Bolthole Index

Refugio County, Texas

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

68Index Score / 100
#51 of 254 in Texas

Refugio County, Texas publishes a $20 Development Permit Application for residential, non-residential, mobile-home, new-construction, fill and drainage proposals, but the source does not establish that ordinary work outside a floodplain always requires it1. Unincorporated land has no county zoning, while the towns of Bayside and Woodsboro run their own234. Septic permits for unincorporated land are handled through the County Judge's office5.

At a glance

Building permit
$20 Development Permit Application published; confirm whether it applies outside a floodplain1
Zoning
No county zoning on unincorporated land; the Town of Bayside has municipal zoning23
Septic (OSSF) permit
Required through the County Judge's office; $300 residential, $500 commercial6
Floodplain permit
Required for property in an identified flood hazard area7
RV / tiny home living
Unrestricted by county zoning on your own unincorporated land2
Minimum home size / setbacks
None set by the county2
Industrialized/manufactured home installation
A state installation permit may apply in place of contractor registration for an owner's own home8

Who to call

Building permits

Refugio County Judge

Reviews and approves the county's Development Permit Application, which the county's own site files under a "Building Permits" heading, covering residential, non-residential, mobile-home, commercial, fill and floodplain construction; may issue an exemption certificate, approve, or reject an application

361-526-4434

808 Commerce Street, Room 104, Refugio, TX 78377

Septic permits

Refugio County Judge's Office (OSSF/septic applications)

Processes On-Site Sewage Facility (septic) applications for Refugio County; completed applications and checklist items are returned to this office

361-526-4434

808 Commerce St. Rm. 104, Refugio, Texas 78377

Building permits

Refugio County Regulations and Permits (county website)

The county's own page listing Subdivision Regulations, Requirements for Manufactured Home Rental Communities, a "Building Permits" section holding the Development Permit Application, and the OSSF application

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 Refugio 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 Refugio County, Texas?

Refugio County publishes a Development Permit Application under its "Building Permits" heading and charges a $20 fee1. The form covers residential, non-residential, mobile-home, new-construction, substantial-improvement, fill and drainage proposals, but the published material does not expressly say that an ordinary project outside the floodplain must obtain the permit1. Ask the County Judge's office whether your specific parcel and work require the application before construction9. If the property is in a floodplain, submit plans and specifications with the application10. Refugio County's adoption of a countywide building code could not be confirmed, so do not treat the development permit as proof that the county performs full code-plan review. Separately, windstorm insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association requires certified construction, and applications for a windstorm Certificate of Compliance must be certified to the 2024 International Residential Code or International Building Code11. An industrialized or modular home has a separate state process: an owner purchasing one for personal use may file for an installation permit instead of registering as an industrialized builder8.

Who handles building and development permits in Refugio County, and how do you reach them?

Start with the Refugio County Judge's office at 808 Commerce Street, Room 104, Refugio, TX 78377, phone 361-526-44349. Ask that office whether the $20 Development Permit Application applies to your parcel and proposed work, because the published form does not make its reach outside floodplains explicit1. The same office processes septic applications: the county packet directs applicants to return all checklist items to the County Judge's office6. Refugio County's Regulations and Permits page links the Development Permit Application and the OSSF application12. For land inside the Town of Bayside, municipal zoning is separate from the county process, so confirm land-use approval with the town as well3.

Does Refugio County have zoning?

Unincorporated Refugio County has no county zoning rule setting minimum home size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height2. That unincorporated-county answer does not carry into incorporated towns. The Town of Bayside has zoning that governs buildings, structures, land uses, districts, yards, open spaces and related development within the town3. The Town of Woodsboro also requires development to comply with its Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan4. Other municipal rules were not confirmed, so ask the relevant city or town before relying on the county answer for an incorporated parcel. Zoning is also separate from the county's development, septic and floodplain processes: a project can face those requirements even when county zoning does not restrict the use1137.

How do septic (OSSF) permits work in Refugio County?

