Bolthole Index

Real County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Real County, Texas

59Index Score / 100
#94 of 254 in Texas

Real County, Texas requires a countywide floodplain building permit for every new structure, addition, manufactured home, travel trailer and subdivision proposal1. The permit is an Exemption Certificate outside the floodplain or an Elevation Certificate inside it1. Unincorporated Real County has no county zoning, while septic permitting runs through local authorized agents and fewer than 1% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field2345.

At a glance

Building permit
Required countywide through the floodplain system: an Exemption or Elevation Certificate1
Zoning
No countywide zoning ordinance or office2
RV, tiny home & manufactured home living
Unrestricted on ordinary parcels; approved undersized subdivision lots are commercial-use only and bar overnight lodging36
Septic permit
Required countywide; Real County itself is TCEQ's listed local agent, administered through the County Judge's office47
Septic soil suitability
Only 0.8% of county soils have no severe limitation for a conventional drain field5
Subdivision minimum lot size
10 acres with an individual well and septic system; smaller with public water or sewer8
Floodplain permit fee
$50 Exemption Certificate outside the floodplain; $100 Elevation Certificate inside it9

Who to call

Also useful

Real County Courthouse (Office of the County Judge)

County Judge and general county administration; the office to start with for any land-use question, since Real County has no building, planning or zoning department

(830) 232-5304

146 Highway 83 South, Leakey, TX 78873

Floodplain permits

Real County Flood Plain Coordinator

Reviews, approves or denies development permit applications (Exemption or Elevation Certificate) for all new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers and subdivision proposals in Real County

(830) 279-5822

P.O. Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873

Septic permits

Real County Judge's Office

OSSF (septic) permitting for Real County; TCEQ's own authorized-agent lookup lists Real County (entire county) as a local agent, alongside the Nueces River Authority for a 4-mile radius around the courthouse, and the County Judge's office is the county's land-use office

830-232-5304

countyjudge@co.real.tx.us

Real County Courthouse, PO Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873

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 Real 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 Real County, Texas?

Yes. Real County requires a countywide building permit through its floodplain development system for all new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers and subdivision proposals1. Development outside the mapped floodplain requires an Exemption Certificate, while development inside it requires an Elevation Certificate1. The Exemption Certificate costs $50 and the Elevation Certificate costs $1009. Failing to apply violates the court order and may bring a Class C misdemeanor, monetary penalties or a civil action to stop continued noncompliance1. Real County has not separately confirmed a general building code, building inspections or certificates of occupancy, so ask the Flood Plain Coordinator what review your project will receive10.

Who handles building and floodplain permits in Real County?

The Real County Flood Plain Coordinator reviews, approves or denies development-permit applications for new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers and subdivision proposals10. For other land-use questions, the Real County Courthouse is the practical starting point11. Real County's subdivision and development rules govern unincorporated areas, not land inside a city's corporate limits unless an interlocal agreement applies12. If unincorporated land also lies in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, county regulation still applies and the rules direct applicants to consult the County Engineer about which requirements control12. A hardship variance requires action by the Commissioners' Court on a formal agenda item12.

Does Real County have zoning?

Real County has no zoning ordinance or planning office; the county's official site shows subdivision and development rules, not zoning, and Texas law grants county zoning authority only to a handful of specific, narrowly defined areas elsewhere in the state, none of which include Real County2. Because the county has no zoning authority, there's no county minimum dwelling size, no setback rule, no lot-coverage limit and no building-height limit, and Real County has not published zoning districts3. Accessory dwellings, RVs, tiny homes and manufactured homes are unrestricted by county rule on an ordinary parcel3. The one carve-out is inside Real County's own platted subdivisions: an approved "under-sized" lot there may be used only for commercial purposes, and the county's subdivision rules specifically bar anyone from lodging, sleeping or living on one for even a single night6. That same under-sized-lot restriction also bars short-term or transient rentals, listing everything from a mobile-home park to a bed and breakfast as prohibited uses13.

How do septic permits work in Real County?

