for new buildings, additions, alterations, relocation, demolition, manufactured homes, fill, grading, drilling, culvert or road work and other development in a mapped flood hazard area
- Subdivision plat: for divisions that create two or more lots of 5 acres or less meant for homes
- 911 address: required for every habitable structure in the unincorporated county
Not county permits
- Building, trade and sign permits inside Mineral Wells, Strawn and the other cities
- Driveways onto state highways, which TxDOT approves
- Plat-exempt divisions such as agricultural tracts, lots all over 10 acres, up to four parts given or sold to relatives, and Veterans’ Land Board sales; these still have to be registered with the County Clerk
Under the subdivision rules, the county will not issue any permit it is authorized to issue for a property that does not comply with those rules, so an unplatted lot can hold up a septic or floodplain permit.
Who issues permits in Palo Pinto County?
The county seat is the town of Palo Pinto, where the courthouse is at 520 Oak Street (940-659-1253), but the permit offices work from the county building at 100 SE 6th Avenue in Mineral Wells.
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Get a free quote →| Approval | Office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Septic (OSSF) permits, subdivision plats, manufactured home and RV park standards | Public Works Department | Suite 212; office 940-659-1240, cell 940-329-3136 if the office line goes unanswered; publicworks@co.palo-pinto.tx.us |
| Floodplain development permits and elevation certificates | Office of Emergency Management (Floodplain Administrator) | Suite 203; 940-325-5762; Emergency Management Coordinator 940-329-1584; oem@co.palo-pinto.tx.us |
| Rural 911 addresses | 911 Addressing Coordinator | Suite 211; 940-659-1268; 911addressing@co.palo-pinto.tx.us |
Cities and towns in Palo Pinto County
The Census counts five incorporated cities in the county. Inside their limits the county offices above do not issue building permits.
- Mineral Wells (about 15,800 residents on the Palo Pinto County side; the city also reaches into Parker County): the City’s Development Services department takes building, trade, solar and sign permits online through GovWell and requires a registered contractor on every project. Inspection line 940-328-7715.
- Strawn (582): the City’s Building Permits & Inspections Department issues building permits and certificates of occupancy, reviews plans and inspects construction; forms come from City Hall, 118 East Housley Street (254-672-5311).
- Gordon (505): the City’s website gives City Hall at 105 E. Oak Street (254-693-5676) but publishes no permit information; ask City Hall.
- Graford (742) and Mingus (250): the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask city hall. The state floodplain directory lists the City Secretary as each town’s contact: Graford 940-664-2125, Mingus 254-672-5995.
Inside a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, county subdivision rules apply unless that city has a written agreement with the county to regulate plats there. Without an agreement, the plat goes through both the city and the county at the same time, the stricter standard applies, and the city must approve the plat before the Commissioners Court approves the final plat.
Palo Pinto County permit and plat fees
Public Works posts its septic inspection fees on its page, and the subdivision fees come from Appendix A of the Subdivision Regulations, in effect since July 1, 2022. The floodplain application says a permit is issued on payment of the designated fee, but the amount is not posted online.
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Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| OSSF permit, standard system | $260 |
| OSSF permit, alternative system with maintenance | $460 |
| OSSF transfer | $100 |
| Preliminary plat, 10 or more lots, subject to the model subdivision rules | $1,000 ($600 if exempt from those rules) |
| Final plat, any new subdivision or phase | $1,000 ($600 if exempt from the model rules) |
| Subdivision with new county-maintained roads, up to 25 lots | $6,000 extra |
| Subdivision with new county roads, 26 lots or more | $6,000 plus $125 for each lot over 25 |
| Plat amendment or replat with public hearing only | $600 |
| Replat with hearing and mailed notices | $600 plus $15 per notice |
| Replat with hearing, newspaper notice and mailed notices | $750 plus the advertising cost and $15 per notice |
| Plat amendment with no hearing or notices | $250 |
| Vacating a plat | $350 for 10 or more lots, $250 for 9 or fewer |
| Road closure or vacation application | $500 |
Plat fees are paid before the county reviews the request and are not refundable. County Clerk recording fees and tax certificate fees are charged separately.
Septic systems and floodplain permits outside the cities
Septic (OSSF)
TCEQ lists Palo Pinto County as its septic agent for the whole county except the Possum Kingdom Lake regulated area, where the Brazos River Authority issues septic permits from its office at 301 Observation Point Road, Graford. Inside Mineral Wells the City is a separate agent, but its septic program is also administered by the County’s Public Works. For a county permit, the owner or the owner’s agent applies to Public Works on the county’s Application for O.S.S.F. (new construction and modification) together with the planning materials, the results of a site evaluation and the fee. Variance requests go in with the application, and only complete forms are considered. Public Works also posts a property affidavit form and a list of installers.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Lot size limits in the subdivision rules depend on the water and sewer source: at least half an acre with a public water supply and septic, and at least 1 acre where a lot has both a private well and a septic system.
