Bolthole Index

Galveston County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Texas City, Texas

Texas City, Texas runs its own Building Inspections Department, which reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects construction inside city limits1. The city's zoning code sets district rules such as lot size and setbacks2. Septic permits are a separate office: the Galveston County Health District, TCEQ's authorized agent for Galveston County3.

At a glance

Building permit
Issued by the City of Texas City Building Department inside city limits1
Zoning
City zoning districts; District A (single-family) needs 6,000 sq ft per dwelling unit2
District A setbacks
25 ft front, 20 ft rear, 5 ft side4
Certificate of occupancy
Required for buildings; no fee5
Septic
Galveston County Health District (TCEQ authorized agent)3
Sewer connection
Required within 175 ft of a public sewer6
Floodplain
City development permit required under Chapter 1577
RV or tiny-home living
We could not confirm; ask the Building Department1

Who to call

Building permits

City of Texas City Building Inspections Department

Plan review, building permits, construction inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Texas City

409-643-5946

7800 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, TX 77592

Septic permits

Galveston County Health District

On-site sewage facility (septic) permits and inspections

409-938-7221

9850 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City, TX 77591

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

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Texas City, Texas?

Inside Texas City city limits, building permits come from the city, not the county. The City of Texas City Building Department reviews project plans, issues building permits and inspects construction and remodeling1. A zoning or building permit application must include a plan in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the lot, plus a signed written use statement showing conformity with the zoning chapter8. We could not confirm the city's building-permit fee schedule or an owner-builder exemption, so ask the Building Department before you budget.

A certificate of occupancy is required before a new or structurally altered building is used, and the city charges no fee for it5. Property in a mapped flood zone also needs a city development permit7.

Who handles building permits in Texas City, and how do you reach them?

The City of Texas City Building Inspections Department handles building permits and inspections at 7800 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway; the phone is 409-643-59461. Galveston County's own building-code order covers only unincorporated areas, so the county floodplain and building rules do not apply to a lot inside Texas City9. For land outside city limits, see the Galveston County page.

Does Texas City have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Texas City's code of ordinances includes a zoning chapter with districts. In District A, Single-Family Residential, the area table lists 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit, a 50-foot minimum lot width and a 100-foot minimum lot depth2. District A yards are 25 feet in front, 20 feet in the rear and 5 feet on the sides4. Buildings may cover at most 40 percent of the lot10, and height tops out at 2.5 stories or 35 feet11.

Other districts have different numbers, so confirm your parcel's district first. We could not confirm the city's rules on RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or temporary camping; call the Building Department before you plan on any of them1.

How do septic permits work in Texas City?

Septic permits are not issued by the city's building office. The Galveston County Health District is an authorized agent for TCEQ and oversees permitting, installation and operation of septic systems in Galveston County3. A permit and approved plan are required to build, alter, repair, extend or operate a system12. Texas City requires connection to the public sewer where a property is within 175 feet of one6, so many city lots will not use septic at all. We could not confirm how septic is handled inside city limits beyond that; call the Health District12.

USDA rates only 0.4 percent of Galveston County soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and often an engineered system where septic is allowed13.

Building a home in Texas City: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district and its lot, yard and height rules with the city2.
  2. If you are dividing land, ask about a plat: Texas City requires one for building on a parcel not already occupied by buildings, except certain divisions into parts larger than 5 acres14.
  3. Check flood zone status; a city development permit applies under the floodplain chapter7.
  4. Submit scaled plans and a use statement to the Building Department8.
  5. If no public sewer is within 175 feet, get septic approval from the Galveston County Health District first6.
  6. Schedule inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy1.

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

Septic permits for Galveston County addresses come from the Galveston County Health District3. Land outside Texas City falls under county rules, which are on the Galveston County page. Galveston County's typical home value is about $321,28515, and the effective property tax rate is 1.5 percent16. The county's typical home insurance premium is about $1,529 a year17. Verify flood zone, drainage and sewer availability for the specific lot before closing.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Texas City's building-permit fees or whether it has an owner-builder exemption; ask the Building Department at 409-643-59461.
  • We could not confirm Texas City's rules for RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwellings; confirm with the Building Department before buying for those uses1.
  • Agricultural use of vacant land is excepted from the certificate-of-occupancy requirement, but that is not an exemption from other city laws18.