A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend or repair an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) anywhere in Texas, and TCEQ's own authorized-agent lookup lists Real County itself as the local agent countywide, with the Nueces River Authority also serving as an agent within 4 miles of the courthouse; the county's program is administered through the County Judge's office4147. Soils are the central challenge here: USDA data rates only about 0.8% of Real County's soils as free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so plan on an engineered or alternative system and a site evaluation for nearly any parcel5. A single-family home on a tract of 10 acres or more can qualify for Texas's 10-acre OSSF exemption if it also meets every other condition: a licensed site evaluator's or engineer's evaluation, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, every part of the system at least 100 feet from the property line, effluent kept on the property, and no other dwelling on the tract15. If you're buying inside one of the county's platted subdivisions, lot size itself tracks water and sewer service: 10 acres with an individual well and OSSF, 1 acre with public water and an individual OSSF, or half an acre with both public water and public sewer8. After a permit is issued, the installer must give the permitting authority at least five working days' notice before the system is ready for inspection, and the authorization to construct expires if no inspection is requested within one calendar year16.

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

Yes, on an ordinary parcel: because Real County has no zoning authority, RV, tiny-home and manufactured-home occupancy on your own private land is unrestricted by any county rule3. That freedom narrows inside the county's platted subdivisions if your lot was approved as an "under-sized" lot: those lots are restricted to commercial use only, and the subdivision rules explicitly prohibit lodging, sleeping or living there, whether or not money changes hands, for even one night6. Whatever you place on an ordinary parcel, once it's plumbed it still needs an OSSF permit through the County Judge's office, Real County's own listed TCEQ agent, and given how limited local soils are, get a site evaluation before you commit75.

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

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city, in unincorporated Real County or also within a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction; county subdivision rules govern unincorporated land, and the County Engineer can identify the applicable rules in an extraterritorial jurisdiction12.
  2. Check whether the parcel sits in an approved subdivision with under-sized-lot restrictions6.
  3. Contact the Real County Flood Plain Coordinator before work begins; new construction requires a $50 Exemption Certificate outside the floodplain or a $100 Elevation Certificate inside it101.
  4. Get a septic site evaluation; only about 0.8% of county soils have no severe limitation for a conventional system5.
  5. Apply through the appropriate local OSSF agent before installing septic, or confirm that every condition of the 10-acre exemption is met415. Request the construction inspection within one calendar year of the authorization, giving at least five working days' notice16.
  6. Register a proposed well with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District and obtain an Operating Permit first if the district finds it nonexempt17.

What should you check before buying land in Real County?

Water is the headline issue twice over: septic soils are severely limited (only 0.8% of the county carries no severe limitation for a conventional drain field), and any well needs to be registered, and possibly permitted, with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District517. Real County is drought-prone, with severe drought in roughly 40.7% of years, even though the terrain is mostly workable, with about 71.3% of land at 15% slope or less and 62.7% wooded181920. There's no federal land in the county to navigate around, but if your parcel is in a platted subdivision, check whether it's an approved under-sized lot before assuming you can live on it216. It's rural and remote: about 4.1 people per square mile and roughly 81 miles from the nearest metro area, and a typical home insurance premium here runs about $1,991 a year222324. Before you close, ask the Real County Flood Plain Coordinator whether the parcel needs an Exemption or Elevation Certificate, since that determines both your permit cost and whether you'll need an elevation survey10.

Watch-outs

  • Real County's required building permit is floodplain paperwork—an Exemption or Elevation Certificate—not proof that the county adopted a general building code1.
  • We could not confirm whether Real County has adopted a building code, requires general building inspections, issues certificates of occupancy or offers an owner-builder exemption; ask the Flood Plain Coordinator what applies to your project10.

