Moore County, TX: No Building Permit, No Zoning

Q: How do you build a home in Moore County, step by step?

Confirm your parcel is in unincorporated Moore County land, not inside Dumas, Sunray, Cactus, or Fritch, since city rules would replace these county rules. Get a site evaluation for septic before you commit to a house site: contact the TCEQ Region 1 office in Amarillo, the OSSF permitting authority for Moore County, and apply for your septic permit before construction starts. If you will cut a new driveway onto a county road, check with the Moore County Road & Bridge Department first; if your access is instead onto a state highway, you need a TxDOT permit and advance notice before construction. Build to whatever standard you choose beyond septic: no county building permit or inspection applies in unincorporated Moore County. For an ag exemption question, a subdivision plat, or a question about who currently handles floodplain matters, call the Moore County Judge's office to be pointed to the right authority. Land outside city limits that is divided mainly for farm, ranch, wildlife-management or timber use can be exempt from county plat requirements, but that exemption does not remove septic, floodplain or access rules.

Unincorporated Moore County, Texas does not appear to require a building permit for a home, and the county has no zoning ordinance¹². Inside Dumas, Sunray, Cactus and Fritch, city rules apply instead, but septic permits still come from TCEQ. There is no county septic office either: Moore County has no local on-site sewage facility (OSSF) program, so the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's regional office in Amarillo permits septic systems for the county³⁴. The tradeoff: with no zoning, nothing on paper restricts an RV, tiny home, or manufactured home on your land, but you still need a state septic permit before you build⁵.

At a glance

Building permit: Not required in unincorporated Moore County¹
Zoning: None countywide; the county has no zoning ordinance²
Septic permits: Issued by TCEQ's Amarillo regional office, not the county³⁴
RV living: Not restricted by county zoning (there is none)⁵
Tiny home / manufactured home: Not restricted by county zoning (there is none)⁵
Minimum home size, setbacks, lot coverage: None set by the county⁵
10-acre septic exemption: Available for a single-family home on a qualifying tract of 10+ acres⁶
Driveway onto a state highway: Needs a TxDOT permit (Form 1058), not a county permit⁷

Who to call

Septic permits

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Region 1 Office (Amarillo)

OSSF (septic) permitting for Moore County. TCEQ's own county lookup names its Region 1 office in Amarillo as the authorized agent for Moore County, with no local city or district taking over that role.

806-353-9251

5809 S Western St, STE 260, Amarillo, TX 79110-4933

Roads & driveways

Moore County Road & Bridge Department

County roads and access questions for driveways connecting to a county road in unincorporated Moore County.

806-935-2416

P.O. Box 100, Dumas, Texas 79029

Also useful

Moore County Judge / Commissioners Court

General county administration. Since Moore County has no building, zoning, or floodplain department, this is the office to call with a question that doesn't fit TCEQ septic permitting or Road & Bridge.

806-935-5588

715 S. Dumas Avenue, Room 202, Dumas, Texas 79029

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

Unincorporated Moore County does not require a building permit to put up a home, barn, or shed¹. Texas gives counties no general power to require building permits outside city limits, and Moore County lists no building department or code-enforcement office on its official site, which is consistent with that state limit¹⁸. That changes if you build inside Dumas, Sunray, Cactus, or Fritch, or in one of their extraterritorial jurisdictions, where the city's own codes and any city permit requirements apply instead. This guide covers unincorporated county land, not land inside a city.

Who do you call about permits and building questions in Moore County?

Moore County lists no building department, code-enforcement office or planning office on its official site¹². We could not confirm who handles floodplain matters for the county, so ask the County Judge's office. For a septic (OSSF) permit, the authority is not the county at all: contact the TCEQ Region 1 office in Amarillo, which TCEQ's own county lookup lists as Moore County's authorized OSSF permitting agent⁴. For anything involving a county road, including a new driveway cut onto one, the Moore County Road & Bridge Department is the office to call⁹. For a general question that doesn't fit either of those, or to ask who handles floodplain or subdivision matters, start with the Moore County Judge's office, which sits over the Commissioners Court¹⁰.

Does Moore County have zoning?

