Bolthole Index

Denton County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Krum, Texas

The City of Krum, Texas, in Denton County, zones land inside city limits under its own ordinance1, and the city's Development Services Department handles construction permits2. RVs and travel trailers may not be used as on-site dwellings in the Agricultural district3. Septic rules inside city limits we could not confirm; ask the city first. The county's Development Permit and septic order cover only unincorporated Denton County4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the city has its own zoning districts and ordinance15
Building permits
Issued by the City of Krum Development Services; most construction work requires one2
RV as a dwelling
Prohibited in the Agricultural district3
Minimum home size
2,200 square feet in the Agricultural district6
Agricultural lot
5-acre minimum lot area7
Short-term rentals
Single-family short-term rentals are prohibited8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Krum, Development Services Department

Construction permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Krum city limits

(940) 398-7302

310 West McCart Street, P.O. Box 217, Krum, TX 76249

Septic permits

Denton County Public Health, Environmental Health Division

On-site sewage facility permits and inspections in unincorporated Denton County, outside Krum city limits

940-349-2920

3900 Morse Street, Denton, TX 76208

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Krum, Texas have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and lot size?

Yes. The City of Krum divides the land inside its limits into zoning districts and sets use, height and area rules for each1. The ordinance lists districts from Agricultural (A) through single-family, multifamily, commercial and light industrial5.

In the Agricultural district, the minimum lot is 5 acres, 125 feet wide and 200 feet deep7. In the SF-10 single-family district, the minimum lot is 10,000 square feet and 80 feet wide9. Newly annexed land starts out zoned agricultural7.

RVs, travel trailers and motor homes may not be used for on-site dwelling purposes in the Agricultural district3. The ordinance also states a minimum of 2,200 square feet of floor area per dwelling in that district, which is a hurdle for a tiny home6. We could not find a Krum rule written specifically for tiny homes; ask Development Services.

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

The City of Krum's Development Services Department handles permit applications, plan review and inspections inside city limits, and the city states that most construction work requires a permit2. Call Development Services at (940) 398-7302 before you start, even if you think no permit is needed2.

Denton County's Development Permit is a different office and a different rule: it applies to development in unincorporated Denton County, not inside Krum4. A property inside city limits goes to the city; a property outside city limits may fall under the county. Check the line before you buy. The county's page for outside-city rules is Denton County.

We could not confirm which building code the city has adopted, its permit fees, or an owner-builder exemption for Krum. Ask Development Services.

How do septic permits work in Krum?

We could not confirm who permits septic systems inside Krum city limits, or whether the city requires a connection to city sewer. Ask Krum Development Services at (940) 398-73022.

Outside city limits, the Denton County Environmental Health Division administers the county's on-site sewage facility order throughout unincorporated Denton County10. A permit is required there to install, repair, extend or alter a system11. New-system permits cost $310 and repairs $10011.

A state exemption may apply to a single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres when all TCEQ conditions are met11. The Environmental Health Division is at 940-349-292012.

Can you live in an RV or run a short-term rental in Krum?

Not in the Agricultural district. Recreational vehicles, travel trailers and motor homes may not be used as on-site dwellings there, though RVs may be parked on a paved hard surface behind the front building facade3. Other residential districts have separate RV limits we could not confirm.

Single-family short-term rentals are prohibited in Krum8. Multifamily short-term rentals are allowed in the MF-15 and OT districts with a specific use permit and a 2-year operating permit13.

What are the setback and height rules for building in Krum's Agricultural district?

In the Agricultural district, a house needs a front yard of at least 25 feet, a rear yard of at least 25 feet, and a side yard of 15 percent of the lot width, which need not exceed 50 feet14. Corner lots need 25 feet from the street right-of-way14.

Main buildings are limited to two stories or 35 feet15. Uninhabited agricultural structures may reach 45 feet and other accessory buildings 18 feet15. Main buildings may cover up to 35 percent of the lot, and 45 percent with all accessory buildings combined16.

In SF-10, the front yard is 25 feet and the interior side yard is 7.5 feet17. Section 43 of the ordinance adds further requirements14.

Building a home in Krum: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Krum city limits, and note its zoning district5.
  2. Check the district's minimum lot size and minimum dwelling size against your plan76.
  3. Call Krum Development Services at (940) 398-7302 to confirm which permits you need2.
  4. Ask the same office who permits septic and whether city sewer is required for your lot.
  5. Build to the district's setback, height and coverage limits14.

What stays with Denton County, and what to check before you buy?

Land outside city limits falls under Denton County. There, a Development Permit from Development Services is required for any development4, and a Culvert Permit is required for any new drive on a county-maintained road18.

