Bolthole Index

Cottle County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Cottle County, Texas

42Index Score / 100
#185 of 254 in Texas

Unincorporated Cottle County, Texas has no building permit and no zoning ordinance12. Septic (OSSF) permits go through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's regional office in Abilene, since no local agency here is TCEQ-authorized3. A permit and approved plan are still required to build, alter or repair a system, though a single home on 10 acres or more can qualify for the state's site exemption4. Because the county has no zoning, there is no county-set rule on RVs, tiny homes or manufactured-home occupancy5.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Cottle County1
Zoning
No county zoning ordinance2
Septic permit
Required; issued by TCEQ's Abilene regional office, not a county office34
RV / tiny home living
No county occupancy rule; no zoning to set one5
Owner-builder exemption
Not documented; there is no county permit program to exempt from6
Minimum home size
No county minimum; no zoning to set one5
Wells
No state permit; governed by the rule of capture outside a groundwater conservation district7
Driveway on a state highway
TxDOT Form 1058 permit required for a new or modified driveway8

Who to call

Also useful

Cottle County Clerk's Office

Recording deeds, plats and land records for Cottle County; who to ask before subdividing a tract

806-492-3823

Cottle County Courthouse, 815 9th Street, Paducah, TX 79248

Also useful

Cottle County Judge's Office

General county administration and Commissioners Court; the default contact for anything Cottle County has no dedicated department for, including roads and emergency management

806-492-3613

Cottle County Courthouse, 815 9th Street, Paducah, TX 79248

Septic permits

TCEQ Region 3 Office (Abilene)

OSSF (septic) permitting authority for Cottle County, since no local jurisdiction has been authorized to run the program here

325-698-9674

1977 Industrial Blvd, Abilene, TX 79602-7833

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Cottle County, Texas?

Unincorporated Cottle County does not require a residential building permit1. Cottle County's official site lists no building or code-enforcement department, and Texas law gives most counties no general power to require one15. Texas does let a handful of large counties adopt a fire code covering commercial buildings, public buildings and multifamily buildings of four or more units, but only where the county's population tops 250,000 or borders one that does9. Cottle County's population of 1,294 people is nowhere near that threshold, so this option does not apply here and has no bearing on a single-family home, barn or shed109. Land inside the city limits of Paducah, the county seat, can be a different matter: city rules never apply to unincorporated county land, but they do apply inside Paducah itself, so confirm with the city if a parcel sits inside town limits1.

Who issues permits in Cottle County, and how do you reach the county?

Cottle County has no building department, because unincorporated land here needs no county building permit1. For anything else that needs county sign-off, the County Judge's Office is the general point of contact and sits at the Cottle County Courthouse in Paducah11. The County Clerk's Office, in the same courthouse, records deeds, plats and land documents and is who to call before subdividing a tract or filing paperwork on one12. Septic (OSSF) permits do not run through either county office; applications instead go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's regional office in Abilene, because Cottle County has no local agency authorized to run the OSSF program313. The courthouse address is worth keeping handy for any of these offices: 815 9th Street, Paducah, TX 7924812.

Does Cottle County have zoning?

Cottle County has no zoning ordinance, and no zoning or planning department appears on the county's official site2. Texas law does not give counties general zoning power; state law grants it only for a handful of narrow situations, such as certain coastal recreation areas, so a rural county like Cottle simply has none5. Without zoning, Cottle County sets no minimum home size, no minimum lot size, no setback and no building-height limit5. The same absence of zoning means the county places no occupancy restriction on RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings, though a subdivision's own deed restrictions can still apply, and Paducah's separate city rules can still apply to land inside its limits5. Texas law requires a plat when an owner outside municipal limits divides a tract into two or more parts to lay out a subdivision, subject to statutory exceptions, and we found no separate Cottle County platting order14. Land used primarily for agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management or timber use is among the exceptions, and the exemption ends if the use changes15. Check with the County Clerk's Office before dividing land12.

How do septic permits work in Cottle County?

