Webb County, Texas Building Permit Guide

Census Vintage 2025 estimates put Webb County at 281,224 people. Laredo has 269,515, Rio Bravo 4,523 and El Cenizo 2,457, and only 4,729 live in the unincorporated balance.

This guide covers Webb County’s permits for unincorporated land. The City of Laredo’s websites blocked automated checks, so contact the city directly for work inside Laredo.

What requires a permit in Webb County?

In Webb County a Development Determination Application comes before any other application. After that, the county’s permits are:

• Floodplain development permits, which the county also calls building permits;
• utility connection permits;
• OSSF (septic) permits, whose application needs the installer packet (site evaluation, design), recorded ownership, ID and the Development Compliance Notice (DCN);
• an E-911 address letter, free, applied for with the original application, a deed or tax record, and ID.

Webb County building department: who handles permitting

Planning & Physical Development Department: 902 Victoria St., Laredo; 956-523-4100; Monday-Friday 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm.

Fire Marshal’s Office: 1110 Washington St. Suite 2A, Laredo; 956-523-5911; Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm. It serves the unincorporated areas.

Road & Bridge (director Jose Luis Neira): 4801 Fesco Blvd., Laredo; 956-523-5300; Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm.

Floodplain and plat rules in Webb County

Webb County’s Flood Damage Prevention Order (adopted March 25, 2008, revised August 12, 2019) requires new or substantially improved homes in the floodplain to have the lowest floor at least eighteen inches (18″) above base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer or surveyor. Manufactured homes in flood zones must be elevated at least eighteen inches (18″) above base flood elevation and anchored.

Planning accepts complete plat applications by appointment only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Where lots in a new subdivision will rely on individual wells, the plat application needs a groundwater availability study under 30 TAC Section 230.1-230.11.

Webb County permit costs and fees

• Development Determination: $30 residential/non-residential, $100 commercial (money order, cashier’s check or in-person card)
• Floodplain development: $50 per structure/development residential or non-residential; $200 commercial
• OSSF application: $310 residential; $410 institutional/commercial
• E-911 address letter: no charge

Webb County permit search and official resources

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

• Webb County Planning Department
• Webb County development and utility applications
• Webb County plat application
• Webb County Flood Damage Prevention Order
• Webb County Fire Marshal’s Office

Frequently asked questions

Does Webb County issue building permits?

Its Planning department issues floodplain development permits, which the county also calls building permits, after a Development Determination.

How high must a new home in a Webb County floodplain be?

The lowest floor must be at least eighteen inches (18″) above base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer or surveyor.

When does Webb County take plat applications?

By appointment only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; call 956-523-4100.

Simplify Webb 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 Webb County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.