Ward County’s website has no building permit, planning or floodplain page, and the county publishes no building permit program for the unincorporated area. The permit the county does run is for septic systems: the TCEQ lists Ward County as the authorized agent for on-site sewage facilities in the unincorporated county, with its permit office at the courthouse, 400 S. Allen, Monahans. Inside Monahans, the City’s Permits & Licensing Department at City Hall (432-943-4343) issues building, plumbing and electrical permits; the county’s five smaller towns publish no permit rules online.
What needs a permit in Ward County?
Unincorporated Ward County
- A new, altered or repaired septic system, under the county’s on-site sewage order
City of Monahans
- Any type of construction, including new buildings, remodels and additions
- Fences, decks, porch covers and arbors
- Garages, carports and storage buildings
- Swimming pools and spas
- HVAC change-outs, plumbing and electrical work
- Moving a manufactured home onto a lot
- Garage sales
The county’s septic order applies to all of Ward County except incorporated cities and areas already covered by another rule; it reaches a city only if that city signs an intergovernmental contract with the county.
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Ward County?
| Office | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Ward County septic permit office (TCEQ authorized agent), 400 S. Allen, Monahans, TX 79756; 432-889-6853; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Septic system permits in the unincorporated county |
| Ward County Judge, 400 S. Allen, Suite 100, Monahans; 432-943-3200 | Commissioners Court business; the four commissioners’ offices are in Suite 300 |
| City of Monahans Permits & Licensing, City Hall, 112 W. 2nd Street, Monahans, TX 79756; 432-943-4343; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Building, plumbing and electrical permits, contractor registration and manufactured home move-in permits inside Monahans |
Who issues building permits in each town
- Monahans (home of the county courthouse; only part of the city lies in Ward County): the City’s Permits & Licensing Department, where the Permit Clerk or Building Inspector can say whether a job needs a permit.
- Grandfalls: the town’s website posts no permit information; City Hall is at 314 2nd Street (432-547-2331), open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday mornings.
- Barstow, Pyote, Thorntonville and Wickett: the published sources do not say who handles building permits there; ask each town hall before starting work.
Permit fees in Monahans
Ward County publishes no septic or development fee schedule online. The City of Monahans lists these permit fees on its Permits & Licensing page, written as follows:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Monahans permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| New construction (building) | .05 cents per sq ft, $25 minimum |
| Remodeling, carport or porch | .03 cents per sq ft, $25 minimum |
| Plumbing or electrical, residential or commercial | .01 cent per sq ft, $25 minimum |
| Garage sale | $10 |
The page writes the per-square-foot rates in cents with a decimal point, so ask City Hall how a project’s fee is worked out before you budget.
Septic systems, contractors and codes
Septic in the county: Ward County adopted its on-site sewage order on October 9, 2000, and the state approved it on December 8, 2000. The order adopts the state’s design criteria for septic systems (30 TAC 285), and any structure discharging sewage into a septic system in the county’s jurisdiction must comply. The TCEQ lists the county’s permit office at 400 S. Allen, Monahans, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Monahans contractors: every contractor working in the city, including remodelers and handymen, must register with the City, which keeps copies of each contractor’s licence, insurance and bonds.
Monahans codes: Chapter 6 of the City code adopts the 2018 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance and Fire Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, with local amendments.
How to start a project in Ward County
Monahans, Barstow, Grandfalls, Pyote, Thorntonville and Wickett are the incorporated towns; everything else is unincorporated county.
Print the City’s Pre-Application Form for building, plumbing or electrical permits, then email it or bring it to City Hall, 112 W. 2nd Street.
Monahans requires every contractor, remodeler and handyman to register before working in the city.
Get the move-in permit before the home is moved, talk placement and porches through with the Building Inspector, and give the permit to the driver.
Contact the county septic permit office at 400 S. Allen (432-889-6853) before installing or repairing a system.
Ask the town hall in Barstow, Grandfalls, Pyote, Thorntonville or Wickett what it requires.
Rather not deal with the Ward 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
Ward County permit resources
- Ward County government
- Ward County Judge
- Ward County Commissioners Court
- City of Monahans Permits & Licensing
- City of Monahans pre-application form for building permits
- TCEQ lookup of local septic permitting authorities
- TCEQ on-site sewage facility permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Ward County permit FAQ
Does Ward County issue building permits?
The county publishes no building permit program, and its website has no permit or planning page. Its published permit role is septic systems in the unincorporated area.
Who issues septic permits in Ward County?
Ward County, as the TCEQ’s authorized agent for the unincorporated county. The permit office is at 400 S. Allen, Monahans; phone 432-889-6853.
Do I need a permit for a fence or a storage building in Monahans?
Yes. Monahans lists fences, decks, porch covers, garages, carports and storage buildings among the projects that need a permit.
What building codes does Monahans use?
The 2018 International Codes (building, residential, plumbing, fuel gas, property maintenance and fire) and the 2017 National Electrical Code.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who handles permits in Wickett, Pyote or Grandfalls?
None of the smaller towns publishes permit rules online, and no county page covers them. Ask the town hall before you build.
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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.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Ward County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.