Floodplain
The 2026 floodplain application is emailed to oem@co.palo-pinto.tx.us or mailed to the Floodplain Administrator, Office of Emergency Management, 100 SE 6th Ave, Suite 203, Mineral Wells, TX 76067. The administrator first checks the FIRM panel: if the work is not in a special flood hazard area, no floodplain permit is needed. In a flood hazard area the administrator can ask for a site plan, scaled development plans showing the lowest floor elevation and floodproofing details, and, in a floodway, an engineer’s certification that the work will not raise the 100-year flood. Subdivisions or developments larger than 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever is less, must supply 100-year flood elevations.
A permit expires if work has not started within six months, and nothing may start before the permit is issued. A denied applicant receives a written list of deficiencies and can resubmit or ask the Commissioners Court for a hearing.
Trade work
The county posts no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit for unincorporated land. Inside Mineral Wells, trade contractors apply for their own permits in GovWell, linked to the general contractor’s parent permit.
How to start a rural Palo Pinto County project: 6 steps
Mineral Wells and Strawn permit buildings themselves; for Gordon, Graford and Mingus, call city hall. Only unincorporated land goes to the county offices.
A lot of 5 acres or less carved out for a home needs a recorded plat unless an exemption applies, and exempt divisions must be registered with the County Clerk.
Send the Address Request Form with a map or aerial marking the driveway, lot lines and house site; addresses follow the primary driveway, and a driveway onto a state road needs TxDOT approval first.
Email it to the Office of Emergency Management, which tells you whether the site is in a flood hazard area and what plans it needs.
Have the site evaluated and the system planned, then submit the OSSF application and fee to Public Works before construction starts.
In a flood zone, submit the FEMA Elevation Certificate from an engineer or surveyor so the county can issue its Certificate of Compliance before the building is used.
Rather not deal with the Palo Pinto County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections and sign-off in the county
No county inspector checks framing, wiring or plumbing on rural homes. The county’s inspections are tied to its own permits: Public Works charges its OSSF fees as inspection fees, and the floodplain application records up to three compliance inspections by the administrator.
For a building in a special flood hazard area, a registered professional engineer or licensed land surveyor completes the as-built FEMA Elevation Certificate, and the development may not be used or occupied until the county issues a Certificate of Compliance. Rural address numbers must be posted on the home, mailbox or gate in 4-inch reflective numbers.
Subdivision and road rules that shape a rural lot
Plat review: the County Engineer reviews each plat application and sends written comments within 10 business days if it is incomplete. The applicant has 30 days to answer, which can be extended by up to 60 more days; an application left unanswered is returned without a refund. Plats that lay out county-maintained streets need a meeting with the precinct commissioner, requested at least 30 days before the Commissioners Court meeting.
Setbacks: plats must show building lines of at least 10 feet front and rear on private streets and 25 feet on publicly maintained streets, 5 feet on the sides, and 5 feet from utility or pipeline easements.
Driveways: the County Road Commissioner approves driveways onto county roads, and TxDOT approves driveways onto state roads.
Parks and communities: manufactured home rental communities follow infrastructure standards approved on April 22, 2013, and RV parks follow requirements revised on February 25, 2019; both documents are posted by Public Works.
Want this handled start to finish?
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
Palo Pinto County official permit resources
- Palo Pinto County Public Works (septic and subdivisions)
- Palo Pinto County Subdivision Regulations with July 2022 fee schedule (PDF)
- Palo Pinto County Emergency Management and floodplain downloads
- Floodplain Development Permit Application 2026 (PDF)
- Palo Pinto County Hazard Mitigation
- Palo Pinto County 911 Addressing
- 911 Address Request Form and instructions (PDF)
- City of Mineral Wells Building Permits
- City of Strawn Building Permits & Inspections
- Texas floodplain administrator directory
- TCEQ: Getting a Septic Permit
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Palo Pinto County building and development FAQ
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Palo Pinto County?
No county building permit exists. A rural house still needs a septic permit from Public Works, a 911 address, and a floodplain permit if it sits in a mapped flood hazard area.
How much is a septic permit in Palo Pinto County?
$260 for a standard system and $460 for an alternative system with maintenance. Transferring a permit costs $100.
Where do I send a floodplain development application?
Email it to oem@co.palo-pinto.tx.us or mail it to the Floodplain Administrator, Office of Emergency Management, 100 SE 6th Ave, Suite 203, Mineral Wells, TX 76067.
Do I need a plat to split my land?
A division into two or more lots of 5 acres or less for homes needs a plat. Lots all over 10 acres, agricultural divisions and up to four parts for relatives are among the exemptions, but exempt divisions are still registered with the County Clerk.
Who issues building permits in Mineral Wells?
The City of Mineral Wells Development Services department, through its GovWell portal. It quotes 10–14 business days for plan review on new construction, remodels and solar.
Does Strawn issue its own building permits?
Yes. Strawn’s Building Permits & Inspections Department issues permits and certificates of occupancy; call City Hall at 254-672-5311 for the forms.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Palo Pinto County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.