A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair or extend a septic system (OSSF) anywhere in Texas, including Cottle County4. Because no local agency in Cottle County has been authorized to run the OSSF program, applications go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's regional office in Abilene rather than a county health department313. A single-family home on a tract of 10 acres or more can skip the permit under the state's site exemption, but only if a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator or engineer confirms the system will sit at least 100 feet from every property line, cause no nuisance or groundwater pollution, and serve as the only dwelling on the tract4. Soils here matter for that decision: only 22.2% of Cottle County soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a percolation test before you buy is worth the money even on a large tract16. A system that uses secondary treatment or drip irrigation must be inspected by a valid maintenance company once every four months unless a single-family homeowner is allowed to maintain it17. Grandfathered systems and TCEQ-listed emergency repairs follow separate rules; ask the Abilene regional office directly if either applies to a property you are considering13.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Cottle County?

Cottle County places no zoning-based restriction on living in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on your own land, because the county has no zoning ordinance to set one5. That is not the same as no rules at all: a septic permit still applies once a system is installed to serve any dwelling, RV included4. No source confirms a Cottle County short-term-rental ordinance, registration rule or fee, so silence should not be read as permission; call the County Judge's Office to ask before listing a property11. A driveway that connects to a state highway needs a TxDOT Form 1058 access permit regardless of what sits on the land, so budget time for that step if a state route is the only road frontage; no driveway work may start in the state right-of-way until TxDOT issues the executed permit and receives 24-hour notice818.

How do you build a home in Cottle County, step by step?

  1. Confirm the tract is outside Paducah's city limits; this guide covers unincorporated Cottle County, and Paducah's own rules can differ2.
  2. Order a soils test before closing: only 22.2% of Cottle County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so many tracts need an engineered system16.
  3. Contact the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Abilene regional office for a septic (OSSF) permit and site evaluation; a permit and approved plan are required before construction134.
  4. Ask whether a tract of 10 acres or more, with a single home and no other dwelling, can qualify for the state's site exemption from septic permitting; a licensed evaluator has to confirm the 100-foot setbacks first4.
  5. If the access road is a state highway, apply to TxDOT for a Form 1058 driveway permit before construction starts8.
  6. If you will divide a tract, ask about the state platting requirement and its agricultural exception, then record any new deed, plat or land document with the County Clerk's Office at the Cottle County Courthouse1412.
  7. Call the County Judge's Office with anything county government has no dedicated department for, since Cottle County has no building or zoning office to route the question to instead111.

What should you check before buying land in Cottle County?

Water in Cottle County comes from private wells, and Texas gives no state agency authority to regulate groundwater outside a groundwater conservation district, so the rule of capture governs unless a tract sits inside one7. Drought is a real risk to plan around: Cottle County has spent 43.1% of recent years in severe drought, with average annual precipitation of only 23.6 inches1920. Flood exposure has not been confirmed for Cottle County: no floodplain ordinance, floodplain administrator page or development standard was found on the county's official site, so ask the County Judge's Office directly if a tract sits near a creek or draw11. Access matters too: a driveway onto a state highway needs a TxDOT Form 1058 permit, so confirm which road serves a tract before counting on a quick connection8. Property taxes run an effective 1.2% rate with a median annual bill of $623, and Cottle County's typical home value is about $72,533212223. Farmland here averages about $1,059 an acre, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 98 miles from the county center2425.

Watch-outs

  • Texas requires a plat to divide a tract outside municipal limits into two or more parts to lay out a subdivision, with exceptions such as agricultural use; we found no separate Cottle County platting order, so check with the County Clerk's Office before dividing land.1412
  • Floodplain development rules for Cottle County were not confirmed online; ask the County Judge's Office before building near a creek or low-lying draw11.
  • Short-term-rental rules for Cottle County were not confirmed online; silence is not permission, so ask the County Judge's Office before listing a property11.

Sources

  1. Cottle County, Texas (official county website) (2026 county census)
  2. Cottle County, Texas (official county website) (2026 county census)
  3. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  4. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  5. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  6. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 (2026 county census)
  7. Groundwater Regulation for Private Well Owners, quoted and re-checked
  8. General Access Driveway Policy, quoted and re-checked
  9. Local Government Code Chapter 233, County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. County population: Bolthole Index county data
  11. Cottle County Judge's Office (cottlecountytx.gov)
  12. Cottle County Clerk's Office (cottlecountytx.gov)
  13. TCEQ Region 3 Office (Abilene) (tceq.texas.gov)
  14. Texas Local Government Code § 232.001, Plat Required, quoted and re-checked
  15. Texas Local Government Code § 232.0015, Exceptions to Plat Requirement, quoted and re-checked
  16. 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
  17. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  18. Permits, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  24. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Cottle County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleCottle CountyChildress CountyKing CountyMotley CountyFoard CountyHardeman CountyDickens County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsTCEQTCEQTX Commission on Env. QualityNot publishedTX Commission on Env. QualityNot publishedTCEQ Region 2

