Bolthole Index

Culberson County, Texas

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

32Index Score / 100
#252 of 254 in Texas

Unincorporated Culberson County, Texas does not require a residential building permit and has no county building or planning department1. Culberson County also has no countywide zoning ordinance2. Septic (OSSF) permits come from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's El Paso regional office rather than a county agent3, and drilling a well in most of the county requires a permit from the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District45.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Culberson County1
Zoning
No countywide zoning ordinance found2
Septic permits
TCEQ's El Paso regional office (Region 6), not a county agent36
Well permit
Required by the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District for a non-exempt well5
RV living
Unrestricted in unincorporated Culberson County7
Tiny home
Unrestricted in unincorporated Culberson County7
Minimum home size
None set in unincorporated Culberson County7
Driveway on a state highway
Needs a TxDOT Form 1058 permit8

Who to call

Also useful

Culberson County Judge & Commissioners Court

General county administration; the point of contact since Culberson County has no building, planning or zoning department

(432) 283-2059

Culberson County Courthouse, 300 La Caverna St, Van Horn, TX 79855

Septic permits

TCEQ Region 6 (El Paso) Regional Office, OSSF program

Septic (OSSF) permits for Culberson County, where no local jurisdiction has been authorized

915-834-4949

Well permits

Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District

Well drilling permits and groundwater withdrawal permits within the district's boundaries in Culberson County

(432)-283-1548

1300 West Broadway Blvd, Van Horn, TX 79855

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 Culberson 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 Culberson County, Texas?

No. Unincorporated Culberson County does not require a residential building permit1. The county's official website lists no building, inspection or permitting department among its government offices1, and Texas counties generally lack authority to require one outside a few narrow, population-gated exceptions9. Van Horn, the county seat, is Culberson County's only incorporated community, so if your land is inside Van Horn city limits rather than the surrounding unincorporated county, check with the city separately.

Who handles permitting questions in Culberson County?

There is no dedicated building or planning department in Culberson County1. For anything the county's own pages don't cover, the Culberson County Judge and Commissioners Court at the Culberson County Courthouse are the point of contact10. Reach them at (432) 283-2059 or 300 La Caverna St, Van Horn, TX 7985510. A driveway onto a state highway is a separate process: contact the local TxDOT district office and file Form 1058 before you build it8.

Does Culberson County have zoning?

Culberson County has no countywide zoning ordinance2. Because Texas gives counties zoning power only in narrow, specifically named circumstances that do not include Culberson County, the county cannot set a minimum lot size, setbacks, a building height limit or zoning districts for unincorporated land7. That means unincorporated Culberson County has no zoning-based restriction on accessory dwellings or manufactured homes either7. Van Horn is the exception to check separately if your parcel sits inside city limits.

How do septic and well permits work in Culberson County?

Culberson County has no locally authorized septic program, so the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Region 6 office in El Paso is the OSSF permitting authority here rather than a county office; call it at 915-834-494936. A permit is required statewide to construct, install, alter, extend or repair an OSSF11, though a single-family home on a tract of at least 10 acres can qualify for Texas's 10-acre exemption if all TCEQ conditions are met, including keeping every part of the system at least 100 feet from the property line12. Only about 20% of Culberson County's mapped soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field13, so get a site evaluation before you count on a standard system. A system using secondary treatment or drip irrigation must also be inspected by a maintenance company once every four months14. Drilling most wells also needs a permit: the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District requires a well-drilling permit before a non-exempt well is drilled, completed, equipped or altered, and even an exempt well needs a registration form45.

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

In unincorporated Culberson County, living in an RV or a tiny home on your own land is unrestricted, because the county has no zoning ordinance to set occupancy rules for either7. The same absence of zoning means Culberson County sets no minimum dwelling size for unincorporated land7. This is a county-level answer only: it does not apply inside Van Horn, and it says nothing about deed restrictions a particular subdivision may carry.

