Bolthole Index

Navarro County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Rice, Texas

The City of Rice, Texas requires a building permit for any new building, addition or moved-in building inside city limits1, and the city enforces its own zoning ordinance2. Septic permits inside Rice are not confirmed in our research; Navarro County Planning & Development runs the county's septic program3. Outside city limits, Navarro County's rules apply instead.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Rice city limits for erecting, altering, enlarging or moving in a building1
Zoning
Rice enforces its own zoning ordinance with ten districts, two of them overlays24
Processing time
Residential building permits may take 7 to 10 business days5
Minimum home size (R-1)
1,200 square feet of living area, garage excluded6
Minimum lot (R-1)
7,000 square feet, 60 feet wide and 110 feet deep7
Certificate of occupancy
Required for a building erected, changed, converted or altered; apply with the building permit8
Septic
Not confirmed inside city limits; ask the Navarro County OSSF office3

Who to call

Building permits

City of Rice (building permits and zoning)

Residential building permits, special use and demolition permits, contractor registration, manufactured home permits and 911 address registration inside Rice city limits.

(903) 326-7500

305 North Dallas Street, Rice, TX 75155

Septic permits

Navarro County Planning & Development (OSSF septic permits)

On-site sewage facility (septic) permits and inspections for Navarro County; whether this office also covers addresses inside Rice city limits is unconfirmed.

(903) 875-3311

601 N. 13th St., Suite 1 Corsicana, TX 75110

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 Rice means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Rice, Texas have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and home size?

Yes. The City of Rice enforces its own zoning ordinance, and no building or land inside city limits may be used except in conformity with the rules for its zoning district2. The ordinance divides Rice into ten districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MH, LR, C, I, plus IH and FP overlays4. The official zoning map is kept at the city secretary's office, and newly annexed land is temporarily R-1 until the council sets permanent zoning4.

In the R-1 Single-Family Residential District, a home needs at least 1,200 square feet of living area, not counting a garage6. R-1 lots need at least 7,000 square feet, 60 feet of width and 110 feet of depth7. Buildings may cover no more than 40 percent of an R-1 lot9. Other districts have different numbers, so confirm the district of any lot with the City of Rice before you make an offer.

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

Yes. A building permit from the city's Building Inspector is required to erect, alter or enlarge any building, or to move a building onto a lot, inside Rice city limits1. The structure must conform to the zoning ordinance before the city can issue the permit, and the applicant files a scaled plan and a written use statement1. A permit issued after the zoning ordinance was adopted is valid for 90 days1.

The City of Rice posts a Construction Packet for residential applications and says residential building permits may take 7 to 10 business days to process510. A certificate of occupancy is also required for a building that is erected, changed, converted or altered, and the application is filed at the same time as the building permit8. Contractors register with the city before working there10.

How do you reach the City of Rice permit office?

Building permits, zoning questions, special use permits and demolition permits go through the City of Rice, 305 North Dallas Street, Rice, TX 75155, phone (903) 326-750010. The city's permits page links the Construction Packet and application forms10.

The city has published an amended fee schedule for planning, zoning, building and business permits (Ordinance 525 Amendment, adopted August 8, 2024), but we could not confirm the dollar amounts, so ask the city for the current building permit fee before you budget11. Do not send a Rice address to Navarro County's planning counter for building permits: the county's building-permit and zoning rules cover unincorporated land and the lake area, not city lots12.

How do septic permits work inside Rice, Texas?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits for a lot inside Rice city limits. Texas requires a permit and approved plan to construct, alter, repair, extend or operate an on-site sewage facility13, and in most areas local governments act as the state-authorized permitting agents, with the TCEQ regional office stepping in where none is authorized14.

Navarro County Planning & Development runs the county's septic (OSSF) permits and inspections through its OSSF inspector315. Before you rely on a septic system on a Rice lot, call that office and the City of Rice to ask which one permits it, and whether the lot must connect to city water or sewer, which we also could not confirm. Septic permit fees at the county are $600 for a single-family residence16.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Rice, Texas?

