Bolthole Index

Potter County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo, Texas adopts its own zoning and runs its own building safety office, so land inside city limits is regulated in a way unincorporated Potter County is not12. The City lists its current International Codes as effective in 20243. Septic permits in Potter County come from the Amarillo Area Public Health District, not the Building Safety Department4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, adopted by the City of Amarillo for land inside city limits1
Building permits
Issued by the City Building Safety Department; the exact trigger for a home was not confirmed2
Building codes
International Codes adopted October 2023, effective January 20243
Certificate of occupancy
Required for land and buildings subject to the zoning chapter5
Septic permits
Amarillo Area Public Health District, Environmental Health Department4
Subdivision and lot splits
Regulated by the City, including a one-mile area beyond city limits6
Outside the city
Unincorporated Potter County has no building permit or zoning78

Who to call

Building permits

City of Amarillo Building Safety Department

Building permits, plan review, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Amarillo city limits

806-378-3041

building@amarillo.gov

808 S Buchanan St Suite 104 Amarillo, TX 79101

Septic permits

Amarillo Area Public Health District, Environmental Health Department

On-site sewage facility (septic) permits and inspections for Potter County

806-378-9472

ehealth@amarillo.gov

808 S Buchanan St, Suite 275, Amarillo, TX 79101

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

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

Yes. The City of Amarillo adopts zoning for land inside its city limits, covering districts, land-use categories, building setbacks and parking1. Lot rules depend on the district, so check your parcel's district before you plan anything. In the NS Neighborhood Service district, a detached single-family lot needs 6,000 square feet, 50 feet of width and 100 feet of depth, with a 65 percent lot coverage cap and a two-story height limit91011. Those figures come from an older version of the City's zoning ordinance and should be confirmed against the current code before you rely on them9.

We could not confirm Amarillo's rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum house size. Ask the City's Building Safety Department before buying a lot for any of them2.

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

Building permits inside Amarillo are handled by the City of Amarillo Building Safety Department, which also does plan review and inspections2. The City describes published procedures for applications, plan reviews, permit time limits, cancellations and refunds12. We could not confirm the exact list of work that triggers a permit for a home, so ask the department, and also ask whether an owner-builder is treated differently, since we found no City rule on that2.

Amarillo also requires a certificate of occupancy: no land may be used until the City's Building Official issues one stating that the building or use complies with the zoning chapter and the City's other building laws5. Building permit fees are published on the City's fee page13.

Which building codes does Amarillo use?

The City of Amarillo lists its current International Codes as adopted in October 2023 and effective in January 20243. These apply to building work inside Amarillo city limits. Texas also runs a statewide program for industrialized housing, which is a separate track from local permits14.

How do septic permits work in Amarillo and Potter County?

Septic permits are not issued by the Building Safety Department. The Amarillo Area Public Health District's Environmental Health Department is responsible for permitting and inspecting septic systems in Potter County415. A permit is required to install, repair, replace or alter an on-site sewage facility16. Homeowners may install or repair a system serving their own single-family home, but must still submit the permit application and required documents17.

We could not confirm which rules apply to a septic system on a lot inside Amarillo city limits, or whether the City requires a sewer connection for new homes. Call the Environmental Health Department and the Building Safety Department before assuming a lot can take a septic system152.

Building a home in Amarillo: the steps, in order

  1. Find the lot's zoning district on the City's zoning ordinance and confirm the lot size, setback and height rules for that district18.
  2. If you will divide or combine lots, check the City's subdivision rules, which also reach one mile beyond city limits6.
  3. Ask the Building Safety Department what permits your project needs, then apply and wait for plan review212.
  4. If the lot will not connect to city sewer, contact the Amarillo Area Public Health District about a septic permit before you build15.
  5. Pass the City's inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy5.

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

Land outside Amarillo city limits is governed by Potter County, where building permits and zoning do not apply; see the Potter County page for the county's answers78. Septic permits for Potter County come from the same health district whether the lot is inside or outside the city4.

Check the lot's zoning district, whether it is inside the city or in the one-mile area beyond it where subdivision rules still apply6, and the county's average property tax rate of 1.5 percent19. Wells in parts of Potter County fall under the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, which registers wells producing 17.5 gallons per minute or less20.

