Bolthole Index

Fayette County, Texas

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

57Index Score / 100
#108 of 254 in Texas

Unincorporated Fayette County, Texas requires a development permit before construction, even outside the floodplain; we could not confirm a separate general building permit1. Fayette County has no county zoning, but municipal zoning applies in Flatonia, Schulenburg and Round Top2345. Septic permits go through the County Inspector where the county OSSF program applies; incorporated cities are excluded unless an interlocal agreement extends that program67.

At a glance

Building permit
County development permit required for homes and other development in unincorporated areas; separate general building permit not confirmed18
Zoning
No county zoning in unincorporated areas; municipal zoning in Flatonia, Schulenburg and Round Top2345
Septic
County permits and inspections apply in its jurisdiction; incorporated cities may differ7910
Well
Registration required for every well; a permit ($250) only above 25,000 gal/day or 17.3 gpm11
RV / tiny home / manufactured home
No county zoning restriction in unincorporated areas; development, septic and private restrictions still matter12192
Owner-builder
Industrialized-home owners may avoid builder registration but still need a state installation permit13
New lots / subdivisions
County rules regulate divisions outside cities; agricultural exceptions are conditional1415
Occupancy letter
Fayette County does not issue one; other applications and fees may still apply16

Who to call

Floodplain permits

Fayette County Office of Floodplain Management

The Class A/B floodplain-development permit required before any development in unincorporated Fayette County

(979) 968-6469

151 N Washington St., Rm 307, La Grange, TX 78945

Septic permits

Fayette County Inspector's Office

OSSF (septic) permitting and inspection for Fayette County as TCEQ's authorized agent

979-968-1809

151 N Washington St, Rm 307, La Grange, TX 78945

Well permits

Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District

Well registration (required for every well) and non-exempt well permits for Fayette County

979-968-3135

info@fayettecountygroundwater.com

255 Svoboda Lane, Room 115, La Grange, TX 78945

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

Before building a home or undertaking other development in unincorporated Fayette County, request an application from the Office of Floodplain Management: Class A covers development outside the FEMA 1%-chance flood area, and Class B covers development within it1. Post the development permit at the job site where it is clearly visible from the nearest road or street1. The published fee schedule lists a $100 development-permit application for homes, barns, barndominiums and manufactured homes, but the development instructions list different Class A/B fees; confirm the amount with Floodplain Management81. We could not confirm a separate general county building permit or residential building-code inspection program; floodplain-compliance inspections do apply to permitted development117. Fayette County does not issue occupancy letters16.

Who issues building and development permits in Fayette County?

For development in unincorporated Fayette County, contact the Fayette County Office of Floodplain Management at (979) 968-6469, at 151 N Washington St., Rm 307, La Grange, TX 78945181. Ask that office what the development application requires for the proposed structure; we could not confirm a separate general county building permit1. County development and subdivision rules described here concern land outside municipal limits; Flatonia and Schulenburg have municipal zoning ordinances, and Round Top sets its own zoning114345. The County Inspector's Office handles septic permits and inspections where the county OSSF program applies; incorporated cities are excluded unless an interlocal agreement extends that program67.

Does Fayette County have zoning?

Fayette County has no zoning authority over private land use in unincorporated areas, but deeds, restrictive covenants, easements, subdivision regulations, floodplain rules and septic requirements can still restrict a parcel2. Flatonia amended its zoning ordinance in 2026, Schulenburg publishes zoning-map and variance materials, and Round Top divides land into zoning districts345. Municipal zoning does not determine septic authority: the County Inspector administers the county OSSF program within its jurisdiction, including cities only through interlocal agreements67. Outside municipalities, covered land divisions still need county subdivision approval or a determination that platting does not apply before utilities can connect14.

How do septic permits work in Fayette County?

In the Fayette County septic program's jurisdiction, OSSF installation, repair, alteration, and tank replacement require a septic permit, inspection, and approval through the County Inspector's Office910. The published county fees include $275 for a single-family conventional or listed non-aerobic system and $375 for a single-family aerobic-spray system8. The county rules principally cover unincorporated land; incorporated cities are excluded unless an interlocal agreement makes the county rules applicable there7. A narrow state exception may apply when a tract is at least 10 acres, has a single-family home as its only dwelling, and keeps every part of the system at least 100 feet from the property line, among other conditions19. Call the County Inspector's Office at 979-968-1809 before installing or repairing a system6.

