Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Big Spring, Texas

Big Spring’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Big Spring city limits.

  • International Building Code 2012 is adopted subject to stated exclusions and local amendments.

  International Building Code edition: 2012 (Subject to exclusions and amendments in Sec. 12-44.)

  “International Building Code. 2012 edition, in its entirety, save and except chapters 13, 27, and 34”

• InspectionsLimited

  Intermodal shipping containers used as living quarters under a specific use permit inside Big Spring city limits.

  • Units must meet current City Building and Fire Codes.
  • Containers must be placed with plumbing, electrical, and mechanical components exposed for inspection.
  • Containers must be anchored to a permanent foundation approved by the Building Official.

  “all plumbing, electrical and mechanical components exposed for inspection”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A building or land use operating under a specific use permit inside Big Spring city limits.

  • Required before occupancy for a specific-use-permit purpose.
  • Required before a change of use or operator of a specific use permit.

  “without first obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance from the Building Official.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Big Spring city limits.

  • The zoning ordinance establishes district-specific controls.

  “The City of Big Spring is hereby divided into sixteen (16) zoning districts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Big Spring city limits.

  • The zoning ordinance lists 16 districts, including Agricultural, four Single-Family Dwelling districts, Two-Family, General Residential, Multiple-Family, commercial, central-area, and industrial districts.
  • An SD prefix identifies a surface drainage area subject to Section 6-2.

  number of zoning districts: 16 districts

  “The districts established herein shall be known as:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used as a caretaker's, manager's, or guard's residence in HC, LI, or HI districts inside Big Spring city limits.

  • The use is a specific-use-permit use.
  • The home must be at least 30 feet from any other structure and from any adjacent-lot or adjacent-parcel lot line.

  minimum separation: >= 30 feet (From any other structure or lot line of an adjacent lot or parcel.)

  “Mobile or manufactured home for use as a caretaker's, manager's or guard's residence”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Every subdivision of land within Big Spring city limits.

  • The same ordinance also governs land in the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction; this claim is limited to city limits.

  “The regulations herein shall govern every subdivision of land as defined within the corporate limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction”

• Permit processPartial

  Specific-use-permit changes inside Big Spring city limits.

  • A new Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance application is made through the Building Official.
  • The Building Official refers the application to City Council for review.
  • City Council may refer the matter to Planning and Zoning Commission for public hearing or authorize issuance if basic conditions have not changed.

  “shall refer such application to the City Council for review.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Big Spring or Howard County directly.

• Building permit — New residential construction inside Big Spring city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Big Spring city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family and agricultural residential districts inside Big Spring city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family and agricultural residential districts inside Big Spring city limits.
• Setbacks — Single-family and agricultural residential districts inside Big Spring city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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