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

  1. Confirm your tract is in unincorporated Culberson County rather than inside Van Horn, since the city may set its own rules2.
  2. Because unincorporated Culberson County has no building permit or zoning requirement, you can generally start planning construction without a county permit12.
  3. Get a site evaluation and apply for your OSSF (septic) permit through TCEQ's Region 6 office in El Paso, since Culberson County has no local authorized agent3611.
  4. If you'll drill a well, apply to the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District for a well-drilling permit before drilling45.
  5. If your access road will connect to a state highway, apply to TxDOT for a driveway permit on Form 1058 through the local TxDOT district office before building the driveway8.
  6. For anything else, call the County Judge and Commissioners Court at (432) 283-205910.

What should you check before buying land in Culberson County?

Check septic feasibility early: only about 20% of Culberson County's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field13, and the county averages just 11.4 inches of rain a year with roughly a third of years in severe drought1516, both relevant to any well you'll need to permit through the Groundwater Conservation District4. Culberson County is very sparsely populated, at about 0.6 people per square mile17, and sits roughly 119 miles from the nearest metro area18, so factor in distance for supplies, contractors and emergency services. Typical property tax runs about 0.9% of value, with a median annual bill near $7261920. If you plan to split a tract into two or more parts to lay out lots or streets outside city limits, a plat approved by the commissioners court and recorded with the county clerk is required, with exceptions for land used primarily for agriculture and some other divisions2122. Culberson County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces a flood damage prevention ordinance in flood-hazard areas, so check the flood map before siting a house23.

Watch-outs

  • Culberson County's own pages do not confirm whether the county has adopted the Chapter 233 resolution that would trigger residential building-code or inspection requirements; if unsure, ask the County Judge's office directly before you build109.
  • No official Culberson County page confirms an owner-builder exemption; call the County Judge's office to check before you buy or build10. Subdivision platting and flood-hazard rules do apply, so check them before splitting or siting on a parcel2123.

Sources

  1. Culberson County (official) (2026 county census)
  2. Culberson County (official) (2026 county census)
  3. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  4. Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District (ccgwcd.org)
  5. Application for Well Drilling Permit, quoted and re-checked
  6. TCEQ Region 6 (El Paso) Regional Office, OSSF program (records.tceq.texas.gov)
  7. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  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. Culberson County Judge & Commissioners Court (co.culberson.tx.us)
  11. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  12. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  13. 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
  14. Advice for an Owner of an On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic System), quoted and re-checked
  15. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 232, County Regulation of Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  22. Texas Local Government Code § 232.0015, Exceptions to Plat Requirement, quoted and re-checked
  23. Culberson County, Texas Multi-Hazard Mitigation Action Plan 2022 Final, quoted and re-checked

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, Culberson County has no countywide zoning.

RuleCulberson CountyJeff Davis CountyReeves CountyHudspeth CountyLoving CountyWard CountyWinkler County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredLimitedLimitedNot requiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsTCEQJeff Davis CountyReeves CountyCounty OSSF ProgramLoving CountyWardWinkler County

County locator

Culberson County in Texas

32
County map
Culberson County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Culberson County scores

Seclusion87100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency996% ev.
Admin Boringness8290% ev.
Durability24100% 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 →

$175kTypical home
0.9%Property tax
$1,192Land / acre
11.4"Annual rain
33.3% of yrsSevere drought
33.3 / yr (+24.2)Mid-century 100°F days
37.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.01" (+7.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.19×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,580Home insurance / yr
-2.9% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
32Radius comparison (15 mi)
0.6People / sq mi
2.4%Federal land
75%Land at 15% slope or less
19.9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
425,798 acWorkable land screen
1.3%Wooded land
0.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
62.8°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Culberson 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Culberson County

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

Culberson County rules

  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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.”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    The documented OSSF parcel at 35961 State Highway 54, Van Horn, Culberson County, Texas, identified in TCEQ Permit Application Number 055048.

    • The documented facility satisfied TCEQ design, construction, and installation requirements before the permit was issued.
    • Any alterations, extensions, or repairs to the OSSF require a new permit, and the owner must notify the El Paso Region Office of those changes.
    • The cited TCEQ Region 6 office is at 401 E. Franklin Ave., Ste. 560, El Paso, Texas 79901-1212; main line 915-834-4949.
    • The source does not establish that TCEQ Region 6 administers every parcel in Culberson County; it establishes administration for the identified parcel.

