Terry County’s website lists no building permit, development permit or inspection office, so a home in the unincorporated county gets no county building permit or inspection. The County is, however, the TCEQ-authorized agent for septic systems (OSSF) across the whole county, a program run by the South Plains Public Health District. Inside Brownfield, the county seat, the City’s Inspection Department at 201 W. Broadway (806-637-4547) issues building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits, and the City of Meadow issues its own building permits after City Council review.
Who issues permits in Terry County?
Terry County has three incorporated places. The answer depends on where the land is:
| Area | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Brownfield (8,762 residents) | City of Brownfield Inspection Department, City Hall, 201 W. Broadway, 806-637-4547; permits are issued under the City’s fee schedule and inspected by the City and Building Inspector |
| Meadow (623) | City of Meadow, 906 1st St., 806-539-2377: its building permit application (houses, mobile homes, additions, carports, shops, storage buildings, fences, water and sewer service) goes to City Hall with the fee 10 days before a regular council meeting, and the Council approves or denies it; work must start within 6 months |
| Wellman (229) | The published sources do not say; ask the town hall |
| Unincorporated Terry County | No county building permit or inspection; septic systems need a permit from the County’s program, run by the South Plains Public Health District |
| Within 1 mile of Brownfield (its ETJ) | Brownfield’s subdivision regulations apply to dividing land; the City publishes no building permit for this area |
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Get a free quote →| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Terry County Courthouse | 500 W. Main Street, Brownfield, TX 79316; 806-637-7230 |
| County Judge’s office | Room 102; 806-637-6421 |
| County Clerk (plats and records) | Room 105; 806-637-8551 |
| City of Brownfield | 201 W. Broadway; 806-637-4547; fax 806-637-9369 |
Septic, floodplain and burning rules
Septic systems: TCEQ’s 2025 authorized agent report lists Terry County as the local permitting authority for on-site sewage facilities, with 39 authorizations to construct issued in 2025. State rules require a permit to build, alter, extend or repair a septic system, start with a site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or professional engineer, and give the permitting authority 30 days to approve or deny a complete application; a denial can be appealed to the Commissioners Court. TCEQ lists the County as agent for the entire county, Brownfield, Meadow and Wellman included, with the program administered by the South Plains Public Health District from its Brownfield office at 919 E. Main Street (TCEQ’s listed septic contact: 432-213-3175; clinic: 806-637-2164). The District posts the septic permit application and a list of licensed installers on its Documents page.
Floodplain: the Texas Water Development Board’s floodplain administrator directory lists Brownfield’s City Inspector as the city’s floodplain manager, and gives the same phone number (806-637-4547) for the Terry County entry. The County website publishes no floodplain permit or flood damage prevention order.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Outdoor burning: the County posted an order on August 11, 2026 prohibiting outdoor burning for 90 days.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
The County publishes no trade permits for unincorporated land. In Brownfield, the Inspection Department inspects residential, commercial and industrial work under the City’s building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical codes, and the same permit form covers building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work. Contractors pulling a Brownfield permit for the first time fill out the City’s contractor form, register for $50 a year, and must keep their insurance or bond and licences current, or no permit will be written. Brownfield also runs its own electric utility, Brownfield Municipal Power and Light, which takes a meter deposit of at least $25 for a home and $75 for a business.
Permit fees in Brownfield
The County charges no building permit fee because it issues no building permit. Brownfield’s fees are set in Appendix A of its Code of Ordinances:
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Work | Fee |
|---|---|
| New one- or two-family home | $0.05 per sq ft under roof, all stories, excluding unheated attached garages and covered porches or balconies |
| Detached residential accessory building | $0.05 per sq ft under roof, including unheated area |
| Other new construction | $0.10 per sq ft under roof, including covered unenclosed areas |
| Residential remodel | $1.50 per $1,000 of construction value |
| Other remodel | $2.25 per $1,000 of construction value |
| Electrical, plumbing or mechanical (new or renovation) | $0.03 per sq ft, $30 minimum |
| Other electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits | $30 |
| Contractor registration | $50 a year |
Building permits have a $30 minimum, with $15 added for each inspection beyond the first. For example, a new home with 2,000 sq ft under roof (not counting the garage or porches) pays $100, plus $15 for each inspection after the first. Plumbing and mechanical re-inspections cost $30 the first time and $45 after that, and extra electrical inspections are $10 each. The building official can check the stated construction value and require contracts or invoices.
Inspections
There are no county building inspections in unincorporated Terry County; a septic system is inspected under the County’s TCEQ authorization. In Brownfield, bring the completed permit form to the City Inspector at City Hall and arrange inspections with the Inspection Department (806-637-4547), which has one staff member. The City adopted the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code in January 2020. Buildings moved into Brownfield must be opened up for electrical inspection, and out-of-city inspections before a move are charged for time, mileage and meals.
Rather not deal with the Terry County building department?
Get a free quote →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
Official Terry County permit resources
- Terry County official website
- Terry County Judge
- Terry County office contacts
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
- South Plains Public Health District documents, including the septic permit application
- City of Meadow forms, including the building permit application
- TCEQ 2025 authorized agent report (PDF)
- Texas floodplain administrator directory
- City of Brownfield Inspection Department
- Brownfield building permit form (PDF)
- Brownfield building fees, Code Appendix A
- Brownfield Code of Ordinances
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Terry County permit FAQ
Do I need a county building permit to build a house in Terry County?
No. The County publishes no building permit or inspection program for unincorporated land. A septic system still needs a permit from the County.
Who issues building permits in Brownfield?
The City of Brownfield Inspection Department at City Hall, 201 W. Broadway (806-637-4547).
How much is a building permit for a new house in Brownfield?
$0.05 per square foot under roof, with a $30 minimum and $15 for each inspection after the first; a 2,000 sq ft home starts at $100. Trade permits are $0.03 per square foot each, $30 minimum.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who handles septic permits in Terry County?
Terry County is TCEQ’s authorized agent for the whole county, and the South Plains Public Health District runs the program from 919 E. Main Street in Brownfield. The permitting authority has 30 days to decide on a complete application.
Do Meadow and Wellman issue building permits?
Meadow does: its building permit application is reviewed by the City Council, so file it at City Hall (806-539-2377) at least 10 days before a regular meeting. Wellman publishes no permit process; ask the town hall before building.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Terry County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.