Watch-outs

  • The lot figures we found for the NS Neighborhood Service district come from an older zoning ordinance, so confirm them with the City before you rely on them9.
  • We could not confirm Amarillo's rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals, driveways or floodplain development inside city limits; ask the Building Safety Department2.
  • Rules for unincorporated Potter County do not apply inside city limits, and Amarillo's building and zoning rules do not apply outside them78.

Sources

  1. Codes & Ordinances - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Amarillo Building Safety Department (amarillo.gov)
  3. Building Safety - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  4. On-Site Sewage Facility, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 4-10, Zoning, Amarillo Code of Ordinances (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  6. Codes & Ordinances - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  7. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232 - County Regulation of Subdivisions (2026 county census)
  8. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232 - County Regulation of Subdivisions (2026 county census)
  9. Chapter 4-10, Zoning, Amarillo Code of Ordinances (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 4-10, Zoning, Amarillo Code of Ordinances (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 4-10, Zoning, Amarillo Code of Ordinances (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Safety Fees - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Safety Fees - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  14. tdlr.texas.gov (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Amarillo Area Public Health District, Environmental Health Department (amarillo.gov)
  16. On-Site Sewage Facility, quoted and re-checked
  17. On-Site Sewage Facility, quoted and re-checked
  18. Codes & Ordinances - City of Amarillo (Amarillo), quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, 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 Amarillo

Amarillo’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building work inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The City lists its current International Codes as adopted in October 2023 and effective in January 2024.
    “Amarillo’s Current List of International Codes include: Adopted—10/2023 Effective—1/2024”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Land and buildings inside Amarillo city limits subject to Chapter 4-10 zoning.

    • The certificate must be issued by the City Building Official and state compliance with Chapter 4-10 and other City building laws.
    “No land shall hereafter be used unless a Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance shall have been issued by the Building Official of the City, stating that the Building or proposed use of land or Building complies with the provisions of this chapter and other Building laws of the City.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Amarillo city limits.

    • Zoning regulates districts, land-use categories, setbacks, parking, and related controls.
    “Addresses zoning districts, land use categories, building setbacks, parking requirements, and other related regulations.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Amarillo city limits.

    • District rules include agricultural/residential, retail/central-business, commercial, industrial, and planned-development classifications in the City-hosted zoning ordinance.
    “Addresses zoning districts, land use categories, building setbacks, parking requirements, and other related regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Creation or combination of lots inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The ordinance also covers the one-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, but this claim is limited to land inside City limits.
    “Addresses the creation or combination of lots within the City of Amarillo and the one-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Contains subdivision design standards, public improvement regulations, and the use of right-of-way, requirements for preliminary plans, and other related regulations.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building Safety permits inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The City page describes application procedures, plan reviews, permit time limits, cancellations, and refund policy; individual fee amounts were not extracted.
    “Not more than sixty (60) days after expiration date: Sixty-eight dollars ($68.00)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building Safety permit applicants inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The City provides information on application procedures, plan review, permit time limits, cancellations, and refunds.
    “To assist residents with the permitting process, the Building Safety Department provides information on application procedures, plan reviews, permit time limits, cancellations, and the refund policy.”

Rules another office applies inside Amarillo

Amarillo 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 sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    SF-detached dwellings in the NS Neighborhood Service district inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The cited schedule is from the City-hosted August 2014 zoning ordinance and requires confirmation against the current online code.

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

    “NS Neighborhood Service SF-Detached 6,000 50 100 20 10 5 See 4-10-171 (b)(9) 10 See 4-10-170 (b)(5)&(6) 20 65 2 1”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    SF-detached dwellings in the NS Neighborhood Service district inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The cited schedule is from the City-hosted August 2014 zoning ordinance and requires confirmation against the current online code.

    maximum lot coverage: 65 percent

    “NS Neighborhood Service SF-Detached 6,000 50 100 20 10 5 See 4-10-171 (b)(9) 10 See 4-10-170 (b)(5)&(6) 20 65 2 1”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    SF-detached dwellings in the NS Neighborhood Service district inside Amarillo city limits.

    • The cited schedule is from the City-hosted August 2014 zoning ordinance and requires confirmation against the current online code.

    maximum height: 2 stories

    “NS Neighborhood Service SF-Detached 6,000 50 100 20 10 5 See 4-10-171 (b)(9) 10 See 4-10-170 (b)(5)&(6) 20 65 2 1”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside Amarillo city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Amarillo city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Amarillo city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Amarillo city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Amarillo 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 Amarillo publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Potter County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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