Robertson County’s website lists no building department and no building permit for homes or other buildings outside city limits. What the county does permit is septic systems, through its OSSF Designated Representative in Franklin ($300 for a home since September 1, 2025), along with rural 911 addresses, floodplain administration and subdivision plats approved by Commissioners Court. Of the four cities, Franklin and Hearne have their own building permit offices.
What needs county approval in Robertson County?
County approvals
- On-site sewage facility (septic) permit, with an authorization to construct and a license to operate
- 911 address for a new home, business, farm structure or utility service
- Floodplain review by the county’s floodplain administrator
- Subdivision plats, approved by Commissioners Court
- Acceptance of a new road into the county system
- Use of county road right-of-way for special events, and mass gathering permits
Not county permits
- Building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits for rural buildings: the county publishes none
- Construction inside Franklin or Hearne, which the cities permit (Calvert and Bremond publish no permit details)
- Subdivisions within 1 mile of those cities, which follow the city’s policy
Who issues permits in Robertson County
County offices are at the courthouse, 102 W. Decherd St. in Franklin (County Judge’s office 979-828-3542). Census estimates put 9,436 of the county’s 17,839 residents outside the four cities.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Office | What it handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| OSSF Designated Representative | Septic permits, plan review, inspections and licenses to operate | PO Box 427, Franklin, TX 77856; 979-828-6684; robco.drep@co.robertson.tx.us |
| 911 Addressing and Floodplain Administrator | Rural addresses, road names and floodplain administration | 979-828-5911; rcaddressing@co.robertson.tx.us |
| Commissioners Court and precinct commissioners | Subdivision plats and road acceptance | Pct. 1: 979-364-2832; Pct. 2: 979-279-3876; Pct. 3: 979-828-4413; Pct. 4: 254-746-7850 |
| County Clerk | Plat filing, subdivision and sewage policy copies, aerobic system affidavits | 979-828-4130 |
| City | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Hearne (4,719 residents) | City of Hearne: Planning and Development Services, with a Building Department listed under Planning and Zoning; 979-279-3461 |
| Franklin (1,805) | City of Franklin, City Hall, 319 Bremond St.; 979-828-3257. Every new structure in the city needs a building permit, and manufactured homes a $50 move-in permit. |
| Calvert (985) and Bremond (894) | Neither city publishes permit information; ask City Hall. Calvert City Hall: 620 S. Main St., 979-364-2881, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bremond City Hall: 201 S. Dallas St., 254-746-7730. |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →County fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Septic permit, single-family home (from September 1, 2025) | $300 |
| Septic permit, multi-family or commercial | $500 |
| Septic re-inspection after a failed inspection | Half the permit fee, paid by the installer |
| Final plat filing (County Clerk) | $120 |
| Copy of the Subdivision Policy / Sewage Policy | $30 / $53 |
The county program covers the whole county except the Lake Limestone regulated area, where TCEQ lists the Brazos River Authority (903-529-2141) as the septic permitting agent. Septic fees are paid by cashier’s check or money order made out to Robertson County once the application and design are complete, and they are not refundable. Site evaluations, designs and installation are priced separately by the evaluator, sanitarian, engineer or installer.
Inside Franklin, the City prices building permits on the value of the structure, with a home valued at no less than $66 per heated square foot.
How to get a septic permit
Download the OSSF application and instructions from the county’s OSSF page.
A site evaluator, registered sanitarian or professional engineer tests the soil and decides which system the lot needs; non-standard and proprietary systems need a professional design.
Installer I covers conventional systems and ET beds; Installer II also covers aerobic and non-standard systems.
Send the application, soil evaluation, technical data, drawings and directions to the Designated Representative before any work begins.
Issued after review and payment, and valid for one calendar year.
The installer schedules it on completion; a passing system receives a license to operate.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →An aerobic system also needs a notarized affidavit filed with the County Clerk and a two-year maintenance agreement; after that, the owner keeps a maintenance contract or meets the county’s homeowner maintenance rules.
Plats, roads and addresses
Subdivisions: start with the commissioner for the precinct where the land lies. The septic information on the plat must be approved by the OSSF office at least seven days before it goes to Commissioners Court, and the 911 addressing office must clear road names first. Plats are filed at 24 x 36 in., as three originals plus two 8 1/2 x 14 in. reduced copies, with a current title report and tax certificate; a reduced copy also goes to the local post office when a new road is created.
City ETJs: subdivisions within 1 mile of Bremond, Hearne, Calvert or Franklin follow that city’s policy.
County roads: to dedicate a new road, return to Commissioners Court once it is built; after the commissioner inspects and approves it, there is a two-year wait before the county accepts it.
Rather not deal with the Robertson County building department?
Get a free quote →Addresses: the 2026 address request form asks for the appraisal district property ID and the coordinates of the driveway and the structure. Processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, and moving the driveway after an address is issued voids it.
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
Robertson County official resources
- Robertson County OSSF (septic) page
- OSSF permit instructions (Word)
- OSSF permit application (Word)
- On-Site Sewage Facility Order, effective September 1, 2025 (PDF)
- Emergency Management, 911 addressing and floodplain
- 911 address request form, 2026 (PDF)
- Subdivision policy check-off list, 2025 (PDF)
- City of Franklin City Hall and building permits
- City of Hearne Planning and Development
- City of Bremond
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Robertson County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Robertson County?
The county publishes no building permit for homes outside city limits. You will still need a septic permit if the lot is not on sewer, and a 911 address for the new home.
How much is a septic permit in Robertson County?
$300 for a single-family home and $500 for multi-family or commercial systems, as of September 1, 2025, paid by cashier’s check or money order.
How long is a septic authorization to construct valid?
One calendar year. If the system is not built in that time, the application and permit fee must be submitted again.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Hearne and Franklin?
Each city. Hearne’s Planning and Development Services has a Building Department (979-279-3461); Franklin requires a building permit from City Hall for every new structure.
How do I get a rural address?
Send the 2026 address request form to the county 911 addressing office (979-828-5911); allow 2 to 3 weeks.
Who approves a subdivision near Hearne or Franklin?
Within 1 mile of Bremond, Hearne, Calvert or Franklin, subdivisions follow the city’s policy; elsewhere, Commissioners Court approves plats.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Robertson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.