We could not confirm an RV, tiny-home or accessory-dwelling rule inside Rice city limits, so do not assume one is allowed. Ask the City of Rice permit office which zoning district a lot is in and whether a tiny home or RV can be a residence there10.

Manufactured homes are addressed directly: Rice's zoning ordinance sets up an MH Manufactured Home District, and the city's permits page tells buyers to understand the requirements and submit a permit request before locating one in Rice17. Navarro County's RV limits, which apply only in the Richland-Chambers Lakeshore zoning area outside the city, do not govern a lot inside Rice18.

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

  1. Ask the City of Rice which zoning district the lot is in and whether the lot meets that district's minimums, for example 7,000 square feet in R-1710.
  2. Register your 911 address with the city; addresses in the Rice city limits and ETJ register with the city, and all others register with the Navarro County Sheriff's Office10.
  3. Get the Construction Packet and file a building permit application with a scaled plan and written use statement110.
  4. Apply for the certificate of occupancy at the same time8.
  5. Settle septic with the Navarro County OSSF office and the city before you buy a system15.
  6. Start work promptly, because the permit is valid for 90 days1.

We could not confirm which building code Rice has adopted or what inspections it requires, so ask the city for both.

What stays with Navarro County, and what should you check before you buy in Rice?

Septic is the main item to confirm with Navarro County, and the county's own rules are written for unincorporated land. Outside Rice, Navarro County has a residential construction order with three required inspections19 and floodplain development permits20. For land outside city limits, see the Navarro County page.

County-level numbers help set expectations: Navarro County's effective property tax rate is 1.3 percent21, and only 2.7 percent of its soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation or an engineered system on many lots22. The nearest city of 100,000 or more people is about 50 miles from the county center23.

Watch-outs

  • Septic authority inside Rice city limits is unconfirmed, so ask both the City of Rice and the Navarro County OSSF office before you close3.
  • A Rice building permit is valid for 90 days after issuance, so line up your builder before you apply1.
  • Land annexed into Rice is temporarily zoned R-1 until the city council sets permanent zoning, which can change what you may build4.
  • We could not confirm the adopted building code, inspection schedule or owner-builder rules inside Rice; ask the City of Rice permit office.10

Sources

  1. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  2. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning & Development, quoted and re-checked
  4. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  5. PERMITS, FORMS & ORDINANCE | City of Rice, Texas (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  6. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  7. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  8. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  9. Exhibit 14A: Zoning Ordinance - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Rice (building permits and zoning) (ricetx.gov)
  11. New Laws - City of Rice, TX (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  12. Planning & Development, quoted and re-checked
  13. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Navarro County Planning & Development (OSSF septic permits) (co.navarro.tx.us)
  16. Planning & Development, quoted and re-checked
  17. PERMITS, FORMS & ORDINANCE | City of Rice, Texas (Rice), quoted and re-checked
  18. Richland-Chambers Lakeshore Area Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. Order Requiring Application of Subchapter F to Certain Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  20. Residential Building / Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. 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
  23. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

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 Rice

Rice’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, alteration, enlargement, or moving a building onto a lot within Rice city limits.

    • The structure must conform to the zoning ordinance before the city may issue a permit.
    • The applicant must file a scaled plan and written use statement with the Building Inspector's Office, plus other information the inspector requires.
    • A building permit issued after adoption of the zoning ordinance is valid for 90 days.
    • Failure to comply with the zoning ordinance is cause for permit revocation.

    permit validity: 90 days (Building permits issued after adoption of the zoning ordinance.)

    “A building permit shall be required from the Building Inspector for the erection, alteration, or enlargement of any building or a moved building onto a lot within the City.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A building erected, changed, converted, or altered in use or structure inside Rice city limits.