    TCEQ OSSF permit application number: 055048 · El Paso Region Office main line: 915-834-4949

    “Located at 35961 State Highway 54, Van Horn, Culberson County, Texas OSSF Permit Application Number 055048 [...] This TCEQ On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) permit is issued”
  • Well permitLimited

    Well drilling and groundwater withdrawal in the territory of the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District.

    • The district application covers activities requiring a well drilling permit under District Rule § 6.201 and identifies drilling, completing or equipping, or altering a non-exempt well as permit activities.
    • The application states that no water may be withdrawn from a well without first obtaining a groundwater withdrawal permit or interim production status.
    • Existing exempt wells use a registration form; that form expressly states it is not a drilling permit.
    • The cited materials do not establish that every well, including every domestic or exempt well, requires the same permit.

    well-drilling application fee: 500 USD per well (non-refundable; additional processing costs may be assessed on an as-needed basis)

    “Indicate the activity for which the well drilling permit is being sought: Drilling non-exempt well”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New structures and structures modified or repaired in Culberson County flood-hazard areas regulated under the county's flood damage prevention ordinance.

    • Culberson County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.
    • Culberson County has adopted and enforces a flood damage prevention ordinance.
    • Building inspectors verify compliance when new structures are constructed and when structures are modified or repaired.
    • The source states that the ordinance specifies standards for development in identified Special Flood Hazard Areas.
    • The detailed substantial-improvement threshold, elevation requirements, manufactured-home requirements, floodway restrictions, and floodplain-administrator process described elsewhere in the source are expressly attributed to the Town of Van Horn and are not applied to Culberson County countywide.
    “Each jurisdiction has adopted and enforces a flood damage prevention ordinance. Building inspectors verify compliance with each flood damage prevention ordinance when new structures are constructed”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Texas counties have no general zoning authority over unincorporated land, and the county lists no planning/zoning department.

    Culberson County (official) ↗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

    An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas.

    • Electrical work is exempt from state electrician licensing when performed on a dwelling the person owns and resides in.
    • Plumbing is exempt from state plumbing licensing when performed by the property owner in the property owner's homestead.
    • Air-conditioning and refrigeration contracting is exempt from the applicable state registration requirements when performed in a building owned solely by the person as the person's home.
    • These exemptions do not establish a blanket exemption for every construction trade or contractor-regulated activity.
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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:”
  • 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, repair, and operation of OSSFs, including septic systems, in Culberson County under Texas statewide requirements.
      “Permits are required for on-site sewage facilities (OSSFs) including septic systems and holding tanks.”
    • 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 and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas

    • Authorized agents or their designated representatives inspect system installation.
    • Some permitting authorities impose more stringent requirements.
    • Maintenance-provider inspection and reporting requirements apply to systems and circumstances governed by 30 TAC §285.91(4).
    • Electronic monitoring may reduce reporting to every six months where the stated monitoring conditions apply.

    reduced maintenance reporting interval with qualifying electronic monitoring: 6 months (only where the system uses the specified electronic monitoring, automatic notification, and disinfection monitoring)

    “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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • 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”:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Off-grid sanitation using an OSSF/septic system in Culberson County.
      “tract of land that is 10 acres or larger”
    • 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.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A tract outside municipal limits in Culberson County divided into two or more parts where the land will be used primarily for agricultural use, or for farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production use, and no part is laid out for public use as described in Local Government Code § 232.001(a)(3).

    • The tract must be outside the limits of a municipality.
    • The owner must divide the tract into two or more parts.
    • The owner must not lay out a part of the tract described by § 232.001(a)(3), namely streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts intended for public use.
    • The land must be used primarily for agricultural use as defined by Article VIII, § 1-d of the Texas Constitution, or for farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production use within the meaning of Article VIII, § 1-d-1.
    • If the tract ceases to be used primarily for the qualifying agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production use, the chapter’s platting requirements apply.
    • This is an exemption from the county plat requirement; it is not a general exemption from septic, floodplain, deed-recording, municipal, or other applicable requirements.
    • The section also states that the chapter does not apply to subdivisions governed by Subchapter B or G, except as provided by § 232.0013, and separately provides family-transfer, greater-than-10-acre, and Veterans’ Land Board exceptions.

    division threshold: >= 2 parts · qualifying use: primarily agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production (The tract must satisfy the statutory use definitions.) · public-use layout: none (No part may be laid out for streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other public use under § 232.001(a)(3).)

