Starr County, Texas Building Permit Guide

Census Vintage 2025 estimates put Starr County at 66,319 people, 35,506 of them in the unincorporated balance. Rio Grande City has 15,451, Roma 11,543, Escobares 2,585 and La Grulla 1,234.

This guide covers the county contacts, the groundwater district and Rio Grande City; ask the Planning Director what applies to county land.

What requires a permit in Starr County?

Outside city limits, most Texas counties issue no building permits for homes; the state licensing rules for electrical, A/C and plumbing work still apply.

Every water well in Starr County, existing or new, exempt or not, must be registered with the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and new wells must be pre-registered before drilling. If the district finds a new well is nonexempt, the owner must also obtain a district drilling permit before drilling.

Who handles permitting in Starr County?

Starr County offices are at the Starr County Courthouse, 401 N. Britton Ave, Rio Grande City; main phone (956) 716-4800, hours 8am-5pm.

• Planning Director: Ramiro Sarabia, 956-716-4800 extension 1010
• 911 Addressing Coordinator: Fernanda Barrios, 956-716-4800 extension 4825
• Health Inspector: Maria “Mayte” Adames, 956-716-4800 extension 4824
• Emergency Management Coordinator: Lenard Fuentes, 956-487-5571

Groundwater district: 100 N FM 3167, Rio Grande City; 956-716-4800; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday.

Rio Grande City (county seat): Planning & Code Enforcement Department, 5332 E. Highway 83, Ste. C; director Antonio Cantu, 956.488.8728.

Roma: the City’s Building Inspections Department, part of Development Services, enforces the building codes inside the city limits; permit applications and payment go to City Hall, 201 W. Convent Blvd. (956.849.1411), and commercial permits also need a Fire Marshal permit from the Roma Fire Department. For Escobares and La Grulla the published sources do not say who issues building permits.

Roma: the City’s Building Inspections Department, part of Development Services, enforces the building codes inside the city limits; permit applications and payment go to City Hall, 201 W. Convent Blvd. (956.849.1411), and commercial permits also need a Fire Marshal permit from the Roma Fire Department. For Escobares and La Grulla the published sources do not say who issues building permits.

Roma: the City’s Building Inspections Department, part of Development Services, enforces the building codes inside the city limits; permit applications and payment go to City Hall, 201 W. Convent Blvd. (956.849.1411), and commercial permits also need a Fire Marshal permit from the Roma Fire Department. For Escobares and La Grulla the published sources do not say who issues building permits.

Building in Rio Grande City

The Planning & Code Enforcement Department issues building and electrical permits inside city limits and reviews subdivisions in the city and its five-mile ETJ. Inside city limits it, not the county, issues 911 addresses. The city has adopted the 2018 ICC codes for building, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing and energy, with the 2017 NEC and NFPA 101 (2018) as its life safety code.

Flood insurance in Starr County

Starr County’s draft multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan says the participating jurisdictions take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with Escobares falling under Starr County.

Official Starr County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Starr County staff contacts
• Starr County Groundwater Conservation District
• Groundwater district rules
• Rio Grande City Planning & Code Enforcement
• Rio Grande City building codes
• City of Roma permits

Frequently asked questions

Must I register a water well in Starr County?

Yes. Every well, existing or new, exempt or not, must be registered with the groundwater district; new wells are pre-registered before drilling.

Who issues 911 addresses in Rio Grande City?

The city’s Planning & Code Enforcement Department, not the county.

How far does Rio Grande City review subdivisions?

In the city and its five-mile ETJ.

Simplify Starr County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Check whether the site is inside a city or on county land, and which office handles each permit there
• Prepare the county septic, floodplain, plat or road paperwork alongside any city building permit
• Track each approval and inspection through to the final sign-off

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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Starr County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.