Red River County issues no building permits. The two county permits a rural builder meets are a septic permit, required on every lot regardless of size and filed at the County Auditor’s office in Clarksville ($330 for a home since July 14, 2025), and a culvert permit from the Commissioners’ office for any driveway crossing a county road ditch.
What needs a county permit in Red River County?
The county’s permits page lists septic, culvert and overweight-vehicle permits, and nothing for buildings.
County permits
- On-site sewage facility (septic) permit for every system, whatever the lot size
- Construction permit for a driveway culvert, road bore or utility line in county road right-of-way, which can reach 25 feet from the road’s center
- Overweight vehicle permit for county roads
No county permit
- Building permits and building inspections
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
- Certificates of occupancy
Who issues permits in each Red River County town?
The county has 11,816 residents, and about 6,430 of them live outside its six towns. None of the towns posts a building permit procedure online:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Town | What the official sources show |
|---|---|
| Clarksville (pop. 2,908) | The City has a Code Compliance office and a Board of Adjustment but publishes no permit page. City Hall, 800 W. Main St.; 903-427-3834 (Code Compliance ext. 258); weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Bogata (pop. 1,118) | The City’s code of ordinances requires a building permit for projects over $10,000 and adopts the 2015 International Building and Residential Codes; City Hall, 903-632-5315. |
| Avery (pop. 432) | The published sources do not say; ask City Hall, 250 U.S. Business 82, 903-684-3825, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Detroit (pop. 713) | The City’s website has no building permit page and sends planning and zoning questions to City Hall, 150 E. Garner, 903-674-4573. |
| Annona (pop. 185) | The published sources do not say; ask City Hall, 101 E. Main, 903-697-3681. |
| Deport, Red River County part (pop. 29; most of the city is in Lamar County) | The City adopted the 2018 International Building and Plumbing Codes and a 2017 electrical code in April 2024. Its fee ordinance (No. 2025-0623-02) prices a single-family permit at 68 cents per gross sq ft of new construction or addition and charges $150 for each building, electrical or plumbing inspection; City Hall, 201 Main Street, 903-652-3875. |
| Unincorporated county | No building permit. Septic permits through the County Auditor; culvert and right-of-way permits from the Commissioners’ office. |
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| County Auditor (septic applications, Monday to Thursday) | 200 N. Walnut St., Clarksville; 903-427-2131 |
| Commissioners’ office (culvert and right-of-way permits) | Courthouse Annex, 200 N. Walnut St., Clarksville; 903-427-3116 |
| Red River Appraisal District (GEO number for the septic form) | 903-427-4181 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic systems in Red River County
Commissioners Court adopted the county’s on-site sewage order on July 26, 2021. It applies across the county except where another order or ordinance already regulates septic systems, and it adds one rule to the state minimum: every system needs a permit, no matter how large the lot. The septic program is run by a designated representative certified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and decisions can be appealed to Commissioners Court.
The county issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits.
Red River County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Recording the septic affidavit at the County Clerk’s office | $25, paid to the County Clerk |
| Residential septic permit | $330, paid to Red River County |
| Commercial septic permit | $530, paid to Red River County |
| State fee on each septic permit | $10, collected under the county order |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic fees are not refundable, and each permit covers one system. The culvert policy and permit form list no fee; the culvert itself and its installation are at the owner’s expense.
Filing for septic and culvert permits
The septic form needs the property’s GEO number from the Red River Appraisal District, and every blank must be filled in (N/A where it does not apply).
A registered site evaluator or professional engineer does the soil and site evaluation, with at least two soil excavations at opposite ends of the planned drain field and notes any 100-year flood zone and wells within 150 feet.
File the septic affidavit with the County Clerk ($25) before the application goes in.
Take the recorded affidavit and application to the County Auditor’s office, Monday to Thursday, with the $330 or $530 fee. Non-standard systems may also need review by state staff in Tyler or Austin. The Authorization to Construct is valid for one year, the installation must be inspected before any part is covered, and a Notice of Approval follows.
Stake the center of the planned driveway culvert and tell the Commissioner of your precinct, who gives you the required diameter within 5 working days.
You or a private contractor install it at your cost after calling 811, using galvanized corrugated steel or corrugated plastic pipe with any safety ends sloped 4:1 and ends inside your property lines.
Rather not deal with the Red River County building department?
Get a free quote →The county may remove any culvert put in incorrectly. Its right-of-way policy, approved on September 26, 2022, also covers road bores and utility lines: backfill under traffic goes in 6-inch lifts, an open cut may close only half the road at a time, and breaking the policy is a Class C misdemeanor.
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 →Red River County official resources
- Red River County permits page
- Red River County septic permit application and affidavit (2025)
- Red River County on-site sewage order (2021)
- Red River County culvert and right-of-way permit policy (2022)
- City of Clarksville contacts
Red River County permit FAQ
Does Red River County issue building permits?
No. Its permits cover septic systems, culverts and other work in county road right-of-way, and overweight vehicles.
How much is a septic permit in Red River County?
$330 for a residence or $530 for a commercial system, plus $25 to record the affidavit with the County Clerk.
Do I need a septic permit on a large tract?
Yes. The county’s 2021 order requires a permit for every system regardless of lot size.
Where do I file a septic application?
At the County Auditor’s office, 200 N. Walnut St., Clarksville, Monday to Thursday (903-427-2131).
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who decides the size of my driveway culvert?
The county Commissioner for your precinct, within 5 working days of being told where the culvert will go.
Does Clarksville require building permits?
The City posts no permit procedure online. Ask City Hall at 903-427-3834; its Code Compliance office is extension 258.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Red River County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.