    “A county may not require [...] a plat of the subdivision prepared if:”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land outside municipal limits in Culberson County, including unincorporated areas, when the owner divides a tract into two or more parts to lay out a subdivision, lots, or public-use streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts of the tract.

    • A plat is required under Texas Local Government Code § 232.001 for the specified divisions outside municipal limits.
    • The plat must be filed and recorded with the county clerk of the county where the tract is located.
    • The commissioners court must approve a plat required by § 232.001 by an order entered in the court minutes.
    • The commissioners court may impose a plat-application fee to cover county review and inspection costs; the fee may vary by proposed lots, acreage, street and drainage improvements, or other reasonable criteria.
    • A county may define and classify divisions and need not require platting for every division otherwise within the chapter.
    • The chapter does not apply to subdivisions governed by Subchapter B or G, except as provided by § 232.0013.
    • The agricultural, family-transfer, greater-than-10-acre, and Veterans’ Land Board exceptions in § 232.0015 apply where their stated conditions are met.
    • Municipal limits and any applicable municipality-county extraterritorial-jurisdiction agreement may affect which authority regulates the subdivision.

    division threshold: >= 2 parts (The owner must be dividing the tract into two or more parts.) · plat approval: commissioners court order entered in court minutes · plat application fee: authorized; amount may vary by lots, acreage, street/drainage improvements, or other reasonable criteria

    “The owner [...] 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New access driveways or modifications to existing access driveways connecting property in Culberson County to a state highway.
      “A completed Permit Form 1058 is necessary whenever new access driveways are constructed or existing access driveways are modified.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Constructing a new driveway or revising an existing driveway on the right of way of a Texas state highway.

    • The applicant should contact the local District TxDOT office.
    • The applicant must submit Form 1058, Permit to Construct Access Driveway Facilities on Highway Right of Way.
    • The application must be for the bona fide purpose of securing or changing access to the owner's property, not parking or servicing vehicles on state highway rights of way.
    • No construction may begin on the right of way until a fully executed driveway permit is received and the applicant gives TxDOT 24-hour notification.
    • The driveway must comply with the executed permit and applicable regulations; TxDOT inspection must find construction satisfactory.
    • Where a local public agency has permitting authority, drainage impacts on the state highway system still require TxDOT approval before local approval.
    • Driveway geometrics, utilities, environmental requirements, wetlands considerations, ADAAG, TAS, and other applicable state and federal laws must be considered.

    required form: Form 1058, Permit to Construct Access Driveway Facilities on Highway Right of Way · advance notification: 24 hours (Notification to TxDOT is required before construction on the right of way.) · private residential driveway maximum width: <= 24 feet (Except as increased by permissible radii.) · minimum driveway radius to highway pavement: >= 15 feet

    “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 — Residential building inspections in Culberson County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for residential buildings in Culberson County.
  • Local zoning — The aggregate presence or variation of zoning rules among Culberson County and incorporated local jurisdictions.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water and wastewater utility connection requirements in Culberson County.
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use in Culberson County, Texas.
1 more unanswered
  • 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 Culberson County, Texas

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

Culberson County scores 32/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 32 people within 15 miles and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 11.4″ of rain a year, in severe drought 33.3% of years and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

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

Culberson 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) regional office. 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 Culberson County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Culberson County is allowed: Unincorporated Culberson County: no county rule sets this, because Culberson 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.culberson.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 Culberson County, Texas?

Land in Culberson County runs about $1,192 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Culberson County?

Culberson County gets about 11.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 33.3% of years.

How remote is Culberson County?

A typical private-land location has about 32 people within 15 miles and 1,228,464 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Culberson compares in Texas

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