A development permit is also required inside and outside mapped flood hazard areas under the county's floodplain ordinance19. Ask Krum whether the same applies inside city limits.

A home on this land carries an effective property tax rate of 1.7 percent, using Denton County's figure20.

Watch-outs

  • Krum's building code adoption, permit fees, septic authority and sewer-connection rules inside city limits are unconfirmed; call Development Services at (940) 398-73022.
  • The county's Development Permit and septic order apply to unincorporated Denton County, not to land inside Krum city limits10.
  • Single-family short-term rentals are prohibited in Krum8.

Sources

  1. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Krum, Development Services Department (cityofkrum.com)
  3. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  4. Development Services, quoted and re-checked
  5. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  6. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  7. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  8. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  9. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  10. Environmental Health Division | Denton County, TX, quoted and re-checked
  11. What You Must Know: On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF), quoted and re-checked
  12. Denton County Public Health, Environmental Health Division (dentoncounty.gov)
  13. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  14. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  15. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  16. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  17. Part III: Zoning Districts - Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance, City of Krum, TX (eCode360) (Krum), quoted and re-checked
  18. Development Services, quoted and re-checked
  19. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Krum

Krum’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Krum city limits

    • Ordinance 2015-05-01 adopted 5/4/15; amended by Ordinance 2024-809 adopted 4/1/2024.
    “the city of krum, texas is hereby divided into the following zoning districts. the use, height, area regulations, and other standards, as set out herein apply to each district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Krum city limits (A, SF-R, SF-E, SF-20, SF-10, SF-7.5, SF-6, SF-PH, 2F, SF-A, MF-15, MH, O, R, OT, C, LI, PD, SUP)

    • Appendix A.3 summary of area regulations was not opened.
    “the city of krum, texas is hereby divided into the following zoning districts. the use, height, area regulations, and other standards, as set out herein apply to each district.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    A - Agricultural district inside Krum city (SF-R also states 2,200 sq ft)

    • Other districts not opened.

    minimum floor area per dwelling unit: >= 2200 square feet

    “minimum floor area per dwelling unit - two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A - Agricultural district inside Krum city

    • Newly annexed territory is initially zoned agricultural.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 125 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 200 feet

    “minimum lot area - five (5) acres 2. minimum lot width - one hundred and twenty-five feet (125') 3. minimum lot depth - two hundred feet (200')”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A - Agricultural district inside Krum city

    • Additional requirements in section 43; uninhabited agricultural structures must be at least 100 ft or 3x height from any property line.

    minimum front yard: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard: >= 15 percent of lot width (need not exceed 50 feet; 25 feet from street right-of-way for a corner lot) · minimum rear yard: >= 25 feet

    “minimum front yard - twenty-five feet (25') 2. minimum side yard - fifteen percent (15%) of the lot width, but need not exceed fifty feet (50'); twenty-five feet (25') from a street right-of-way line for a corner lot 3. minimum rear yard - twenty-five feet (25')”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    A - Agricultural district inside Krum city

    maximum coverage main buildings: <= 35 percent · maximum coverage main plus accessory buildings: <= 45 percent

    “maximum lot coverage: thirty-five percent (35%) for main buildings; forty-five percent (45%) for main buildings and all accessory buildings combined”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A - Agricultural district (SF-10 uses the same 2 stories/35 ft main-building limit and 18 ft accessory limit) inside Krum city

    • Section 43 contains other height requirements.

    main building height: <= 35 feet (or two stories) · uninhabited agricultural structures: <= 45 feet (no closer than 100 ft from any residential structure) · other accessory buildings: <= 18 feet

    “two (2) stories, or thirty-five feet (35') for the main building/house. 2. forty-five feet (45') for uninhabited agricultural structures”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    RVs, travel trailers and motor homes used as on-site dwellings in the A Agricultural district inside Krum city

    • Parking/storage of RVs permitted on a paved hard surface behind the front building facade.
    • Other residential districts (SF-PH, OT) have separate RV limits not opened here.
    “recreational vehicles, travel trailers, motor homes and other types of vehicles and trailers may not be used for on-site dwelling purposes”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Multifamily short-term rentals in MF-15 and OT districts inside Krum city

    • Specific use permit required.
    • 2-year operating permit required.
    • Hosting platforms may advertise only units holding a current operating permit.
    “multifamily short-term rentals are allowed within the mf-15 and ot zoning districts, subject to the issuance of a specific use permit and a 2-year operating permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Krum city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Krum city
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Krum city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Krum city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Krum city
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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

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

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