County locator

Cottle County in Texas

42
County map
Cottle County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Cottle County scores

Seclusion90100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1696% ev.
Admin Boringness8290% ev.
Durability23100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost8196% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$73kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$1,059Land / acre
23.6"Annual rain
43.1% of yrsSevere drought
56.9 / yr (+33.2)Mid-century 100°F days
31 daysMid-century dry spell
1.79" (+5.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.31×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,595Home insurance / yr
-3.7% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
71,241People within 2 hr
1,211Radius comparison (15 mi)
1.4People / sq mi
0%Federal land
92.7%Land at 15% slope or less
22.2%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
127,817 acWorkable land screen
9.8%Wooded land
3.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
63.1°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Cottle County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Town of Paducah

Answers from the rulebook for Cottle County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Cottle County rules

  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Building height · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Camping on your land · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Manufactured homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No zoning or planning department appears on the county's official site; Texas counties generally lack zoning authority in unincorporated areas.

    Cottle County, Texas (official county website) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Texas rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Industrialized housing or buildings installed in Texas, including purchasers or lessees acquiring a unit for their own or their company’s use.

    • A person purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for their own use or their company’s use may file for an installation permit instead of registering as an industrialized builder.
    • A person responsible for assembly, connection, and on-site construction for persons other than themselves must be registered as an industrialized builder.
    • Municipalities may require applicable local permits and licenses before construction begins when the municipality regulates the installation.
    “A person who is a retailer of industrialized housing or buildings, or who is responsible for the assembly, connection, and on-site construction and erection of an industrialized house or building for persons other than themselves, must be registered as an industrialized builder. Subcontractors do not require the registration unless required by other applicable state laws. For example, electricians, HVAC contractors, and plumbers must be licensed in accordance with the applicable state law. If you are purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for your own use, or your company's use, you may file for an installation permit in lieu of registering as an industrialized builder.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-builders subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, including applicable new residential construction in an unincorporated county that has adopted the required resolution or order.

    • The new residential construction must be built by the individual or the individual must act as the individual's own contractor.
    • The individual must intend to use the residence as the individual's primary residence.
    • The provision excuses the individual from a penalty for failure to provide notice under Sections 233.154(b) and (c); it does not state a general exemption from building-code compliance or inspections.
    • Chapter 233, Subchapter F applies only to a county that has adopted a resolution or order requiring application of the subchapter and that is within 50 miles of an international border or has a population of more than 100.
    “An individual who fails to provide proper notice in accordance with Sections 233.154(b) and (c) is not subject to a penalty under this subsection if: (1) the new residential construction is built by the individual or the individual acts as the individual's own contractor; and (2) the individual intends to use the residence as the individual's primary residence.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas.
      “A person who perform electrical work on a dwelling that they own and reside in is not required by the state to be licensed as electricians.”
    • Conditional — Electrical work on a dwelling owned and occupied by the property owner in Texas.
      “A person who perform electrical work on a dwelling that they own and reside in is not required by the state to be licensed”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components governed by the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program.

    • The mandatory state code adoption applies to industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components, not all construction statewide.
    • The effective date is July 1, 2024.
    • The International Existing Building Code applies to alterations of portable industrialized buildings.
    • Manufacturers already certified for Texas must have design-package documents reviewed and approved to the new editions with an approval date on or after July 1, 2024, unless the manufacturer elected to transition before the effective date under Department rule 70.70(a)(5)(B).
    • Construction begun on or after July 1, 2024 must comply with the new code editions and approved design packages.
    • Construction begun before July 1, 2024, or before a manufacturer's effective transition date, must meet the stated completion, inspection, and labeling deadline to remain eligible for a Texas decal.