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

Unincorporated Fayette County sets no county zoning-based occupancy restriction for RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes, accessory dwellings or temporary camping, and no zoning-based minimum dwelling size, setback, lot-coverage or building-height limit12. Private deed restrictions can still limit use of a Fayette County parcel2. Placement or construction of a tiny home or manufactured home in unincorporated Fayette County still requires the applicable development permit, and septic permitting applies where the county OSSF program has jurisdiction189. An owner installing industrialized housing for personal use may avoid industrialized-builder registration but must obtain a state residential installation permit; that exception does not cover ordinary site-built homes13.

Building a home in Fayette County: the steps, in order

  1. Before construction in unincorporated Fayette County, request a development application from Floodplain Management and establish whether Class A or Class B applies181.
  2. Apply to the County Inspector for a septic permit before installation, repair, alteration or tank replacement within the county program's jurisdiction69.
  3. Register a new well with the Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District; larger wells need a well permit2011.
  4. Resolve subdivision platting before a covered sale contract or conveyance outside municipal limits; utilities need a written determination of plat approval or inapplicability14.
  5. For an agricultural division, establish each daughter tract's separate, exclusive public-road access, conveyed and recorded with the tract; agricultural use alone does not establish an exemption15.
  6. Obtain a TxDOT driveway permit before constructing a driveway onto a state highway21.

What to check before you buy land in Fayette County

For a new lot in unincorporated Fayette County, distinguish total area from buildable area: subdivision plat documentation requires lots or tracts of at least 2 acres configured for compliant sewage disposal22. The subdivision regulations separately require 170 feet of width and depth for platted or exempt lots, subject to stated shape exceptions and Commissioners' Court approval, and at least 1 acre of buildable area outside the 1%-annual-chance flood zone for new lots14. An agricultural exemption requires separate, exclusive access at least 30 feet wide to an existing public road, owned in fee or easement, conveyed and recorded with each daughter tract15. A daughter tract with an access path or public-road frontage below 60 feet is barred from further division; ask Commissioners' Court how the dimensional rules apply to the proposed agricultural exemption15. Only 4% of Fayette County soils are rated without severe limitations for conventional septic drain fields, so arrange a site evaluation before relying on a conventional system23.

Watch-outs

  • Creating 5 or more lots within 24 months requires platting in unincorporated Fayette County; smaller divisions can also require platting14.
  • Fayette County development permits apply outside the mapped floodplain too; contact Floodplain Management before assuming a high, dry lot is exempt181.
  • Fayette County does not issue occupancy letters, but other applicable local, state or federal applications and fees may still be required16.

Sources

  1. Instructions for Permit Application for Proposed Development, quoted and re-checked
  2. Fayette County Zoning Information and Certificate of Occupancy Letter, quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Flatonia Ordinance 2026.01.01, quoted and re-checked
  4. Building Permits & Inspections – City of Schulenburg, quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Round Top: Round Top Code, Sec. 34-41—Establishment of districts (Fayette County), quoted and re-checked
  6. Fayette County Inspector's Office (co.fayette.tx.us)
  7. Fayette County Sewage & Wastewater, quoted and re-checked
  8. Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  9. Fayette County Sewage & Wastewater, quoted and re-checked
  10. Fayette County Sewage & Wastewater, quoted and re-checked
  11. Forms & FAQ'S, quoted and re-checked
  12. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  13. Industrialized Housing and Buildings Justification for Administrative Rule Adoption, quoted and re-checked
  14. Fayette County Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  15. Fayette County Subdivision Regulations — Exceptions to Subdivision Platting Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  16. Fayette County Zoning Information and Certificate of Occupancy Letter, quoted and re-checked
  17. Instructions for Permit Application for Proposed Development Within Unincorporated Areas of Fayette County, quoted and re-checked
  18. Fayette County Office of Floodplain Management (co.fayette.tx.us)
  19. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District (fayettecountygroundwater.com)
  21. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Fayette County Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  23. 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

Written October 11, 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, Fayette County has no countywide zoning.

