Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
252 of Texas's 254 counties — 99% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Cherokee County (88/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Texas: no building codes → Texas: no zoning → Texas: no codes, no zoning → Texas: rv living → Texas: tiny homes → Texas: no minimum home size → Full Texas profile →
252 of 254 Texas counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Cherokee County or elsewhere in Texas Whether the owner may install the OSSF depen…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner purchasing an industrialized house in Sabine County who assumes responsibility for all or part of the construction involved in installation. The home…
IHB Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. Owner installation of an on-site sewage facility serving a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Rusk County, when the applicable permitting authority allow…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas; this is not a determination of exemption from building-permit requirements.…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Unincorporated Jasper County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
County Judge — Jasper County, Texas ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling that the homeowner owns in Texas. The permitting authority must allow the owner installation under it…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Unincorporated San Augustine County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electric…
Zoning and County Permits plus Septic Systems Information ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Newton County, including unincorporated areas, where the applicable permitting aut…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including in Cass County, where the permitting authority allows owner insta…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Anderson County subject to local-authority requirements. The local permitting author…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction in a Texas county to which Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F applies, where the individual fail…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗The first residential home or structure on a single deeded tract of land in Polk County, Texas, regarding the county OSSF permit requirement. This is a conditional OSSF permit e…
Permits | Polk County, TX ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, or acting as the individual's own contracto…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) for the owner's single-family dwelling in Texas, including Tyler County where the local permitting authorit…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF serving the owner's single-family dwelling in Texas, including Walker County, subject to local permitting-authority requirements. The…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction in a county to which Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F applies. The county must have adop…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including unincorporated Wood County, subject to the local permitting autho…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗A county floodplain exemption certificate for development outside identified areas of special flood hazard; this is not an express general owner-builder exemption from construct…
Upshur County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance ↗Statewide rule. Penalty protection for notice violations during new residential construction subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F. The individual mus…
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing an industrialized house or residential modular component for the person's own use and taking responsibility for some or all installation-rela…
IHB — Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. Penalty for failure to submit required residential-construction notices under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F; this is not an exemption fro…
Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Unincorporated Grimes County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
Residential Construction - Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗A homeowner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Harrison County under the county Environmental Health Department's Ten Acre Rule. The homeowner…
Environmental Health ↗Statewide rule. Owner installation of an on-site sewage facility serving a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Camp County, subject to the local permitting authority's re…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person who purchases industrialized housing or a residential modular component for personal use and assumes responsibility for some or all installation-related…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Justification for Administrative Rule Adoption ↗Texas has no state residential-builder license, so owners may build their own homes, and TCEQ rules allow a homeowner to install their own septic (OSSF) serving their single-fam…
TCEQ - OSSF Information for Homeowners ↗Unincorporated Limestone County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, …
Official Limestone County Mitigation Plan 2014 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally completing construction associated with installation of an industrialized house under the Texas Residential Installation Permit program. T…
IHB – Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Atascosa County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, p…
Atascosa County Permit and Inspection Process ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building qualifying new residential construction or acting as the individual's own contractor under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subcha…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Unincorporated Jack County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
Jack County Commissioners — Public Works ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual acting as their own contractor or building new residential construction in an unincorporated area of a county subject to Texas Local Government Cod…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Milam County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
Milam County Fire Code ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗A property owner installing the property's on-site septic system in Orange County. The county states that a property owner may install their own septic system. Some systems may …
On-Site Septic Systems ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Homeowner installation or repair of an on-site sewage facility in Mason County, Texas. Mason County's official application packet expressly contemplates a homeowner installing t…
Mason County Sanitation & Floodplain ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. New residential construction in a county subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, where the individual builds the residence or acts as t…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including applicable property in Comanche County, where the local permittin…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Hamilton County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, p…
Hamilton County Texas — Required Permits ↗Unincorporated Erath County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
County Clerk | Erath County, TX ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Property-owner or homeowner construction of an on-site sewage facility in Matagorda County. A property owner or homeowner may install an on-site sewage facility only if that per…
On-Site Septic Facilities Information for Installers ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗An owner seeking an on-site sewage facility permit from Medina County Environmental Health. All on-site sewage systems in Medina County must be permitted. The system must be des…
What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for the person's own use, or the person's company's use, including taking responsibility for i…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner purchasing industrialized housing or residential modular components for the homeowner's own use and responsible for installation-related construction…
IHB Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Owner installation of an on-site sewage facility in Jackson County Certain systems, including aerobics, may not be sold directly to property owners and must be sold to factory r…
On Site Sewage Facility Information and Guidelines ↗With no county residential building permit regime, an owner may build without a county building permit; no explicit exemption statute is published.
