Sabine County’s website publishes no building permit, building code or building inspector for property outside city limits. Its permit-related offices are 911 Administration, which assigns rural addresses, and the Commissioners Court, which has a right-of-way permit form. Septic systems are not permitted by the county itself: the county sends owners to the Sabine River Authority within 2,000 ft of Toledo Bend, the Angelina & Neches River Authority within 2,000 ft of Sam Rayburn, and TCEQ’s Beaumont Region elsewhere; inside Pineland, TCEQ lists the City itself as the septic permitting agent. The City of Hemphill requires its own permit for new construction and renovation.
What needs approval in Sabine County?
Approvals outside city limits
- Septic (on-site sewage) permit from the agency for your location
- 911 physical address for a new home, business, farm structure or utility service
- Right-of-way permit from the Commissioners Court for work in a county road right-of-way
Not county permits
- Building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits for rural buildings: the county publishes none
- New construction, renovation and electrical work inside Hemphill, which need City permits
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →The county’s Floodplain Management page links only to the National Flood Insurance Program and publishes no floodplain permit form or contact.
Who handles permits in Sabine County
County offices are in Hemphill, at the courthouse at 201 Main St., open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, with some offices closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. Of the county’s 10,012 residents, 8,085 live outside the two cities.
| Where the property is | Septic permitting agency |
|---|---|
| Within 2,000 ft of Toledo Bend Lake | Sabine River Authority of Texas, Toledo Bend Division, Route 1 Box 270, Burkeville, TX 75932; 409-565-2273 |
| Within 2,000 ft of Lake Sam Rayburn | Angelina & Neches River Authority, PO Box 387, Lufkin, TX 75901; 936-632-7795 |
| Inside Pineland city limits | City of Pineland, 101 Dogwood St., Pineland; 409-584-2390 |
| Elsewhere in the county | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Beaumont Region; 409-898-3838 |
| Office or city | Role and contact |
|---|---|
| 911 Administration | Rural address assignment, road signs and county maps; 280 Main St., Suite 103, Hemphill; 409-787-5260, fax 409-220-8304; closed Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for field visits |
| Commissioners Court | Right-of-way permits and county roads; PO Box 720, Hemphill; 409-787-3543 |
| Hemphill (1,027 residents) | The City of Hemphill issues building and electrical permits for all new construction and renovation in the city; City Hall, 211 Starr St.; 409-787-2251 |
| Pineland (900) | The City’s website sends building permit questions to City Hall, 101 Dogwood St.; 409-584-2390, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Building on rural land in Sabine County
The county posts city limits maps for Hemphill and Pineland; inside Hemphill or Pineland, start at City Hall.
Measure the distance to Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn: within 2,000 ft, the river authority permits the system; inside Pineland, the City; elsewhere, TCEQ’s Beaumont Region.
Send the address request form with the appraisal district property ID and the coordinates of the driveway and the building.
For work in a county road right-of-way, ask the Commissioners Court for its ROW permit form.
Mark the building or driveway post with reflective numbers, as the county’s advisory notice describes.
Addresses and local rules
911 addresses: the request form asks whether the property is inside city limits, in an unincorporated town or in the county, the distance from the center of the driveway to the nearest property line, the nearest intersection and neighbor’s address, and whether the site is a residence, business, farm structure or utility-only service.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Address signs: the Commissioners Court’s advisory notice asks owners to post durable, reflective, weatherproof numbers at least 3 in. high, readable from the opposite side of the road. Where the house is far from the road or hidden by trees, the number goes on a post near the driveway, no more than 10 ft from the road right-of-way; numbers on a mailbox only when the Post Office says so.
Hemphill: the City Code adopts the 2009 International Residential and Building Codes and the 2008 National Electrical Code, requires a City electrical permit for wiring work, and lets the city manager designate a building official; the City Council sets the permit fees, which are not posted online.
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
Rather not deal with the Sabine County building department?
Get a free quote →Sabine County official resources
- Sabine County on-site sewer facilities (septic agencies)
- Sabine County 911 Administration
- 911 physical address request form (PDF)
- 911 address sign advisory notice (PDF)
- Commissioners Court
- County right-of-way permit (PDF)
- County maps, including Hemphill and Pineland city limits
- Floodplain Management page
- City of Hemphill
- Hemphill Code of Ordinances (Municode)
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
- City of Pineland business resources (permits)
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Sabine County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit to build a house in rural Sabine County?
The county publishes no building permit for homes outside city limits. You will still need a septic permit from the right agency and a 911 address.
Who permits septic systems near Toledo Bend?
Within 2,000 ft of Toledo Bend Lake, the Sabine River Authority’s Toledo Bend Division in Burkeville (409-565-2273).
Who permits septic systems near Sam Rayburn?
Within 2,000 ft of Lake Sam Rayburn, the Angelina & Neches River Authority in Lufkin (936-632-7795). Inside Pineland the City handles septic permits (409-584-2390); elsewhere in the county, TCEQ’s Beaumont Region (409-898-3838).
How do I get a 911 address in Sabine County?
Send the address request form to 911 Administration, 280 Main St., Suite 103, Hemphill (409-787-5260).
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Does Hemphill require building permits?
Yes. The City Code requires a City permit for all new construction or renovation and for electrical wiring work; call City Hall at 409-787-2251.
Simplify Sabine 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.
Ready to break ground in Sabine County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Sabine County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Sabine County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.