Sources

  1. Office of the Flood Plain Coordinator — Flood Plain Resolution Changes, quoted and re-checked
  2. Real County, Texas official website (2026 county census)
  3. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  4. tceq.texas.gov (2026 county census)
  5. 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
  6. REAL County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  7. Real County Judge's Office (co.real.tx.us)
  8. Real County, Texas, Subdivision and Land Development Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. Real County Flood Plain Ordinance Changes, quoted and re-checked
  10. Real County Flood Plain Coordinator (newtools.cira.state.tx.us)
  11. Real County Courthouse (Office of the County Judge) (co.real.tx.us)
  12. Real County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  13. Real County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  14. tceq.texas.gov, quoted and re-checked
  15. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 285 – On-Site Sewage Facilities, Rule Project No. 2021-030-285-CE, quoted and re-checked
  17. Real Edwards Groundwater Rules, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike all 6 of its neighbors, Real County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleReal CountyKerr CountyEdwards CountyUvalde CountyBandera CountyKimble CountyKinney County
Building permitRequiredLimitedNot requiredNot requiredLimitedNot requiredLimited
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsReal CountyCounty Env. Health Dept.Edwards CountyCounty SanitarianCounty OSSF InspectorKimbleKinney County

County locator

Real County in Texas

59
County map
Real County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Real County scores

Seclusion90100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency3996% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability23100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost78100% 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 →

$289kTypical home
$1,994Land / acre
27.4"Annual rain
40.7% of yrsSevere drought
21.6 / yr (+17.5)Mid-century 100°F days
29.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.24" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.37×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,991Home insurance / yr
0.8% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
183,082People within 2 hr
2,217Radius comparison (15 mi)
4.1People / sq mi
0%Federal land
71.3%Land at 15% slope or less
0.8%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
3,080 acWorkable land screen
62.7%Wooded land
13.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
66.2°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Real County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Camp Wood · Leakey

Answers from the rulebook for Real County

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

Real County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    All new construction, additions to existing structures, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals in Real County under the county's floodplain development-permit system.

    • The county notice states that the required building permit is an Exemption Certificate for development outside the flood plain or an Elevation Certificate for development within the flood plain.
    • The stated fee is $50.00 for an Exemption Certificate outside the flood plain and $100.00 for an Elevation Certificate within the flood plain.
    • Failure to apply constitutes a violation of the Court Order and may result in a Class C Misdemeanor, monetary penalties, and a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief.
    • The underlying changes were adopted by the Commissioners' Court on September 28, 2020; the notice also identifies a February 9, 1987 Flood Damage Prevention Order.

    exemption certificate fee outside flood plain: 50 USD · elevation certificate fee within flood plain: 100 USD

    “These Orders apply to all new construction and additions to existing structures, manufactured homes or travel trailers, and subdivision proposals. Permit fees as follows: Exemption Certificate for development outside the flood plain: $50.00; Elevation Certificate for development within the flood plain: $100.00 Please be advised that failure to apply for a Building Permit (Exemption or Elevation Certificate) constitutes a violation of the Court Order.”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Subdivision lots in Real County, including lots in the county's unincorporated areas, subject to the applicable water and sewage service configuration.

    • The minimum acreage requirements do not apply to combining two or more lots that are part of an existing platted subdivision approved by Commissioners Court and recorded with the County Clerk.
    • A lot served by both an individual water-supply well and an individual OSSF requires 10 acres and 200 feet of road/street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
    • A lot served by public water and an individual OSSF requires 1 acre and 150 feet of main-lot street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
    • A lot served by public water and public sewage disposal requires one-half acre and 100 feet of main-lot access-road/street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
    • Any lot on the turn-around of a cul-de-sac or cul-de-sac corner requires 50 feet chord length.
    • An undersized lot may be approved case by case only for exclusive commercial use, with recorded and plat-face commercial-use restrictions; it may not be used for residential purposes.

    minimum lot size: 10 acres (Individual water-supply well and individual OSSF) · minimum road/street frontage: 200 feet (Individual water-supply well and individual OSSF; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum lot size: 1 acre (Public water supply and individual OSSF) · minimum main lot street frontage: 150 feet (Public water supply and individual OSSF; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum lot size: 0.5 acre (Public water supply and public sewage disposal system) · minimum main lot access road/street frontage: 100 feet (Public water supply and public sewage disposal system; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum cul-de-sac or cul-de-sac-corner frontage: 50 feet chord length

    “Any Subdivision Lot which is served by both an individual water supply well and an individual on-site sewage system (OSSF) shall have a minimum Lot size of ten acres.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Building height · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Temporary camping or overnight lodging in a trailer, tent, or other structure on an approved under-sized lot in unincorporated Real County.