RuleFayette CountyBastrop CountyLee CountyColorado CountyLavaca CountyCaldwell CountyAustin County
Building permitLimitedNot requiredRequiredLimitedLimitedRequiredLimited
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Development ServicesCounty Development ServicesCounty Development & PermittingCounty OSSFCounty SanitationCounty Planning & Development

County locator

Fayette County in Texas

57
County map
Fayette County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Fayette County scores

Seclusion40100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency44100% ev.
Admin Boringness7290% ev.
Durability40100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost65100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$459kTypical home
1%Property tax
$5,481Land / acre
40.1"Annual rain
20% of yrsSevere drought
36.7 / yr (+25.6)Mid-century 100°F days
21.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.48" (+6.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.44×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,387Home insurance / yr
1.7% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
25,064People within 30 min
13,432,395People within 2 hr
17,689Radius comparison (15 mi)
26.8People / sq mi
0%Federal land
99.7%Land at 15% slope or less
4%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
23,581 acWorkable land screen
20.4%Wooded land
16.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
69°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Fayette 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.

Not yet researched: Carmine · Fayetteville · Town of Flatonia

Answers from the rulebook for Fayette County

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

Fayette County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Development, including construction of homes and other structures, in unincorporated areas of Fayette County, particularly development subject to the county flood-damage-prevention process.

    • Before any development in the unincorporated areas, the property owner must contact the Fayette County Office of Floodplain Management and request an application.
    • All development in unincorporated Fayette County must receive either a Class A Permit for Zone X outside the 1% chance flood area or a Class B Permit for development within the FEMA-designated 1% chance floodplain.
    • The permit must be posted by the property owner at the job site where it is clearly visible from the nearest road or street.
    • The county source describes a floodplain/development permit; it does not establish a general county building permit requirement for all construction outside this process.

    Class A development permit fee: 20 USD (For the entire proposed area of development located outside the 1% Chance for Flood, formerly the 100-year floodplain.) · Class B development permit fee: 100 USD (For any portion of the proposed area of development located within the 1% Chance for Flood, formerly the 100-year floodplain.)

    “all development located within unincorporated areas of Fayette County”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Development including construction of homes in unincorporated Fayette County under the county floodplain permitting program.
      “To minimize potential flood damage, all development located within unincorporated areas of Fayette County must be: (a) Issued a Class A Permit (Zone X, outside the 1% Chance for Flood) which exempts the property owner from Fayette County Floodplain Regulations; or (b) Issued a Class B Permit (Zone A, Zone Approximate Zone A or Zone AE) for every development that lies within the FEMA-designated 1% Chance of Flood (100-year Floodplain) to comply with Fayette County Floodplain Regulations.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Inspection of permitted development under Fayette County floodplain regulations in unincorporated Fayette County.

    • The property owner and the owner's agents must allow the Floodplain Administrator or representatives to conduct scheduled and unscheduled inspections during regular business hours as necessary to enforce Fayette County Flood Damage Prevention Regulations.
    • This claim concerns floodplain-permit inspections and does not establish a general residential building-code inspection program.
    “The property owner, and agents of the property owner, are required to allow the Floodplain Administrator, or the Administrator’s representatives, to inspect the work pursuant to a permit including as many scheduled and unscheduled inspections (during regular business hours) necessary to enforce the Fayette County Flood Damage Prevention Regulations.”
  • Certificate of occupancyNot required (with conditions)

    County-issued letters or certificates of occupancy for new and existing structures in Fayette County.

    • Fayette County does not issue letters of occupancy.
    • Owner applications and fees may still be required to meet existing local, state, and federal regulations.
    “Certificate of Occupancy: Fayette County does not issue letters of occupancy. For new and existing structures, owner applications and fees may be required to meet existing local, state and federal regulations.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent (with conditions)

    Private use of property in the unincorporated areas of Fayette County, Texas.

    • Certain exceptions may apply under Chapters 232 and 212 of the Texas Local Government Code.
    • Deeds, subdivision regulations, restrictive covenants, or easements of record may restrict individual property use.
    • This claim does not address zoning inside municipalities.
    “Fayette County does not have zoning authority related to the private use of property within the unincorporated areas of the county.”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 sizeSpecified

    New lots and subdivisions subject to Fayette County subdivision regulations outside municipal limits.