No: Moore County has no zoning ordinance, and its official site lists no planning or zoning department². Texas law gives counties zoning power only in a handful of narrow, named situations, such as parts of Padre Island in Cameron and Willacy Counties, and Moore County does not fall under any of them, so the county has no general zoning authority to exercise even if it wanted to¹¹. In practice this means no countywide minimum home size, no minimum lot size, no setbacks, no lot-coverage limit, and no building-height limit apply to unincorporated Moore County land⁵. It also means the county does not restrict accessory dwellings, RVs, tiny homes, or manufactured homes on a parcel by zoning, because there is no zoning to do the restricting⁵. None of this applies inside Dumas, Sunray, Cactus, or Fritch: a city's own ordinances govern land inside its limits and, in many Texas cities, inside its extraterritorial jurisdiction too. The City of Cactus, for example, divides its land into zoning districts with their own use, area and setback rules, so check the Cactus zoning map before buying there¹². We could not confirm the zoning status of Dumas, Sunray or Fritch; ask each city.

How do septic permits work in Moore County?

Texas requires a permit and an approved plan before you construct, alter, extend, or repair a septic system (an OSSF), and that rule applies in Moore County the same as anywhere else in the state⁶. Because Moore County has no local health department or OSSF program, the TCEQ regional office in Amarillo is the permitting authority, reviewing plans, issuing the permit, and inspecting the installation³⁴¹³. Only 32.7% of Moore County's soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so plan on a site evaluation early and budget for an engineered or alternative system if your site is among the majority with limiting soils¹⁴. A narrow exemption exists for a single-family home on a tract of 10 acres or more: it applies only if a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator or engineer signs off, every part of the system stays at least 100 feet from the property line, effluent stays on your property, the system causes no nuisance or groundwater pollution, and the home is the only dwelling on the tract⁶. Texas also bars use of a septic system until TCEQ or its authorized agent inspects and approves it, and the 10-acre exemption does not waive that inspection¹⁵. An owner may install a system for the owner's own single-family home only if the permitting authority allows owner installation, so ask the Amarillo office before you plan to do the work yourself¹⁶. Skip a required permit and you risk a system that a lender or future buyer can't verify, on top of any state enforcement.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Moore County, Texas?

Moore County's lack of zoning means the county does not restrict RV or tiny-home occupancy on unincorporated land by ordinance⁵. That is a real answer, not a gap: it follows from Texas law limiting county zoning power and from Moore County never having adopted a zoning ordinance¹¹. It is not the same as a guarantee that nothing else applies. Any RV, tiny home, or manufactured home still needs a compliant septic system before wastewater can legally be disposed of, which means the TCEQ permit above applies to a permanent house and to a trailer parked long-term alike³. If your land sits inside or near Dumas, Sunray, Cactus, or Fritch, confirm you are outside city limits and any extraterritorial jurisdiction before assuming county-only rules apply, since a city's own RV and occupancy rules would take over there.

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

Confirm your parcel is in unincorporated Moore County land², not inside Dumas, Sunray, Cactus, or Fritch, since city rules would replace these county rules.
Get a site evaluation for septic before you commit to a house site: contact the TCEQ Region 1 office in Amarillo, the OSSF permitting authority for Moore County, and apply for your septic permit before construction starts⁴⁶.
If you will cut a new driveway onto a county road, check with the Moore County Road & Bridge Department first⁹; if your access is instead onto a state highway, you need a TxDOT permit and advance notice before construction⁷.
Build to whatever standard you choose beyond septic: no county building permit or inspection applies in unincorporated Moore County¹.
For an ag exemption question, a subdivision plat, or a question about who currently handles floodplain matters, call the Moore County Judge's office to be pointed to the right authority¹⁰. Land outside city limits that is divided mainly for farm, ranch, wildlife-management or timber use can be exempt from county plat requirements, but that exemption does not remove septic, floodplain or access rules¹⁷.

What should you check before buying land in Moore County?