    • Applies only to an under-sized lot approved under section 8.1.5.
    • The prohibition covers lodging, sleeping, living, abiding, or dwelling for a single night or more, whether or not a charge is made.
    • The rules govern unincorporated areas and do not apply inside corporate city limits except where an interlocal agreement exists.
    • Any variance requires Commissioners' Court action on a formal agenda item.
    “Any approved Under-sized lot, and any and all structures located thereon, shall be used exclusively for commercial purposes and activities, and in no event shall the Under-sized Lot and/or any Structure on an Under-sized Lot be used for residential purposes as defined herein. As used herein "residential purposes" is to be given the broadest definition possible and includes without limitation the act by one or more persons of lodging, sleeping, living, abiding or dwelling for a single night or more”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Manufactured homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site sewage facilities in Real County, Texas.

    • The TCEQ 2024 authorized-agent report lists Real County as an authorized agent for Real County.
    • Under 30 TAC Chapter 285, permitting, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance must follow Chapter 285 or an authorized agent's approved order, ordinance, or resolution.
    “REAL COUNTY (REAL) 620158 43 0 0 0 0 38 8 0 0 0 0 0 2”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells in Real County within the jurisdiction of the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District.

    • All new wells must be registered with the District and approved before drilling.
    • District staff determine whether a proposed well is exempt.
    • If the proposed well is nonexempt, an Operating Permit must be obtained before drilling or producing.
    • The District's rules state that nonexempt wells must be permitted before drilling or operation.
    • Exemptions include, among others, certain domestic or livestock wells on tracts larger than 10 acres incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day, and specified excluded wells on lots of 10 acres or less.

    domestic/livestock exempt-tract threshold: > 10 acres (well must be incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day and used solely for domestic use or livestock/poultry) · domestic/livestock exempt production capacity: <= 25000 gallons/day (applies to the stated exemption) · small-lot excluded-well production capacity: <= 25000 gallons/day (one well per lot, five or fewer qualifying households, domestic use only) · alluvial well on tract of 10 acres or less production limit: <= 10 gallons/minute (as required by District Rule 13.4.2)

    “All new wells and wells existing in the District on or before the effective date of these rules must be registered with the District.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction, additions to existing structures, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals subject to Real County floodplain orders.

    • Development outside the flood plain requires an Exemption Certificate.
    • Development within the flood plain requires an Elevation Certificate.
    • Failure to apply for a Building Permit, Exemption or Elevation Certificate constitutes a violation of the Court Order.
    • The source states that failure may result in a Class C Misdemeanor, monetary penalties, and potentially a civil lawsuit seeking to enjoin further noncompliance.

    outside-floodplain permit document: Exemption Certificate · within-floodplain permit document: Elevation Certificate

    “failure to apply for a Building Permit (Exemption or Elevation Certificate) constitutes a violation”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Transient lodging and rental of structures for residential purposes on an approved under-sized lot governed by Real County subdivision rules.

    • The restriction applies to an approved under-sized lot subject to the commercial-use-only restriction.
    • The rule defines residential purposes broadly to include lodging, sleeping, living, abiding, or dwelling for a single night or more, whether or not there is a charge.
    • The listed prohibited uses include an apartment, tourist court, mobile home park, trailer park, inn, lodging house, rooming house, bed and breakfast, motel, and hotel.
    • Violations are subject to enforcement under the Real County Subdivision Land Development Rules and Regulations.
    “Such use of an Under-sized lot and any Structure located thereon is not allowed but specifically prohibited.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Real County floodplain-related development permits for new construction, additions to existing structures, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals.

    • An Exemption Certificate applies to development outside the flood plain.
    • An Elevation Certificate applies to development within the flood plain.
    • The cited source states these fees in the context of the Orders described there.

    Exemption Certificate fee for development outside the flood plain: 50 USD · Elevation Certificate fee for development within the flood plain: 100 USD

    “Exemption Certificate for development outside the flood plain: $50.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development applications in the unincorporated areas of Real County.

