Bolthole Index

Bell County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Troy, Texas

The City of Troy, Texas (Bell County) has its own zoning ordinance with 13 districts1. Troy also issues building permits, and none is issued for a structure on a subdivision lot until the plat is approved and filed2. Septic is separate: the Bell County Public Health District permits septic systems in Bell County3. Land outside Troy city limits follows the county's rules instead.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, Troy has its own zoning ordinance with 13 districts1
Building permit
Required for structures on subdivision lots; no permit until the plat is approved and filed2
Septic
City Secretary written authorization where city sewer is unavailable, with TCEQ or its agent licensing the system4
Minimum lot (single-family)
1 acre in Agricultural, 9,000 sq ft in SF-15
Manufactured homes
Permitted in the MH district, in a manufactured housing community6
RVs in flood zones
Under 180 consecutive days, or licensed and highway-ready, or permitted7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Troy (City Hall)

City building permits, zoning questions, plats and city-sewer or onsite-sewer authorization inside Troy city limits

254-938-2505

201 East Main Street, Troy, TX 76579

Septic permits

Bell County Public Health District, Environmental Health (OSSF Program)

Septic (OSSF) permitting and inspection in Bell County

254-532-9800

4236 Lowes Dr., Temple, TX 76502

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Troy means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Troy, Texas have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. Troy divides the city into 13 zoning districts, and the uses, height and area rules are uniform within each district1. That differs from unincorporated Bell County, which has no county zoning8.

For a single-family house, the minimum lot is 1 acre in the Agricultural district and 9,000 square feet in SF-1; a smaller lot of record from before the ordinance can still be used for a house5. The minimum front yard is 50 feet in Agricultural and 25 feet in SF-1, with special front-yard rules in the code9. Height tops out at 3 stories in Agricultural and 2.5 stories in SF-110.

Manufactured homes are permitted in the MH district, in a manufactured housing community6. In mapped flood zones A1-30, AH and AE, an RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be licensed and ready for highway use, or meet floodplain permit, elevation and anchoring requirements7. We could not confirm Troy rules for tiny homes, accessory dwelling units or temporary camping, so ask the City of Troy before planning one11.

Do you need a building permit in Troy, and who issues it?

Yes, the City of Troy issues building, repair, plumbing and electrical permits, and refuses them for any structure on a lot in a subdivision whose plat has not been approved and filed for record2. A structure must also be serviceable by the city sewer system before the city issues a building permit, unless an onsite system is authorized in writing12. Every building needs a potable onsite water source12.

The city publishes a fee schedule that controls over fees listed elsewhere in its code13. We could not confirm which adopted building code edition Troy enforces, whether it requires inspections, or whether it has an owner-builder exemption, so ask City Hall11.

Who reaches the building and planning office in Troy?

Troy lists City Hall at 201 East Main Street, Troy, TX 76579, phone 254-938-250511. We did not find a separate building department page, so start there for building permits, zoning and plat questions. Plats need City Council approval before any construction work begins on subdivision improvements14.

How do septic permits work inside Troy?

Where the city sanitary sewer is unavailable for a subdivision lot, an approved onsite sewer system may be authorized in writing by the City Secretary, and it must be licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its applicable agent4. In Bell County that agent is the Bell County Public Health District, which requires every septic system to be permitted regardless of lot size, with construction not starting before the application is approved3.

Bell County's septic permit and inspection requirements apply to septic systems county-wide1516. Call the district at 254-532-980017. Conventional drain fields rate poorly across much of Bell County: only 6.8% of soils are rated not limited, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system18. We could not confirm an inspection rule or administering agent specific to Troy.

Building a home in Troy: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and minimum lot size with City Hall1911.
  2. Confirm the subdivision plat is approved and filed; no building permit is issued without it2.
  3. Confirm city sewer service, or get written City Secretary authorization for an onsite system12.
  4. If onsite, apply to the Bell County Public Health District before construction317.
  5. Apply for the city building permit and check the fee schedule1311.
  6. For a lot in a mapped flood zone, expect floodplain permit requirements for RVs and structures7.

What stays with Bell County, and what should you check before buying?

Everything outside Troy city limits follows Bell County's rules: no county building permit and no county zoning in unincorporated areas2021. Septic permits are a county health district matter either way15.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit22. We could not confirm whether Troy requires a city driveway permit. County-level figures: Bell County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%23, and the typical home value is about $252,46724. Ask the Bell County Engineer's Office about floodplain development, which is required in areas of special flood hazard under county jurisdiction25.

Watch-outs

  • The City of Troy decides building permits and zoning inside city limits, but septic permits come from the Bell County Public Health District3.
  • No building permit is issued for a structure on a subdivision lot until the plat is approved and filed2.
  • We could not confirm Troy rules on tiny homes, accessory dwelling units, temporary camping, wells or owner-builder work; ask City Hall before you buy11.

Sources

  1. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Troy, TX, Exhibit 10A Subdivision Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  3. Bell County Public Health District - On-Site Sewage Facilities (2026 county census)
  4. City of Troy, TX, Exhibit 10A Subdivision Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Troy, TX, Flood Damage Prevention (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  8. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  9. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Troy (City Hall) (cityoftroy.us)
  12. City of Troy, TX, Exhibit 10A Subdivision Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Troy, TX, Chapter FS Fee Schedule (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Troy, TX, Exhibit 10A Subdivision Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  15. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  16. Application to Construct OSSF, quoted and re-checked
  17. Bell County Public Health District, Environmental Health (OSSF Program) (bellcountyhealth.org)
  18. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  19. City of Troy, TX, Chapter 14A Zoning Ordinance (Troy), quoted and re-checked
  20. Frequently Asked Questions — Bell County Engineer, quoted and re-checked
  21. Frequently Asked Questions - Bell County Engineer, quoted and re-checked
  22. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Troy

Troy’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Any structure on a lot in a Troy subdivision.