Coke County, Texas - Official County Website ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns in Texas. Whether self-installation is allowed depends on the per…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction, or acting as the individual's own contractor, under Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, in a co…
Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Unincorporated DeWitt County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
County Requirements & Regulations ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Owner installation of an OSSF serving the owner's single-family residence in Texas, including Brazoria County. The permitting authority must allow the installati…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. A person building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Section 233.154, who is the builder or own contractor and inte…
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Jim Wells County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, …
Building Permit for JWC 2023 ↗Unincorporated Wise County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
FAQs - Who issues Building Permits in Wise County? ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing industrialized housing or a building for the person's own use and assuming responsibility for all or part of construction related to installa…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing industrialized housing or a building for the person's own use and assuming responsibility for all or part of the construction relating to ins…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. A purchaser of industrialized housing or buildings in Real County who is purchasing for the purchaser's own use and assumes responsibility for all or part of the…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. An individual builder subject to Chapter 233, Subchapter F, who builds the residence or acts as the individual's own contractor and intends to use it as the indi…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Grayson County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Grayson County Development Services ↗Under TCEQ rules a property owner may install an on-site sewage facility to serve their own single-family residence, subject to permit and inspection.
TCEQ - OSSF Information for Homeowners ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F who builds the construction personally or acts as…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction subject to Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F who builds the residence or acts as the individual…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗An individual building covered new residential construction in unincorporated Kinney County, or acting as the individual's own contractor, who intends to use the residence as th…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An individual who builds new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, or acts as the individual's own contracto…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner installation of an OSSF serving the owner's single-family dwelling, subject to local permitting-authority rules. The permitting authority may impose di…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A Fayette County owner who purchases an industrialized house or residential modular component for the owner's own use and takes responsibility for some or all co…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Justification for Administrative Rule Adoption ↗Unincorporated Hood County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
hoodcounty.texas.gov ↗Unincorporated Bastrop County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Development Services ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Self-installation of an onsite sewage facility in Blanco County under the County OSSF permitting process. Blanco County requires an OSSF permit application and approved construc…
OSSF Application Checklist ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally completing construction associated with installation of an industrialized house in Brooks County under a Texas residential installation pe…
IHB Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. New residential construction subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, including construction in an unincorporated county that has adopte…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF serving a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Jeff Davis County, when the local permitting authority allows owner installation…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Notice-related criminal-misdemeanor referral for qualifying owner-builders of new residential construction. The individual must build the residence or act as the individual's ow…
Order of the Navarro County Commissioners Court Requiring Application of Subchapter F, Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An individual owner-builder's liability for penalties for failing to submit Chapter 233 Subchapter F construction notices. The exemption applies only to the pena…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Penalty for failure to provide required notices under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, when an individual builds the new residential constr…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Washington County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical,…
Washington County Engineering and Development Services ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗An individual building new residential construction in unincorporated Jefferson County or acting as the individual's own contractor, when the individual intends to use the resid…
Development Permits - Environmental Control - Jefferson County TX ↗Statewide rule. An individual subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 residential construction notice penalties who builds the new residential construction or acts as…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF serving the owner's single-family dwelling The permitting authority must allow the arrangement under its local requirements. The OSSF…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, or acting as the individual's own contractor, who intends…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Purchaser-controlled installation construction for an industrialized house or residential modular component installed in Fort Bend County. The purchaser must use…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Frequently Asked Questions ↗An individual acting as their own contractor for new residential construction in unincorporated McLennan County. The individual must intend to use the residence as the individua…
Residential Building Requirements ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Parker County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
Permitting | Parker County, TX - Official Website ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including a property in Runnels County, subject to the permitting authority…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. Notice-penalty exemption for an individual building new residential construction in a county covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F. Th…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Clay County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
Zoning & Building Permits- Unincorporated Areas ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas. The permitting authority must allow owner installation under its local requ…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns The OSSF must be for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns. The owner must al…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction, or acting as that individual's own contractor, under Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F. The Su…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An individual building qualifying new residential construction under Chapter 233, Subchapter F or acting as the individual's own contractor. The individual must …
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Under TCEQ rules a property owner may install an on-site sewage facility to serve their own single-family residence, subject to permit and inspection.