    effective date: 2024-07-01 · International Building Code: 2021 Edition (including appendices C, F, and K) · International Residential Code: 2021 Edition (including appendices AG, AH, AK, AP, AQ, and AT) · International Fuel Gas Code: 2021 Edition · International Mechanical Code: 2021 Edition · International Plumbing Code: 2021 Edition · International Energy Conservation Code: 2015 Edition · National Electrical Code: 2020 Edition · International Existing Building Code: 2021 Edition (for alterations of portable industrialized buildings)

    “July 1, 2024, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components shall comply with the following codes, as amended in §70.101 of the IHB Rules:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components built for Texas under the Industrialized Housing and Buildings program.
      “Effective July 1, 2024, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components shall comply with the following codes, as amended in §70.101 of the IHB Rules:”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    OSSF permitting, inspection, and administration throughout Texas.

    • TCEQ administers the program in areas where no local jurisdiction has been authorized.
    • A local governmental entity may administer the program only after an order, ordinance, or resolution is approved by TCEQ.
    • The authorized agent administers the program within its approved area of jurisdiction.
    • Local programs may adopt requirements more stringent than state minimums.
    “The authorized agent is responsible for the proper implementation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366, 30 TAC Chapter 285, including reviewing OSSF permit applications, conducting inspections, investigating complaints, and more.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Cottle County locations where no local jurisdiction has been authorized to administer the OSSF program.
      “The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
    • Mixed — On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems, throughout Texas
      “TCEQ is not often the OSSF permitting authority. [...] The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, and operation of OSSFs in Texas, subject to stated exemptions and local requirements.

    • A permit and approved plan are required for construction, alteration, repair, extension, and operation of an OSSF.
    • A permit is generally required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.
    • A local permitting authority must be checked because local programs may be more stringent than state minimums.
    • The 10-acre exemption requires compliance with 30 TAC Chapter 285 planning, construction, and installation standards; a site evaluation by a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator or professional engineer; service to a single-family dwelling on a tract of at least 10 acres; no nuisance or groundwater pollution; all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from the property line; on-site effluent disposal; and the single-family dwelling must be the only dwelling on the tract.
    • Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.
    • Grandfathered systems may be exempt if installed before the local program was authorized or before September 1, 1989, whichever is earlier, and if they are not creating a nuisance, are not in need of repair, and have had no significant increase in use or other alteration.
    • The permitting authority must approve or deny planning materials and the permit application within 30 days of receipt.

    minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (single-family dwelling and all other stated conditions must be met) · minimum OSSF setback under 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet from property line (all parts of the OSSF) · emergency repair reporting deadline: <= 72 hours (after repairs have begun) · permit application decision deadline: <= 30 days (from receipt by permitting authority)

    “A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an OSSF, including a septic system, in Cottle County.
      “A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.”
    • Required — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an OSSF in Texas
      “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. [...] An OSSF may be exempt from permitting if it complies with all other requirements, including planning, construction, and installation standards of 30 TAC 285 AND meets the “10 acre rule”:”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    OSSF installation inspections statewide, including Cottle County, and recurring inspections for systems using secondary treatment or drip irrigation.

    • A designated representative of an authorized agent performs inspections of system installation.
    • Local permitting programs may impose requirements more stringent than state minimums.
    • A system using secondary treatment or drip irrigation must be inspected by a valid maintenance company once every four months, or be maintained by the single family homeowner, where allowed.
    • The cited TCEQ source separately identifies an exemption from permitting for qualifying single-family dwellings on tracts of 10 acres or larger when all listed 10-acre-rule conditions are met.
    • Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs have begun.

    maintenance inspection interval: per 4 months (For systems using secondary treatment or drip irrigation; single-family homeowner maintenance is allowed where permitted.)

    “A system using secondary treatment or drip irrigation must be inspected by a valid maintenance company once every four months, or be maintained by the single family homeowner, where allowed.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Not required — OSSF evaluation or inspection associated with the sale of a home in Cottle County.
      “Your mortgage company may require an evaluation of your OSSF before completing the sale. This type of evaluation is not required or regulated by TCEQ.”
    • Limited — OSSF installation and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas
      “Many times, the AA has a "designated representative" (DR) to assist them with their responsibilities, which include reviewing plans for constructing, altering, extending or repairing each OSSF; issuing permits; and inspecting system installation. [...] If the system uses an electronic monitor, automatic radio or telephone to notify the maintenance provider of system or component failure and to monitor the amount of disinfection in the system, reporting may be reduced to every six months.”
    • Limited — OSSFs using secondary treatment or drip irrigation in Texas.
      “A system using secondary treatment or drip irrigation must be inspected by a valid maintenance company once every four months, or be maintained by the single family homeowner, where allowed.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid wastewater sanitation through an OSSF in Texas.

