Census Vintage 2025 estimates put Wichita County at 129,555 people; the Wichita County part of Wichita Falls has 101,949, Burkburnett 11,057, Iowa Park 6,542 and Electra 2,238, and only 7,102 live in the unincorporated balance.
This guide covers the Health District’s septic program, Wichita County’s floodplain permit and road precincts, and the City of Wichita Falls.
What requires a permit in Wichita 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.
Septic (OSSF) permits for Wichita County are issued by the Environmental Health Division of the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District, which also covers city-leased lake lots at Lake Arrowhead and Lake Kickapoo. A 1989 Wichita Falls ordinance adds local standards for building, running and maintaining septic systems on top of state TCEQ rules.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Development in the floodplain needs Wichita County’s floodplain development permit: no work may start until it is issued, it expires if work does not begin within six months, and the development cannot be used until a Certificate of Compliance is issued.
Who handles permitting in Wichita County?
Septic: Public Health District Environmental Health Division, 940-761-7820.
Floodplain: the county posts its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and floodplain development permit on the Emergency Management page; EMO Coordinator Dwayne Birkenfeld, 110 Jefferson Street, Wichita Falls, (940)763-0820.
Roads: the road precincts share an office at 900 7th Street Room 260, Wichita Falls, (940) 766-8106; precinct barns are at 1100 Webster, Wichita Falls (Pct 1), 102 West College, Burkburnett (Pct 2), 610 East Jefferson, Iowa Park (Pct 3) and 2023 S.H. 25 North, Electra (Pct 4). County main offices: 900 7th Street, Wichita Falls; (940) 766-8100.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Wichita Falls: Building Inspections, 1300 7th Street; 940.761.7459; Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Chief Building Official Bill Wittliff. Inspectors are seen by appointment only.
Septic fees in Wichita County
The Health District’s fee list shows two figures per item; the second, in bold, is the newer one. Fees cover up to two site visits.
- Conventional new installation: $295 / $301
- Proprietary system with maintenance: $325 / $332
- Property transfer/existing system inspection: $178 / $182
Septic inspections at property sale
Since a policy of October 14, 2020, the Health District requires every existing-system (property sale) inspection to be pumped by a licensed waste hauler. Staff will not dig up tanks, so access ports must be exposed.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Contractors in Wichita Falls
Contractors register with the city and file a contractor’s license application and an affidavit; code compliance bonds of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 are among the building forms.
Official Wichita County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Health District OSSF permitting
- Health District OSSF fees and forms
- Wichita County Emergency Management
- Wichita County floodplain development permit
- Wichita Falls Building Inspections
Rather not deal with the Wichita County building department?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues septic permits in Wichita County?
The Environmental Health Division of the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District, 940-761-7820.
How long is a Wichita County floodplain permit good for?
It expires if work does not begin within six months.
Must the tank be pumped for a property-sale septic inspection?
Yes, by a licensed waste hauler, with access ports exposed.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Simplify Wichita 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.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Ready to break ground in Wichita County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Wichita County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Wichita County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.