    • A permit is unavailable until the subdivision plat is approved and filed and the applicable water, sewer, street, and drainage standards are fully complied with.
    • If the City sanitary-sewer collection system is unavailable, an approved onsite sewer facility may be authorized in writing by the City Secretary if licensed by TCEQ or its applicable agent.
    “No building, repair, plumbing or electrical permit shall be issued by the City for any structure on a lot in a subdivision for which a plat has not been approved and filed for record”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Troy city limits.

    • Uses, height, and area regulations vary by zoning district.
    “The City is hereby divided into thirteen (13) zoning districts, the use, height and area regulations as set out herein shall be uniform in each district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Troy city limits.

    • The code identifies 13 districts and an FP prefix when applied as a sub-district on the zoning map.

    number of zoning districts: 13

    “The City is hereby divided into thirteen (13) zoning districts”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family detached dwellings in Troy Agricultural and SF-1 districts.

    • A lot of record with less area before adoption may be used for a single-family dwelling.
    • Existing lots may not be reduced below the stated minimums.

    Agricultural District minimum lot area: 1 Acre (single-family detached dwelling) · SF-1 minimum lot area: 9000 square feet (single-family detached dwelling)

    “Single-Family Detached Dwelling | 1 Acre | 9,000 | 7,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 7,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | -”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family detached dwellings in Troy Agricultural and SF-1 districts.

    • The zoning code contains special front-yard regulations and additional side and rear-yard rules not fully extracted here.

    Agricultural District minimum front yard: 50 feet (except as otherwise described in § 8-402) · SF-1 minimum front yard: 25 feet (except as otherwise described in § 8-402)

    “Minimum Required Front Yard Except As Hereinafter Described | 50 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 See 8-402 (2)”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Buildings and structures in Troy zoning districts.

    • The applicable minimum regulation depends on the district and use.
    “unless it is in conformity with all the minimum regulations herein specified for lot area, lot width, lot depth, lot coverage and front, side and rear yards.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings in Troy Agricultural and SF-1 districts.

    • The listed story limits are subject to § 9-102 special height regulations.

    Agricultural District maximum height: 3 stories (except as noted in § 9-102) · SF-1 maximum height: 2.5 dwelling stories (except as noted in § 9-102)

    “A, agricultural | three (3) stories except as noted in section 9-102”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles in mapped Troy flood-hazard areas.

    • Within flood zones A1-30, AH, and AE, an RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet floodplain permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements.

    maximum consecutive days: < 180 days (unless fully licensed and ready for highway use or compliant with floodplain permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements)

    “be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; (B) be fully licensed and ready for highway use; or (C) meet the permit requirements”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Troy city limits.

    • The MH district permits manufactured homes in a manufactured-housing community.
    • Flood-hazard standards may also apply in mapped special flood-hazard areas.
    “MH | MANUFACTURED HOME DISTRICT: Permits manufactured homes in a manufactured housing community.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Onsite sewer facilities serving structures in Troy subdivisions where City sanitary sewer is unavailable.

    • Written City Secretary authorization is required.
    • The onsite facility must be licensed by TCEQ or its applicable agent.
    • Onsite facilities must be approved by the duly authorized governmental authority.
    “the use of an approved on site sewer facility system may be authorized in writing by the City Secretary”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite sewer facilities for Troy subdivision lots where City sanitary sewer is unavailable.

    • The City Secretary may authorize the system in writing.
    • The facility must be licensed by TCEQ or its applicable agent.
    “provided that the same is licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its applicable agent.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Onsite sewer facilities for structures on Troy subdivision lots where City sewer is unavailable.

    • Written City Secretary authorization and TCEQ or applicable-agent licensing are required.
    “In the event the City’s sanitary sewer collection system is unavailable, the use of an approved on site sewer facility system may be authorized in writing by the City Secretary”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Structures on lots in Troy subdivisions.

    • A structure must be serviceable by the City sanitary-sewer collection system before the City issues a building permit.
    • Where the collection system is unavailable, an approved onsite sewer facility may be authorized in writing.
    • Every building must have a potable onsite water source and fresh-water distribution system.
    “Building permits shall only be issued by the City for any structure on any lot in a subdivision that is serviceable by the City’s sanitary sewer collection system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and subdivision improvements inside Troy city limits.

    • A plat cannot be filed until City Council approval, completion and inspection of improvements, and required maintenance or surety bonds.
    • No construction work may begin before City Council plat approval.
    “No construction work shall begin on the proposed improvements in the proposed subdivision prior to the plat being approved by the City Council.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building, development, utility, and platting fees inside Troy city limits.

    • The printed fee schedule controls if it conflicts with fees or rates elsewhere in the code.
    “Editor’s note–The fee schedule printed herein shall control in the case of any conflicts with any fees and/or rates contained in the chapters of this Code of Ordinances.”
  • Permit processPartial

    City building permits for structures on lots in Troy subdivisions.

    • The plat must be approved and filed.
    • Subdivision standards including water, sewer, street, and drainage provisions must be fully complied with.
    “nor for any structure on a lot within a subdivision which the standards contained herein or referred to herein have not been complied with in full”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Troy or Bell County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Troy city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Troy city limits.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Troy city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Troy city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Troy city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Troy publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bell County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Bell County: county rules, score and offices