    • Cul-de-sac frontage properties, flag lots, and irregularly shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval.
    • The one-acre buildable-area requirement applies outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone.
    • A variance request must include an approved FEMA Letter of Map Amendment or a hydraulic and hydrologic analysis prepared by a licensed engineer.

    minimum lot width: >= 170 feet (Cul-de-sac frontage properties, flag lots, and irregular shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval.) · minimum lot depth: >= 170 feet (Cul-de-sac frontage properties, flag lots, and irregular shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval.) · minimum buildable area: >= 1 acre (Applies outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone.)

    “All lots, platted or exempt, must have a minimum width and depth of 170’ [...] New lots shall have a minimum buildable area of 1 acre outside of the 1% annual chance FEMA determined flood zone.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Subdivision plat applications in unincorporated Fayette County subject to the county’s documentation requirements.
      “The proposed subdivision plat containing the legal descriptions in metes and bounds of lots or tracts of not less than two (2) acres each”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • 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 septicMixed

    On-site sewage facilities in Fayette County, with Fayette County administering the local program within its jurisdiction and Texas state law and TCEQ regulations supplying the governing state framework.

    • The Fayette County OSSF rules apply throughout Fayette County except areas regulated under an existing rule and areas within incorporated cities.
    • The county rules also apply in incorporated cities or towns that have executed interlocal agreements with Fayette County.
    • The TCEQ authorized-agent program operates only within the agent's approved area of jurisdiction.
    “SECTION 6. AREA OF JURISDICTION (a) The Rules shall apply to all of the area lying in Fayette County, Texas, except for the area regulated under an existing rule and the areas within incorporated cities. (b) These Rules shall also apply to those incorporated cities or towns that have executed interlocal agreements with Fayette County, Texas.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    OSSF installations, repairs, alterations, tank replacements, and other sewage or wastewater discharge-related activity in areas of Fayette County governed by the county OSSF rules, principally unincorporated areas.

    • The county rules exclude areas regulated under an existing rule and areas within incorporated cities.
    • County rules may apply within an incorporated city or town if that municipality has executed an interlocal agreement with Fayette County.
    • The county webpage directs applicants to the County Inspector's Office for permitting, inspection, and approval assistance.
    “MUST BE PERMITTED, INSPECTED AND APPROVED IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    OSSF installations, repairs, alterations, tank replacements, and other sewage or wastewater discharge-related activity in areas of Fayette County governed by the county OSSF rules, principally unincorporated areas.

    • The county rules exclude areas regulated under an existing rule and areas within incorporated cities.
    • County rules may apply within an incorporated city or town if that municipality has executed an interlocal agreement with Fayette County.
    • The Fayette County permit application grants county enforcement personnel permission to enter the described property to inspect the OSSF.
    “MUST BE PERMITTED, INSPECTED AND APPROVED IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells in the Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District, which serves Fayette County.

    • All wells must be registered regardless of use, and wells to be drilled in Fayette County require a registration form before drilling.
    • A non-exempt well is defined by the district as producing more than 25,000 gallons per day or 17.3 gallons per minute.
    • A non-exempt well must obtain a district well permit before drilling, in addition to registration.
    • The permit fee is $250.
    • Permits may be subject to a public hearing, after which the Board may approve or deny the permit.
    • The district rules page reports an original adoption date of December 19, 2003, an effective date of January 1, 2004, and a revision approved May 4, 2026.

    non-exempt well production threshold: > 25000 gallons per day (The district also states the alternative threshold is 17.3 gallons per minute.) · non-exempt well production threshold: > 17.3 gallons per minute (The district also states the alternative threshold is 25,000 gallons per day.) · well permit fee: 250 USD

    “A non-exempt well (which is a well that produces more than 25,000 gallons per day or 17.3 gpm) must apply to the District for a well permit prior to drilling the well, along with the registration. There is a $250 fee for the permit and permits may be subject to a public hearing process, after which the Board may approve or deny the permit.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    A division of a Fayette County tract into two or more parts where no streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts are laid out for public use or for purchasers’ or owners’ use, and the land is used primarily for agriculture, farming, ranching, wildlife management, or timber production.