Water and soils come first: 97.3% of Moore County land sits at 15% slope or less, which is easy to build on, but only 32.7% of soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so get a site evaluation before you assume a standard system will work¹⁸¹⁴. The county is dry and drought-prone: average annual precipitation is 18.2 inches, and the area has spent 38.1% of recent years in severe drought, which matters for both a private well and for landscaping or livestock plans¹⁹²⁰. Ask specifically which groundwater conservation district, if any, covers your parcel before drilling a well; Texas gives no state agency direct authority over groundwater production, and Moore County's own site does not identify a district for a given tract, so this needs a direct call rather than an assumption. Moore County is rural and sparsely populated, at 23.6 people per square mile, and sits about 45 miles from the nearest metro area, so factor in drive time for supplies, services, and emergency response²¹²². Farmland in the county has recently been valued around $1,836 an acre, and the typical home value is about $192,223, useful benchmarks when you're pricing a parcel²³²⁴. Property taxes run an effective rate near 1.5%, with a median bill around $2,066 a year, and a typical home insurance premium runs about $2,148 a year in the area²⁵²⁶²⁷.

Watch-outs

Moore County's official site does not state whether it has adopted a fire code or the optional residential building-code standards Texas law allows some counties to adopt; if you need certainty for a loan or insurance, ask the Moore County Judge's office directly rather than assuming no county rule applies at all¹⁰⁸.
We could not confirm who administers floodplain rules or reviews subdivision plats in Moore County; call the Moore County Judge's office for the current contact before you assume there is none¹⁰.

Sources

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Moore County requires no county building permit for a home.

Rule	Moore County	Sherman County	Hutchinson County	Potter County	Hartley County	Hansford County	Carson County
Building permit	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
County zoning	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Septic permits	TCEQ	TCEQ Region 1	Hutchinson County	Amarillo Area Public Health District	Hartley County	TCEQ	TCEQ

How Moore County scores

Seclusion64100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency1696% ev.

Admin Boringness8290% ev.

Durability29100% ev.

Property Autonomy71100% ev.

Carry Cost80100% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$192kTypical home

1.5%Property tax

$1,836Land / acre

18.2"Annual rain

38.1% of yrsSevere drought

27.5 / yr (+21.7)Mid-century 100°F days

30.4 daysMid-century dry spell

1.32" (+2.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.28×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$2,148Home insurance / yr

-0.8% / yrInsurance growth

0%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

22,262People within 30 min

437,920People within 2 hr

16,090Radius comparison (15 mi)

23.6People / sq mi

1.8%Federal land

97.3%Land at 15% slope or less

32.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)

179,935 acWorkable land screen

0.5%Wooded land

5.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac

57.9°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Moore County

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

Moore County rules

Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Building height · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Camping on your land · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Manufactured homes · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us.
- Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
- Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
- For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
“This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
County-wide zoningAbsent
The county government lists no planning or zoning department; Texas counties generally cannot impose comprehensive zoning in unincorporated areas.
Moore County, Texas (official county government site) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Texas rules that apply here