    • The rules have no force inside corporate city limits except where an interlocal agreement is in place.
    • For land in an unincorporated area and also within a city's ETJ, applicants are subject to County regulation and should consult the County Engineer to determine which rules apply.
    • Variances may be sought in specific hardship cases, but may only be granted by the Commissioners' Court on a formal agenda item.
    “govern the unincorporated areas of Real County”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Texas counties lack zoning authority in unincorporated areas; Real County's official site shows no planning/zoning department (it has subdivision rules only, not zoning).

    Real County, Texas official website ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Texas rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A purchaser of industrialized housing or buildings in Real County who is purchasing for the purchaser's own use and assumes responsibility for all or part of the installation construction.

    • The exemption is specific to registration as an industrialized builder under the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program.
    • The purchaser must file an installation permit instead of registering as an industrialized builder.
    • For residential installation, the purchaser must file a residential installation permit application and describe the construction for which the purchaser will be responsible.
    • The TDLR installation permit fee is $75 for each building containing industrialized modules or modular components.
    • The installation permit is limited to a purchaser who plans to use the house personally; TDLR states that an installation permit is not available when the house will be sold as real estate rather than occupied by the purchaser.

    installation permit fee: per 75 USD per building

    “Rule 70.20(5) allows a person who purchases industrialized housing and buildings for his/her own use and who assumes responsibility for all or part of the construction relating to the installation of the industrialized house or building to file for a permit in lieu of registering as an industrialized builder.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — New residential construction subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233, Subchapter F, including construction in an unincorporated county that has adopted the required resolution or order.
      “An individual who fails to provide proper notice [...] is not subject to a penalty [...] if: [...] the individual acts as the individual's own contractor”
    • 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.”
    • 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”
  • 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:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Industrialized housing and buildings installed in Real County under the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program.
      “The mandatory building codes adopted under the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program are published by the International Code Council (ICC) and can be purchased from the ICC.”
    • 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:”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, and operation of OSSFs in Texas, including Real County, subject to local permitting authority rules.
      “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.”
    • 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”:”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Permitted on-site sewage facility construction in Texas, including Real County.

    • The installer must notify the permitting authority at least five working days, excluding holidays, before the OSSF will be ready for inspection.
    • The authorization to construct expires if the installer does not request a construction inspection within one calendar year of issuance; a new application and fee are then required before installation.
    • An OSSF that fails inspection cannot be used until it passes inspection; the permitting authority must issue a deficiencies letter within seven calendar days after inspection.
    • A reinspection fee may be assessed and must be paid before reinspection.
    • Within seven calendar days after a passing construction inspection, the permitting authority must issue written notice of approval.
    • The inspection exception applies to the qualifying 10-acre single-family OSSF described in 30 TAC §285.3(f)(2).

    advance inspection notice: >= 5 working days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.) · authorization-to-construct validity: 1 calendar year (Expires if the installer does not request a construction inspection within that period.)

    “The installer shall notify the permitting authority at least five working days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) before the date the OSSF will be ready for inspection. The permitting authority shall conduct a construction inspection.”
    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.”
    • 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.”
  • 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”:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Off-grid sanitation using an on-site sewage facility in Texas, including Real County.
      “Boreholes, cesspools, and seepage pits are prohibited for installation or use.”
    • 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.”
  • 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”
  • 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.”
    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.”
  • 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.”
    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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Inspections — Building inspections in Real County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Real County.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning status for incorporated municipalities wholly or partly within Real County, including the City of Camp Wood and the City of Leakey.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer connection requirements for property in Real County, Texas.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemptions from Real County minimum lot, subdivision, setback, lot-coverage, dwelling-size, or building-height rules.

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 Real County, Texas

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

Real County scores 59/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 2,217 people within 15 miles and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (27.4″/yr rainfall).

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

Real County generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Real County (TCEQ authorized agent for on-site sewage). 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 Real County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Real County is allowed: Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Real 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.real.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 Real County, Texas?

Land in Real County runs about $1,994 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Real County?

Real County gets about 27.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 40.7% of years.

How remote is Real County?

A typical private-land location has about 2,217 people within 15 miles and 3,187,429 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Real compares in Texas

Compare side-by-side →See all 254 Texas counties ranked →