TCEQ - OSSF Information for Homeowners ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Fisher County if the local permitting authority allows owner installation. Whether a…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual constructing new residential construction in an unincorporated area of a Texas county that has adopted a resolution or order applying Local Governm…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns, including in Crane County where the state rule applies. The perm…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Unincorporated Bell County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
Frequently Asked Questions — Bell County Engineer ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Schleicher County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical,…
Permits & Regulations | Schleicher County, TX ↗Statewide rule. Owner installation of an on-site sewage facility serving a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Hays County, subject to Hays County's local permitting requ…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner installing an industrialized house or residential modular component in Howard County for the homeowner's own use. The homeowner must purchase the ind…
IHB – Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Haskell County, where the permitting authority allows self-instal…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. Failure to submit required building-code inspection notices for new residential construction under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, if the chapter applie…
Local Government Code Chapter 233 — County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual subject to the notice requirements of Local Government Code Section 233.154(b) and (c) who builds the new residential construction or acts as the i…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction in an unincorporated area of a county to which Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F applies.…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗The statutory penalty for failure to provide required construction notice under Texas Local Government Code §233.154(b) or (c), if Subchapter F applies in Shackelford County. Th…
Local Government Code, Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, in a qualifying county that has adopted the…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing industrialized housing or an industrialized building for the person's own use who assumes responsibility for all or part of the construction …
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. Penalty exemption for an individual who fails to provide required residential-construction notices under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F. T…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗A person building a new residential dwelling or substantially remodeling or adding to an existing residential dwelling in unincorporated Collin County The official county FAQ do…
Development Services Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual who builds new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, or acts as the individual's own contracto…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Pecos County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines – Pecos County ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, including applicable new residential construction in an unincorporated county th…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Moore County, subject to the permitting authority's local requirements. Whether th…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual’s exemption from the Chapter 233 penalty for failure to submit required residential-construction inspection notice. The new residential constructio…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person installing an industrialized house or residential modular component for the person's own use under Texas's Industrialized Housing and Buildings program,…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Justification for Administrative Rule Adoption ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Dawson County or elsewhere in Texas The permitting authority must allow owner inst…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual who builds new residential construction covered by Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F or acts as the individual's own contractor and i…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated Lamb County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
Permits | Lamb County, Texas ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner purchasing and installing an industrialized house for the homeowner's own residence in Texas, including Wheeler County. The homeowner must plan to li…
Industrialized Housing and Buildings Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, in an applicable county. The county must ha…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Crosby County, subject to the local permitting authority's…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns in Childress County, subject to the state OSSF rules and the perm…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual who builds new residential construction subject to Local Government Code §233.154 and fails to provide proper statutory inspection notice. The exem…
Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility serving the owner's single-family dwelling in Hall County, subject to the applicable local permitting authority's …
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Installation or repair of an on-site sewage facility on the owner's property serving a single-family dwelling. The exemption is from the licensed-installer requirement only. The…
Frequently Asked Questions – On Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Carson County, subject to the applicable permitting authority's requirements The p…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual subject to Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F who builds the individual's own new residential construction or acts as the individual's…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building the individual's own new residential construction or acting as the individual's own contractor under the Texas residential building-code s…
capitol.texas.gov ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Under TCEQ rules a property owner may install an on-site sewage facility to serve their own single-family residence, subject to permit and inspection.
TCEQ - OSSF Information for Homeowners ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas. Whether an owner may install the OSSF depends on whether the permitting aut…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person who purchases industrialized housing or an industrialized building for the person's own use and assumes responsibility for all or part of the constructi…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Penalty for failure to provide statutory residential-construction notice under Texas Local Government Code Section 233.157, if the relevant county has adopted th…
Local Government Code Chapter 233. County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner who purchases an industrialized house or residential modular component and takes responsibility for some or all construction involved in its installa…
IHB – Residential Installation Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. A person installing industrialized housing or buildings in Upton County for the person's own use. The person must purchase the industrialized housing or building…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling the owner owns in Texas, including Hansford County, subject to the permitting authority's local requirem…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Texas allows a homeowner to install their own septic system serving a single-family dwelling they own and do not develop for sale/lease; unincorporated construction otherwise re…
TCEQ - Getting a Permit for an OSSF ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing an industrialized house or residential modular component for personal use who takes responsibility for some or all installation-related const…
Justification for Adoption of Administrative Rules — Industrialized Housing and Buildings ↗Statewide rule. Owner installation of an on-site sewage facility serving a single-family dwelling in Terry County, including unincorporated areas, subject to the applicable loca…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Reagan County, where the permitting authority allows owner instal…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing or repairing an OSSF serving a single-family dwelling in Texas, including Lubbock County, where the local permitting authority has not impose…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Owner-builders undertaking new residential construction in unincorporated Williamson County, insofar as county building-code conformity and county building-permit requirements a…
wilcotx.gov ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction in an unincorporated area of a Texas county to which Local Government Code Subchapter F applies, where the in…
Local Government Code Chapter 233: County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Statewide rule. A person purchasing Texas industrialized housing or an industrialized building for the person's own use, including applicable installations in King County. The p…
Installation Permit Information Packet ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. Penalty exposure for failure to submit required inspection notices under Chapter 233 Subchapter F. The exemption applies only to a penalty for failure to provide…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 Subchapter F in a county to which that subchapter applies. The …
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 233 ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF serving the owner's single-family dwelling in Armstrong County. The permitting authority must allow owner installation under its loca…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An individual building new residential construction covered by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, who builds the residence or acts as the ind…
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF serving the owner's single-family dwelling in Glasscock County, subject to the local permitting authority's requirements and all appl…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner installing an OSSF for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns on property the owner owns, where the property will not be developed for sale or lea…
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Unincorporated El Paso County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Permits ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Property owners building a residential home in unincorporated Tarrant County for their own occupancy. The exception applies only to property owners building a residential home t…
Guidelines for Development in the Unincorporated Areas of Tarrant County ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗A property owner or the owner's authorized agent applying for Denton County Development Permit(s) for construction or installation in unincorporated Denton County. The property …
Property Owner Permit Authorization Affidavit ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas. Electrical work is exemp…
Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Texas state page for all 254 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Texas counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