    • The division must not lay out streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts intended for public use or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to those parts.
    • Each resulting daughter tract must have separate, individual, and exclusive access to an existing public road through an access path at least 30 feet wide, owned in fee or easement by the same owner as the daughter tract, conveyed with the daughter tract, and recorded in the Fayette County Clerk’s Official Public Records.
    • A daughter tract with less than a 60-foot-wide separate, individual, and exclusive access path to an existing public road, or less than 60 feet of frontage on a public road, is barred from further division.
    • The regulation separately states that all lots, platted or exempt, must have minimum width and depth of 170 feet, subject to stated exceptions and Commissioners’ Court approval, and new lots must have at least one acre of buildable area outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone; the source does not clearly resolve whether those dimensional provisions apply to every agricultural exemption.
    • The source also states that the Commissioners’ Court may waive required platting or grant another variance for good cause shown, in its sound discretion and under standards of equal application and fairness.

    minimum exclusive access-path width: >= 30 feet (must be separate, individual, exclusive, owned in fee or easement by the same owner, conveyed with the daughter tract, and recorded with the conveyance) · minimum access path or road frontage for further division: >= 60 feet (a daughter tract below this threshold is restricted and barred from further division) · minimum lot width and depth: >= 170 feet (the regulation expressly says all lots, platted or exempt; cul-de-sac frontage, flag lots, and irregular-shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval) · minimum buildable area: >= 1 acre (outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone)

    “These regulations do no apply if the owner of a tract of land divides it into two or more parts and does not lay out streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts of the tract intended to be dedicated to public use or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts, and; a) the land is used primarily for agriculture uses, or for farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production use;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — A division of a Fayette County tract outside municipal limits that does not lay out streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts intended for public use or for use of purchasers or owners of adjoining lots, where the land is used primarily for agriculture, farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production.
      “These regulations do no apply if [...] the land is used primarily for agriculture uses”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of tracts located outside the limits of a municipality in Fayette County, including divisions into two or more parts to lay out a subdivision, lots, or public-use or purchaser-use streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts.

    • The requirements, specifications, and procedures must be complied with before any contract for sale or legal conveyance of real property subject to the regulations.
    • No utility may serve or connect subdivided land unless it receives a written determination of plat approval or inapplicability.
    • Divisions creating five lots or more within a 24-month period must be platted.
    • All lots, platted or exempt, must have minimum width and depth of 170 feet, except cul-de-sac frontage properties, flag lots, and irregularly shaped tracts subject to Commissioners’ Court approval.
    • New lots must have a minimum buildable area of one acre outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone; a variance request must include an approved FEMA Letter of Map Amendment or a hydraulic and hydrologic analysis prepared by a licensed engineer.
    • Plats containing infrastructure for dedication to the public require drainage review paid for by the applicant and must demonstrate no adverse post-construction drainage impact on adjoining or downstream properties.
    • The regulations contain exceptions for specified agricultural, family, large-lot, veterans’ land-board, state-owned, and political-subdivision/floodplain divisions; exempt divisions remain subject to the express lot-dimension and buildable-area language quoted in the source.

    lots triggering platting: >= 5 lots (within a 24-month period) · minimum lot width: >= 170 feet (cul-de-sac frontage, flag lots, and irregular-shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval) · minimum lot depth: >= 170 feet (cul-de-sac frontage, flag lots, and irregular-shaped tracts are subject to Commissioners’ Court approval) · minimum buildable area: >= 1 acre (outside the 1% annual-chance FEMA-determined flood zone)

    “The owner of a tract of land located outside the limits of a municipality must have a plat of the subdivision prepared if the owner divides the tract into two or more parts to lay out: i. a subdivision of the tract, including an addition; ii. lots; or iii. streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts of the tract intended to be dedicated to the public use or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division and conveyance of real property outside the limits of a municipality in Fayette County, Texas, subject to the county subdivision regulations.
      “located outside the limits of a municipality must have a plat”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    County-administered development, commercial construction, OSSF, repair, reinspection, and related permit fees listed in Fayette County's fee schedule; certain development permitting applies specifically to unincorporated areas.