    • An OSSF generally requires a permit and approved plan before construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, or operation.
    • A qualifying single-family dwelling on a tract of at least 10 acres may use the 10-acre permitting exemption only if every stated site-evaluation, setback, nuisance, groundwater, on-site disposal, and single-dwelling condition is met.
    • Local permitting authorities may impose requirements more stringent than state minimums.
    • Emergency repairs are exempt from permitting only for the listed repair types and must be reported in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.

    10-acre exemption tract size: >= 10 acres (all TCEQ conditions must be satisfied) · 10-acre exemption OSSF setback: >= 100 feet from property line (all parts of the OSSF)

    “An OSSF may be exempt from permitting if it complies with all other requirements, including planning, construction, and installation standards of 30 TAC 285 AND meets the “10 acre rule”:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Composting toilets used as on-site sewage facility treatment systems in Texas.
      “Composting toilets will be approved by the executive director provided the system has been tested and certified under NSF International Standard 41 (1999) or under any other standards approved by the executive director.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Drilling, equipping, operating, or completing a water well, or substantially altering a well or well pump, where the well is within a groundwater conservation district in Texas.

    • A groundwater conservation district must require a permit except as provided by Texas Water Code §36.117.
    • A district may not require a permit or permit amendment for maintenance or repair that does not increase production capability above the authorized or permitted production rate.
    • Permit applications must be in writing and sworn.
    • Whether a particular private well is exempt or subject to additional district requirements depends on the applicable groundwater conservation district's rules.

    permit application form: in writing and sworn

    “Except as provided by Section 36.117, a district shall require a permit for the drilling, equipping, operating, or completing of wells or for substantially altering the size of wells or well pumps.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Groundwater production and use in Texas, including Cottle County, subject to applicable local or regional groundwater conservation district rules.
      “State law does not provide any state agency with the authority to regulate the use or production of groundwater. Groundwater production and use is managed and regulated by local or regional groundwater conservation districts (GCDs).”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production land divisions outside municipal limits in Cottle County under Texas Local Government Code § 232.0015(c).

    • The tract must be divided into two or more parts.
    • The owner must not lay out a part of the tract described by Section 232.001(a)(3).
    • The land must be used primarily for agricultural use as defined by Section 1-d, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, or for farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production use within the meaning of Section 1-d-1, Article VIII, Texas Constitution.
    • If the tract ceases to be used primarily for the qualifying agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production use, the platting requirements of Chapter 232 apply.
    • The statute provides an exemption from the plat requirement; the cited provision does not establish a separate Cottle County agricultural certificate-of-exemption application or fee.
    “the land is to be used primarily for agricultural use [...] or for farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production use”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Statewide exemption from Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1001 engineering-licensing requirements for a private building used exclusively for farm, ranch, or agricultural purposes, or for storage of raw agricultural commodities, including in Cottle County.
      “(a) A person, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint stock association, or private corporation is exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter if: (1) a representation that engineering services have been or will be offered to the public is not made or implied; and (2) the person or entity is erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, or repairing or is drawing plans or specifications for: [...] (E) a private building to be used exclusively for: (i) farm, ranch, or agricultural purposes; or (ii) storage of raw agricultural commodities;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision platting in Cottle County outside municipal limits, under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232.

    • The general rule applies to an owner of a tract outside municipal limits who divides the tract into two or more parts to lay out a subdivision described by Section 232.001(a).
    • Section 232.0015 exceptions apply, including agricultural-use, family-transfer, acreage, veterans-land, state-land, and other statutory exceptions.
    • The cited state rule does not establish that Cottle County has adopted a separate local platting order or certificate procedure.
    • Municipal and extraterritorial-jurisdiction rules may affect land inside or subject to an applicable municipality agreement.
    “must have a plat of the subdivision prepared if the owner divides the tract into two or more parts to lay out:”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New or modified access driveways connecting property to a Texas state highway right of way.