Sources

  1. City of Texas City Building Inspections Department (texascitytx.gov)
  2. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.023 Summary of Area Regulations (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health Services Fees, quoted and re-checked
  4. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.023 Summary of Area Regulations (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  5. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.112 Certificate of Occupancy (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  6. Texas City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 51: Sewers and Sewage Disposal (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  7. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 157.08 Development Permit Required (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  8. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.111 Permits (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  9. Order Applying Residential Building Code Standards to Galveston County, quoted and re-checked
  10. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.023 Summary of Area Regulations (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  11. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.023 Summary of Area Regulations (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  12. Galveston County Health District (gchd.org)
  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. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 159.005 Requirement for Subdivision Plat (Texas City), quoted and re-checked
  15. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Texas City Code of Ordinances, § 160.112 Certificate of Occupancy (Texas City), quoted and re-checked

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

Answers from the rulebook for Texas City

Texas City’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Vacant land and buildings erected or structurally altered inside Texas City city limits.

    • Agricultural uses of vacant land are excepted.
    • For a building, application must be made together with the building-permit application.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during completion or partial occupancy.
    • No fee is charged for a certificate of occupancy.

    temporary certificate maximum period: <= 6 months (During completion of alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.)

    “No vacant land shall be occupied or used, except for agricultural uses, and no building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be occupied or used until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Building Official.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property inside Texas City city limits located within 175 feet of a public sewer.

    • The City code chapter identifies a required public-sewer connection only where the property is within 175 feet of the public sewer.
    • This finding does not establish a corresponding water-connection requirement.

    distance to public sewer: <= 175 feet (Connection-required provision.)

    “Connection required where property is within 175 feet of public sewer”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Occupation or use of vacant land for agricultural uses inside Texas City city limits.

    • The exception stated is from the certificate-of-occupancy requirement for vacant land; it is not an exemption from other applicable laws or ordinances.
    “No vacant land shall be occupied or used, except for agricultural uses”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land and new-building placement on qualifying tracts inside Texas City city limits.

    • A plat is required for specified divisions, dedications, transfers, and building development.
    • A plat is required for construction or placement of any new building on a parcel not currently occupied by buildings.
    • A plat is not required for division into parts greater than five acres where each part has access and no public improvement is dedicated.

    exempt division part size: > 5 acres (Each part has access and no public improvement is dedicated.)

    “Every owner of any tract of land who may divide said tract into two or more lots or tracts, or create from said tract one or more lots of record, for the purpose of transfer of ownership, dedication of streets, alleys, easements, parks or other areas dedicated to public use, or for use for building development, shall cause a plat to be made in accordance with this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development subject to Texas City Code Chapter 157 inside Texas City city limits.

    • The permit is required to ensure conformance with Chapter 157.
    “A development permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning/building permit applications inside Texas City city limits.

    • The application must include duplicate scaled plans and a signed written use statement.
    • Plans must show conformity with Chapter 160.
    “a plan in duplicate, drawn to scale, correctly showing the location and actual dimensions of the lot to be occupied”

Rules another office applies inside Texas City

Texas City does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    District A, Single-Family Residential, inside Texas City city limits.

    • The table is a summary of area regulations; parcel development remains subject to applicable Chapter 160 rules.

    minimum lot area: 6000 square feet per dwelling unit · minimum lot width: 50 feet · minimum lot depth: 100 feet

    “A | 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit | 50 | 100 | 25 | 20 | 5 feet | 2.5 stories or 35 feet | 40 | 0”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    District A, Single-Family Residential, inside Texas City city limits.

    • The table is a summary of area regulations; Chapter 160 includes yard regulations and exceptions.

    minimum front yard: 25 feet · minimum rear yard: 20 feet · minimum side yard: 5 feet

    “A | 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit | 50 | 100 | 25 | 20 | 5 feet | 2.5 stories or 35 feet | 40 | 0”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    District A, Single-Family Residential, inside Texas City city limits.

    maximum lot coverage by buildings: 40 percent

    “A | 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit | 50 | 100 | 25 | 20 | 5 feet | 2.5 stories or 35 feet | 40 | 0”
  • Building heightSpecified

    District A, Single-Family Residential, inside Texas City city limits.

    maximum building height: 2.5 stories or 35 feet

    “A | 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit | 50 | 100 | 25 | 20 | 5 feet | 2.5 stories or 35 feet | 40 | 0”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Texas City or Galveston County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Texas City city limits.
  • Inspections — Residential building work inside Texas City city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Texas City single-family residential districts.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Texas City city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Texas City city limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

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

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