Panola County does not issue building permits, and its website lists no permit office, form or fee for construction outside the cities. The county offices a rural builder deals with are 911 Rural Addressing, Road & Bridge and the Fire Marshal, who is the county’s floodplain administrator in the state directory. Inside Carthage, the City’s Inspection/Permit Department (903-693-3868) issues building permits.
What the county handles outside city limits
The county’s office pages describe services rather than permits:
County contacts for rural sites
- 911 Rural Addressing assigns official addresses to rural properties so emergency services can find them
- Road & Bridge maintains county roads
- Fire Marshal (Emergency Management) is listed by the Texas Water Development Board as the county’s floodplain administrator
- County Surveyor for survey records
Not published by the county
- A county building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit
- A county septic (OSSF) program; TCEQ’s Tyler regional office permits septic systems instead
- Subdivision regulations, floodplain forms or a fee schedule
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| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse switchboard | 110 Sycamore St. | 903-693-0300 |
| County Judge | 110 S. Sycamore, Room 216-A | 903-693-0391 |
| Fire Marshal / Emergency Management (floodplain) | Not listed; fax 903-693-9618 | 903-690-1666 |
| 911 Rural Addressing | 316 W. Sabine St. | 903-693-9100 |
| Road & Bridge | 1121 E. Sabine St. | 903-693-3763 |
| County Surveyor | 311 W. Sabine St. | 903-693-6135 |
Cities and towns in Panola County
The Census counts four incorporated places with land in the county.
- Carthage (6,640), the county seat: the Inspection/Permit Department at City Hall, 812 W. Panola Street, issues building permits; John Ramsey is the Building Official (903-693-3868), and the City Fire Marshal is at 903-693-5282. City Hall is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon.
- Tatum (187 residents on the Panola side; most of the city is in Rusk County): the City takes permit applications by email to permits@tatum.texas.gov, a permit clerk follows up with payment instructions, and permits are generally issued in 48–72 hours. City Hall: 903-803-3580.
- Beckville (745) and Gary City (343): the published sources do not say who issues building permits there; ask city hall. The East Texas Council of Governments lists Beckville at 903-678-3661 and Gary City at 903-685-2225.
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Get a free quote →Septic, floodplain and trade work in the unincorporated county
Septic: Panola County has no local authorized agent for on-site sewage systems. TCEQ’s Region 5 office in Tyler issues septic permits for all of Panola County: 2916 Teague Drive, Tyler, TX 75701; 903-535-5100; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Floodplain: the Fire Marshal at 903-690-1666 is the county’s listed floodplain administrator; the county posts no floodplain ordinance or permit form online.
Trades: there is no county electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. Inside Carthage, the Inspection/Permit Department posts a residential electrical inspection checklist and separate permits for alarm and sprinkler systems, signs, demolition and house moving.
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Inside Carthage or Tatum, apply to the city. In Beckville or Gary City, call city hall.
Outside the cities, 911 Rural Addressing (903-693-9100) issues the official address for a new home site.
If the land may lie in a mapped flood zone, call the county’s floodplain contact at 903-690-1666 before building.
County road maintenance questions go to Road & Bridge at 1121 E. Sabine Street (903-693-3763).
Inspections
The county publishes no building inspection program, so a house in the unincorporated county is not inspected by a county building inspector. In Carthage, the City’s inspectors check permitted work, and its electrical checklist asks that the job address be posted where it can be seen and that the permit and approved plans be on site when the inspector arrives.
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
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Get a free quote →Panola County official permit resources
- Panola County official website
- Panola County Emergency Management and Fire Marshal
- Panola County 911 Rural Addressing
- Panola County Road & Bridge
- City of Carthage Inspection/Permit Department
- City of Tatum permit forms
- Texas floodplain administrator directory
- TCEQ: Getting a Septic Permit
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Get a free quote →Panola County building and development FAQ
Do I need a county building permit to build a house in Panola County?
No. The county has no building permit program for unincorporated land. Inside Carthage and Tatum you need a city permit.
Who issues building permits in Carthage?
The City of Carthage Inspection/Permit Department at 812 W. Panola Street. Building Official John Ramsey can be reached at 903-693-3868.
Who is the floodplain administrator for Panola County?
The state floodplain directory lists the county Fire Marshal, 903-690-1666.
How do I get an address for a new rural home?
Contact 911 Rural Addressing at 316 W. Sabine Street, Carthage (903-693-9100).
Who issues septic permits in Panola County?
TCEQ itself, through its Region 5 office in Tyler (903-535-5100), because the county is not an authorized agent.
How do I apply for a permit in Tatum?
Fill in the City’s permit form and email it to permits@tatum.texas.gov; permits are generally issued within 48–72 hours.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Panola County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.