    • A local public agency may receive access driveway permitting authority for state highways, but TxDOT approval remains required for drainage impacts on the state highway system before local approval.
    • No access driveway is permitted within a flared or widened right-of-way section at an intersection of a state highway with another highway, road, or street.
    • All entrances and exits, including radii, must be confined within the permittee's property frontage.
    • One-way 45-to-90-degree driveways are permitted for connections to one-way frontage roads or lane-divided highways; otherwise the driveway angle must be 75 to 90 degrees.
    • ADAAG and Texas Accessibility Standards apply.

    private residential driveway maximum width: <= 24 feet (Except as increased by permissible radii.) · driveway-to-pavement radius: >= 15 feet

    “A driveway must be constructed in accordance with a fully executed driveway permit”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — New or modified access driveways for property in Cottle County that abut a state highway or use state-highway right of way.
      “A completed Permit Form 1058 is necessary whenever new access driveways are constructed or existing access driveways are modified.”
    • Required — New or modified access driveways serving property abutting a Texas state highway, including applicable locations in Cottle County.
      “A completed Permit Form 1058 is necessary whenever new access driveways are constructed or existing access driveways are modified.”
    • Required — New or modified access driveways from property in Cottle County to a highway on the Texas state highway system.
      “A completed Permit Form 1058 is necessary whenever new access driveways are constructed or existing access driveways are modified.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems and holding tanks, located in Cottle County, Texas.

    • A permit and approved plan are required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.
    • Applications and planning materials must be submitted to the permitting authority identified for the county.
    • The TCEQ regional office is the permitting authority where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.
    • Local permitting programs can be more stringent than state minimums.
    • A 10-acre exemption may apply only if all listed conditions are met, including a licensed site evaluation or professional-engineer evaluation, a single-family dwelling on a tract of at least 10 acres, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from the property line, on-site effluent disposal, and no other dwelling on the tract.
    • Grandfathered OSSFs may not need a permit only if they were installed before a local program had an authorized program or before September 1, 1989, whichever is earlier, are not creating a nuisance, are not in need of repair, and have had no significant increase in use or other alteration.
    • Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit, but must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs have begun.
    • The permitting authority must approve or deny planning materials and the permit application within 30 days of receipt and provide a written explanation for a denial.

    minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (The exemption also requires every other condition listed by TCEQ.) · minimum OSSF setback for 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet from property line (The exemption also requires every other condition listed by TCEQ.) · emergency-repair report deadline: 72 hours after repairs have begun (Applies to emergency repairs that do not require a permit.) · permit application review deadline: 30 days from receipt (The permitting authority must approve or deny the planning materials and permit application.)

    “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. Always check with your local permitting authority.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Construction of a new driveway or revision of an existing driveway within right-of-way on a Texas state highway, including state highways in Cottle County.
      “No construction work on the driveway shall be undertaken on the right of way until a fully executed driveway permit has been received by the applicant and the applicant has given 24-hour notification to TxDOT.”
    • Partial — Construction of a new driveway or revision of an existing driveway serving property abutting a state highway in Cottle County, Texas.
      “To obtain a permit to construct a driveway or to revise any existing driveway, the applicant should contact the local District TxDOT office. The applicant shall complete and submit to TxDOT a Form 1058, Permit to Construct Access Driveway Facilities on Highway Right of Way, which must include a description of the proposed work, the applicant's name, mailing address, telephone number and location of the proposed driveway.”
    • Published (with conditions) — Constructing a new driveway or revising an existing driveway on the right of way of a Texas state highway.
      “The applicant shall complete and submit to TxDOT a Form 1058”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Texas counties adopting zoning regulations for specified unincorporated or otherwise specially defined areas.

    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    • Other Chapter 231 subchapters address special areas including the Amistad Recreation Area in Val Verde County, military zones, certain lakes, the El Paso Mission Trail Historical Area, Lake Somerville, and Falcon Lake in Zapata County.
    • The cited statute was enacted effective September 1, 1987; the Falcon Lake subchapter was added effective June 15, 2007, and amended effective September 1, 2009.