Building permitLimited
Industrialized housing or buildings installed in Texas, including purchasers or lessees acquiring a unit for their own or their company’s use.
- A person purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for their own use or their company’s use may file for an installation permit instead of registering as an industrialized builder.
- A person responsible for assembly, connection, and on-site construction for persons other than themselves must be registered as an industrialized builder.
- Municipalities may require applicable local permits and licenses before construction begins when the municipality regulates the installation.
“A person who is a retailer of industrialized housing or buildings, or who is responsible for the assembly, connection, and on-site construction and erection of an industrialized house or building for persons other than themselves, must be registered as an industrialized builder. Subcontractors do not require the registration unless required by other applicable state laws. For example, electricians, HVAC contractors, and plumbers must be licensed in accordance with the applicable state law. If you are purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for your own use, or your company's use, you may file for an installation permit in lieu of registering as an industrialized builder.”
tdlr.texas.gov ↗Re-checked Oct 1, 2026
Owner-builder exemptionConditional
An owner installing an on-site sewage facility for a single-family dwelling in Moore County, subject to the permitting authority's local requirements.
- Whether the owner may install the OSSF depends on whether the permitting authority allows it in local requirements.
- The OSSF must be for a single-family dwelling that the owner owns.
- The owner must also own the property.
- No part of the property may be developed for sale or lease.
- All permitting, construction, and maintenance requirements of the permitting authority must be met.
- If another person assists with installation, that person generally must be a correctly licensed installer, subject to the listed exceptions for a licensed electrician installing electrical components and a person delivering and setting a treatment or pump tank.
“This depends on whether the permitting authority allows this in their local requirements. Otherwise yes, provided you have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to do so AND:”
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Oct 6, 2026
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.”
  Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Re-checked Oct 3, 2026
- 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”
  Exemptions to Electrician Licensing ↗Re-checked Oct 4, 2026
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:”
Industrialized Housing and Buildings – Adoption of New Code Editions ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
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:”
  Industrialized Housing and Buildings – Adoption of New Code Editions ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)
OSSF permitting, inspection, and administration throughout Texas.
- TCEQ administers the program in areas where no local jurisdiction has been authorized.
- A local governmental entity may administer the program only after an order, ordinance, or resolution is approved by TCEQ.
- The authorized agent administers the program within its approved area of jurisdiction.
- Local programs may adopt requirements more stringent than state minimums.
“The authorized agent is responsible for the proper implementation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366, 30 TAC Chapter 285, including reviewing OSSF permit applications, conducting inspections, investigating complaints, and more.”
How to Become a Texas On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic System) Authorized Agent ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Mixed — On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems, throughout Texas
  “TCEQ is not often the OSSF permitting authority. [...] The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
  Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, and operation of OSSFs in Texas, subject to stated exemptions and local requirements.
- A permit and approved plan are required for construction, alteration, repair, extension, and operation of an OSSF.
- A permit is generally required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.
- A local permitting authority must be checked because local programs may be more stringent than state minimums.
- The 10-acre exemption requires compliance with 30 TAC Chapter 285 planning, construction, and installation standards; a site evaluation by a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator or professional engineer; service to a single-family dwelling on a tract of at least 10 acres; no nuisance or groundwater pollution; all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from the property line; on-site effluent disposal; and the single-family dwelling must be the only dwelling on the tract.
- Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.
- Grandfathered systems may be exempt if installed before the local program was authorized or before September 1, 1989, whichever is earlier, and if they are not creating a nuisance, are not in need of repair, and have had no significant increase in use or other alteration.
- The permitting authority must approve or deny planning materials and the permit application within 30 days of receipt.
minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (single-family dwelling and all other stated conditions must be met) · minimum OSSF setback under 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet from property line (all parts of the OSSF) · emergency repair reporting deadline: <= 72 hours (after repairs have begun) · permit application decision deadline: <= 30 days (from receipt by permitting authority)
“A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.”
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Required — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, or operation of an on-site sewage facility in Texas, including Moore County.
  “A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.”
  Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
- Required — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an OSSF in Texas
  “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. [...] An OSSF may be exempt from permitting if it complies with all other requirements, including planning, construction, and installation standards of 30 TAC 285 AND meets the “10 acre rule”:”
  Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Septic inspectionRequired
On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems, located in Moore County, Texas, when constructed, altered, repaired, extended, or operated under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366.
- An OSSF may not be used unless it is inspected and approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or an authorized agent.
- A permit holder must notify the commission, authorized agent, or designated representative not later than the fifth working day before the proposed installation operation date that the installation is ready for inspection.
- The inspection must occur on a mutually agreed date and time.
- The installation inspection must be made not later than the second working day, excluding holidays, after notification that the installation is completed and ready for inspection.
- The owner, owner's representative, or occupant must provide reasonable access at reasonable times for necessary inspections.
- The 10-acre provision in Health and Safety Code §366.052 exempts only §§366.051, 366.053, 366.054, and 366.057 for a qualifying single residence; it does not exempt §366.055 inspections. Qualifying systems must still retain effluent within specified limits and may not create a nuisance or pollute groundwater.
- The executive director is the permitting authority unless a local governmental entity has an approved OSSF order, ordinance, or resolution. Moore County is assigned to TCEQ Region 1, Amarillo.
advance inspection notice: <= 5 working days (Notice must be given not later than the fifth working day before the proposed date of the operation of an installation.) · installation inspection deadline: <= 2 working days (Holidays are excluded; deadline runs after notice that the installation is completed and ready for inspection.) · 10-acre qualifying tract: >= 10 acres (Single residence; field line or sewage disposal line must not be closer than 100 feet from the property line.) · separation from property line: >= 100 feet (Applies to the field line or sewage disposal line for the §366.052 single-residence provision.)
“An on-site sewage disposal system may not be used unless it is inspected and approved by the commission or the authorized agent.”
Health and Safety Code Chapter 366: On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — OSSF installation and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas
  “Many times, the AA has a "designated representative" (DR) to assist them with their responsibilities, which include reviewing plans for constructing, altering, extending or repairing each OSSF; issuing permits; and inspecting system installation. [...] If the system uses an electronic monitor, automatic radio or telephone to notify the maintenance provider of system or component failure and to monitor the amount of disinfection in the system, reporting may be reduced to every six months.”
  Basics for Septic Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
- Limited — OSSFs using secondary treatment or drip irrigation in Texas.
  “A system using secondary treatment or drip irrigation must be inspected by a valid maintenance company once every four months, or be maintained by the single family homeowner, where allowed.”
  Advice for an Owner of an On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic System) ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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”:”
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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.”
  Chapter 285 — On-Site Sewage Facilities ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
Well permitLimited
Drilling, equipping, operating, or completing a water well, or substantially altering a well or well pump, where the well is within a groundwater conservation district in Texas.
- A groundwater conservation district must require a permit except as provided by Texas Water Code §36.117.
- A district may not require a permit or permit amendment for maintenance or repair that does not increase production capability above the authorized or permitted production rate.
- Permit applications must be in writing and sworn.
- Whether a particular private well is exempt or subject to additional district requirements depends on the applicable groundwater conservation district's rules.
permit application form: in writing and sworn
“Except as provided by Section 36.117, a district shall require a permit for the drilling, equipping, operating, or completing of wells or for substantially altering the size of wells or well pumps.”
Water Code Chapter 36 — Groundwater Conservation Districts ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
Agricultural exemptionAvailable
Land outside municipal limits in Moore County and other Texas counties when divided into two or more parts primarily for agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production use.
- The tract must be outside municipal limits.
- The owner must not lay out a subdivision part, street, alley, square, park, or other part intended for public use as described by Local Government Code Section 232.001(a)(3).
- The land must be used primarily for agricultural use, or for farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production use under the cited constitutional provisions.
- If the tract ceases to be used primarily for the qualifying agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production purpose, the platting requirements apply.
- This exemption concerns county plat requirements and does not eliminate septic, floodplain, access, utility, or other applicable requirements.
“the land is to be used primarily for agricultural use [...] or for farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber production use”
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232, Section 232.0015 ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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”
Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
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”
Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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.”
  Morales Letter Opinion No. 97-085 ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026
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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 233, County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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.”
  Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 233 ↗Re-checked Oct 5, 2026