    • The building or land must conform to all applicable codes and zoning-ordinance requirements.
    • The application must be made at the same time as the required building-permit application.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than three months during alterations or partial occupancy pending completion, subject to conditions and safeguards protecting occupants and the public.

    temporary certificate maximum period: <= 3 months (During alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.)

    “A certificate of occupancy shall be required for any building, which is hereafter erected, changed, converted or altered in its use or structure.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and structures inside Rice city limits.

    • The city secretary is designated zoning administrator to supervise administration and enforcement.
    • Use, occupancy, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, and structural alteration must conform to the regulations for the parcel's zoning district.
    “No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, reconstructed, enlarged or structurally altered except in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the zoning district in which it is located.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Rice city limits.

    • The official zoning map is part of the zoning ordinance and is kept on file in the city secretary's office for public inspection during regular office hours.
    • Newly annexed territory is temporarily R-1 until the city council establishes permanent zoning, except where permanent zoning is granted at annexation.

    zoning districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MH, LR, C, I, IH overlay, FP overlay

    “For the purpose of this ordinance, the City of Rice, Texas is hereby divided into ten (10) zoning districts in which eight (8) are specific zoning districts and two (2) are overlay zoning districts.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    A manufactured home proposed to be located inside Rice city limits.

    • The city's permits page directs purchasers to understand the applicable requirements and responsibilities and submit a permit request.
    • Rice's zoning ordinance establishes an MH Manufactured Home District; exact district use-table conditions were not extracted.
    “Manufactured Home | | | | | X | | | | | S | 2/dwelling unit”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and subdivision of land inside Rice city limits.

    • The subdivision ordinance was adopted April 11, 2000, as amended.
    • The city administrator or designee has authority to approve certain plats under Texas Local Government Code §§ 212.0065 and 212.0145 and subsequent amendments.
    “Pursuant to chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code, as amended in 1999, the city council hereby designates the city administrator or the city administrator’s designee the authority to approve certain subdivision plats as described in section 212.0065 and 212.0145 of the Texas Local Government Code and any subsequent amendments thereto.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Planning, zoning, development, building, and business permits inside Rice city limits.

    • Ordinance 525 Amendment was adopted August 8, 2024 and amends planning, zoning, development, building, and business-related fee schedules.
    • The opened source did not provide the amended dollar amounts.
    “Ordinance 525 Amendment | 2024-08-08 | Amends Fee Schedule: Planning, Zoning and Development Related Fees; Amends Building Related Fees; Amends Business Related Fees”
  • Permit processPartial

    Residential building permits inside Rice city limits.

    • Residential permit information and applications are available in the City's Construction Packet.
    • The city states residential building permits may take 7 to 10 business days to process.
    • The zoning ordinance separately requires scaled plans and a written use statement for covered building permits.

    residential permit processing time: 7 to 10 business days (The city states permits may take this long to process.)

    “Residential permit information and applications are available in our Construction Packet. Please keep in mind that Residential Building Permits may take up to 7 to 10 business days to process.”

Rules another office applies inside Rice

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Rice city limits.

    • The zoning ordinance's schedule of district regulations governs the district.
    • The stated minimum excludes a garage.

    minimum living area excluding garage: >= 1200 square feet

    “Minimum Living Area - Excluding Garage | 1,200 | 800 | 800 | (d) | (d) | (g) | N/A | N/A | N/A”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Rice city limits.

    • The zoning ordinance's schedule of district regulations governs the district.

    minimum lot area: >= 7000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 60 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 110 feet

    “Minimum Lot Area (Sq. Ft.) | 7,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 | (b) | (e) (f) | 3,000 | N/A | N/A”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Rice city limits.

    • The zoning ordinance's schedule of district regulations governs the district.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

    “Maximum Lot Coverage | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | N/A | N/A | 30%”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Rice city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Rice city limits.
  • Inspections — Construction inside Rice city limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Rice city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Rice city limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Rice publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Navarro County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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