    Padre Island distance from publicly owned park or recreational development: <= 2 miles (Area must be outside a municipality and in Cameron or Willacy County.) · Padre Island distance from beach, wharf, or bathhouse: <= 2 miles (The beach, wharf, or bathhouse must be used by at least 500 persons annually.)

    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — County zoning authority over unincorporated land in Texas, where a specific statutory grant applies.
      “As you suggest, a county has very limited and specific zoning authority, and none that may be used to regulate construction or operation of the proposed facility.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    Texas counties adopting and enforcing fire-code building permits for specified buildings in unincorporated areas and applying residential building-code standards in certain counties.

    • Under Section 233.061, the county must have a population over 250,000 or be adjacent to a county with a population over 250,000.
    • Under Section 233.062, the fire code applies only to commercial establishments, public buildings, and multifamily residential dwellings consisting of four or more units constructed in an unincorporated area.
    • The fire code does not apply to an industrial facility having a fire brigade that conforms to Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements.
    • A covered applicant must submit a plan and a commissioners-court-set application fee; the county must issue or deny the permit within 30 days, and failure to act within 30 days approves the construction for purposes of the subchapter.
    • The fire code must conform to the International Fire Code or Uniform Fire Code as those codes existed on May 1, 2005, or establish protective measures exceeding those standards; later editions may be adopted.
    • Residential standards under Section 233.152 apply only if the county adopts a resolution or order and the county is within 50 miles of an international border or has a population over 100.
    • Those residential standards apply only to new single-family-house or duplex construction beginning after September 1, 2009; manufactured or modular structures governed by Occupations Code Chapters 1201 or 1202 are excluded from the definition of new residential construction.
    • A municipality's building code controls in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and Section 233.152 does not authorize county prior approval of new residential construction or county zoning regulations.
    • Fire-code inspection and permit fees may be charged under a fee schedule based on building type, limited to amounts necessary to administer and enforce the subchapter; inspection fees must be reasonable and reflect approximate inspection costs.

    county population threshold for fire-code authority: > 250000 persons (A county adjacent to a county over 250,000 also qualifies.) · multifamily residential dwelling threshold: >= 4 units (The fire code applies only to covered buildings constructed in an unincorporated area.) · residential-code border distance: <= 50 miles (Alternative qualification is county population over 100.) · application decision period: 30 days (If the commissioners court does not issue or deny the permit within 30 days after receiving the application and fee, construction is approved for purposes of the subchapter.) · residential standards effective construction date: > 2009-09-01 (Applies only to new residential construction that begins after September 1, 2009.)

    “The commissioners court of a county with a population of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to a county with a population of over 250,000 may adopt a fire code and rules necessary to administer and enforce the fire code. [...] The fire code applies only to the following buildings constructed in an unincorporated area of the county: (1) a commercial establishment; (2) a public building; and (3) a multifamily residential dwelling consisting of four or more units.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — County fire-code adoption and building-permit authority for specified buildings in unincorporated areas of qualifying Texas counties, including multifamily residential dwellings of four or more units.
      “The commissioners court of a county with a population of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to a county with a population of over 250,000 may adopt a fire code and rules necessary to administer and enforce the fire code.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in unincorporated Cottle County, Texas.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy or certificates of compliance for residential buildings in unincorporated Cottle County, Texas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning in Cottle County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Mandatory connection to public water or sewer utilities for property in Cottle County.
  • Building in a floodplain — Development in mapped floodplain areas of Cottle County, Texas.
2 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Living off-grid in Cottle County, Texas

Is Cottle County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Cottle County scores 42/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 1,211 people within 15 miles and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: thin water margin (23.6″/yr rainfall) and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Cottle County, Texas?

Cottle County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) OSSF Program (TCEQ Region 3 Abilene serves absent a confirmed county authorized agent). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Cottle County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Cottle County is allowed: Unincorporated Cottle County: no county rule sets this, because Cottle County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.cottle.tx.us. Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits. Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Cottle County, Texas?

Land in Cottle County runs about $1,059 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Cottle County?

Cottle County gets about 23.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 43.1% of years.

How remote is Cottle County?

A typical private-land location has about 1,211 people within 15 miles and 569,474 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Cottle compares in Texas

Compare side-by-side →See all 254 Texas counties ranked →