Inside cities and towns in Moore 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 incorporated City of Cactus, Moore County, Texas.
- The source describes multiple zoning districts and district-specific regulations; applicable requirements depend on the property’s district.
- This claim does not establish zoning rules in Dumas, Sunray, or unincorporated Moore County.
“The City of Cactus is sectioned into multiple zoning districts. Each district has specific regulations pertaining to types of use, area regulations, building set-backs, etc.”
Zoning | Cactus, TX ↗Re-checked Oct 10, 2026

Still unanswered

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

Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in unincorporated Moore County, Texas
Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Moore County, Texas
Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer connection requirements for property in Moore County, Texas.
Subdividing land — Subdivision regulation in unincorporated Moore County, Texas.
Building in a floodplain — Development in floodplain areas of Moore County

2 more unanswered

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.

Living off-grid in Moore County, Texas

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

Moore County scores 42/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (18.2″/yr rainfall) and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

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

Moore County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Region 1 - Amarillo. 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 Moore County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Moore County is allowed: Unincorporated Moore County: no county rule sets this, because Moore County has adopted no county zoning ordinance (Texas law lets some counties zone, but this one has not). The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.moore.tx.us. Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits. Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Moore County, Texas?

Land in Moore County runs about $1,836 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Moore County?

Moore County gets about 18.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 38.1% of years.

How remote is Moore County?

A representative private-land location has about 22,262 people within a 30-minute drive and 437,920 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.

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Moore County, Texas

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who do you call about permits and building questions in Moore County?

Does Moore County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Moore County?

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Moore County, Texas?

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

What should you check before buying land in Moore County?

Watch-outs

Sources

Compared with neighboring counties

Moore County in Texas

How Moore County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Cities and towns in Moore County

Answers from the rulebook for Moore County

Moore County rules

Texas rules that apply here

Inside cities and towns in Moore County

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Moore County, Texas

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

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

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

How much does land cost in Moore County, Texas?

What is the water situation in Moore County?

How remote is Moore County?

How Moore compares in Texas