    • The fee schedule is dated January 23, 2023.
    • The permit fee includes application, permit, inspections, and notice of approval.
    • The $250 commercial permit construction fee applies when no civil plans are required and impervious cover is under 10%.
    • The $1,250 commercial permit construction fee applies when civil plans review is required.
    • OSSF fees vary by residence or commercial status, system type, and whether the submission is a design resubmittal.
    • The OSSF design re-submittal fee applies each time a design is returned for incomplete, incorrect, or noncompliant information.
    • For proposed development in unincorporated areas, the application fee is $100 per parcel identification.
    • The unincorporated-area development application states that development must be exempted by a Floodplain Exemption Certificate or properly permitted within the FEMA-designated 1% chance floodplain.

    development permit application: 100 USD (Residential homes, barns, barndominiums, and manufactured homes.) · commercial permit construction fee without civil plans: 250 USD (Impervious cover must be under 10%.) · commercial permit construction fee with civil plans review: 1250 USD (Requires civil plans review.) · OSSF permit fee for one single-family residence, conventional or listed non-aerobic system: 275 USD (Conventional, low-pressure dosing, gravel-less pipe, mound, or evapotranspirative system.) · OSSF permit fee for one non-single-family residence or commercial, conventional or listed non-aerobic system: 475 USD (Conventional, low-pressure dosing, gravel-less pipe, mound, or evapotranspirative system.) · OSSF permit fee for one single-family residence, aerobic spray only: 375 USD (Aerobic spray system only.) · OSSF permit fee for one non-single-family residence or commercial, aerobic spray only: 575 USD (Aerobic spray system only.) · OSSF design re-submittal fee: 75 USD (Applies each time a design is returned for incomplete, incorrect, or noncompliant information.) · unincorporated development application fee: per 100 USD (Per parcel identification.)

    “Fee Schedule January 23, 2023 Fee Description Fee Amount Notes PERMIT FEE Includes application, permit, inspections, and notice of approval Development Permit Application $100.00 Residential Homes, Barns, Barndominium and Manufactured Homes Commercial Permit Construction Fee $250.00 Requires NO Civil Plans (Impervious cover must be under 10%) Commercial Permit Construction Fee $1,250.00 Requires Civil Plans Review”

Texas rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A Fayette County owner who purchases an industrialized house or residential modular component for the owner's own use and takes responsibility for some or all construction related to installation.

    • The exemption is from registering as an industrialized builder; the owner must file for a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation residential installation permit.
    • A separate application is required for each building containing industrialized housing or residential modular components.
    • The application must identify all construction to be completed by the permit holder, including any site work affecting code compliance.
    • The installation permit must be posted at the installation site.
    • The rule concerns industrialized housing or residential modular components and does not establish an exemption for ordinary site-built housing.
    • The county's other applicable requirements, including wastewater or septic requirements, are not displaced by this state installation-permit rule.
    “may file for a residential installation permit in lieu of registering as an industrialized builder.”
    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:”
  • 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.”
  • 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”
  • 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.”

Inside cities and towns in Fayette County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning within the City of Flatonia, Texas.

    • Ordinance 2026.01.01 amended Chapter 14A zoning provisions and was adopted January 13, 2026.
    • Specific district, yard, variance, and use requirements must be read from the current City Code.
    “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FLATONIA, TEXAS, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS THE CITY OF FLATONIA’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 14A, ZONING ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 2, SECTION C; ARTICLE IV, SECTION C (2); AND ARTICLE 5, SECTION 4; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR OPEN MEETINGS, EFFECTIVE DATE, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land development within the City of Schulenburg, Fayette County, Texas.
      “Planning & Zoning Commission Application Request Zoning Board of Adjustments Variance Request ZONING MAP”
    • Present (with conditions) — Land within the City of Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas.
      “2001 | The City of Flatonia adopts a set of ordinances that establishes zoning districts and regulations for city business”
    • Present (with conditions) — Land within the City of Schulenburg, Fayette County, Texas.
      “Planning & Zoning Commission Application Request Zoning Board of Adjustments Variance Request [...] ZONING MAP”

Still unanswered

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

  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water and wastewater utility-connection requirements in Fayette County.

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 Fayette County, Texas

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

Fayette County scores 57/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: about 25,064 people within a 30-minute drive and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

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

Fayette County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Fayette County Health Department (TCEQ 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 Fayette County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Fayette County is allowed: Unincorporated Fayette County: no county rule sets this, because Fayette County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). Fayette County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning. 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 Fayette County, Texas?

Land in Fayette County runs about $5,481 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Fayette County?

Fayette County gets about 40.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 20% of years.

How remote is Fayette County?

A representative private-land location has about 25,064 people within a 30-minute drive and 13,432,395 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Fayette compares in Texas

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