For unincorporated land, Refugio County runs the OSSF application process, and the county packet does not show it applies inside incorporated towns, so a parcel in Bayside or Woodsboro needs the local permitting authority confirmed5. Applications, site/soil evaluations, planning materials and the permit fee all go through the County Judge's office, with a $300 fee for a residential system and $500 for commercial6. Soils make this more than paperwork: USDA survey data shows only 1.7% of Refugio County's soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so plan on an engineered or alternative system on nearly every site14. A single-family home on a tract of at least 10 acres can skip the planning-materials, permit and inspection requirements under the state's 10-acre rule, but only if every part of the system stays at least 100 feet from the property line and the other Chapter 285 conditions are met1516. Boreholes, cesspools and seepage pits are prohibited outright, regardless of tract size15.

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

Yes, on unincorporated land in Refugio County the county sets no zoning rule against living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home2. Inside the Town of Bayside, municipal zoning applies, so ask the town before buying or placing a dwelling there3. A separate state program applies when installing a factory-built industrialized or modular home: an owner buying one for personal use may file a residential installation-permit application instead of registering as an industrialized builder, and the first installation needs a site inspection scheduled at least 48 hours ahead and completed within 180 days after construction starts1718. An RV or tiny home using an OSSF generally needs county septic approval; the narrow state exception for a qualifying single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres applies only when every listed condition is met1316.

Building on land in Refugio County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a municipality; the Town of Bayside has its own zoning3.
  2. Ask the County Judge's office whether the $20 Development Permit Application applies to the site and work91.
  3. If the property is in a floodplain, include plans and specifications with the application10.
  4. Apply for a septic permit through the same office and obtain the required site and soil evaluation616.
  5. For an industrialized or modular home, file the applicable state installation-permit application and arrange the required inspection1718.
  6. If a driveway will connect to a state highway, submit Form 1058 to the TxDOT district office before work begins in the right of way19.

What to check before you buy land in Refugio County

Soils: with only 1.7% of the county's soils free of severe limitations for a conventional septic field, budget for an engineered or alternative system on nearly every site14. Flood risk: check flood-hazard status before you buy, since property in an identified flood hazard area triggers the county's floodplain development permit and a copy of construction plans7. Water: no drilling permit is required to drill a water well in Refugio County, but you must give the Refugio Groundwater Conservation District written notice of intent before drilling, and the district advises checking groundwater production-permit rules20. Terrain: all of Refugio County's land, 100% of it, sits at 15% slope or less, and 19.4% is wooded2122. Climate: the county averages 35.7 inches of rain a year and sees severe drought in 17.4% of years, with a projected 18.9 days a year at or above 100°F by mid-century232425. Costs: typical home insurance runs about $2,492 a year, the effective property tax rate is about 1.4%, and the median tax bill is about $1,325 a year, against a typical home value near $135,704 and rural land around $2,528 an acre2627282930. If the land is currently farmed or ranched, it may already qualify for agricultural appraisal, which requires the land to have been devoted principally to agricultural or timber use for at least five of the past seven years31.

Watch-outs

  • Refugio County publishes a $20 Development Permit Application, but the source does not establish that ordinary work outside a floodplain always requires it; ask the County Judge's office before starting19.
  • The no-county-zoning answer is limited to unincorporated Refugio County; the Town of Bayside has municipal zoning23.
  • The state industrialized-housing installation permit and its inspection rules apply only to factory-built industrialized or modular homes, not to a site-built house, an RV or a tiny home on wheels17.
  • Only 1.7% of Refugio County's soils carry no severe limitation for a conventional septic drain field, so get a site evaluation before you assume a standard system will work14.

Sources

  1. Refugio County Texas — Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  2. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  3. Bayside Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  4. Community Development | Town of Woodsboro, Texas, quoted and re-checked
  5. Refugio County OSSF Application Packet, quoted and re-checked
  6. Refugio County Judge's Office (OSSF/septic applications) (co.refugio.tx.us)
  7. Refugio County Development Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  8. Industrialized Housing and Buildings Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  9. Refugio County Judge (co.refugio.tx.us)
  10. Refugio County Development Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  11. Adopted Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  12. Refugio County Regulations and Permits (county website) (co.refugio.tx.us)
  13. Refugio County OSSF Application Packet (2026 county census)
  14. 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
  15. Refugio County OSSF Application Packet, quoted and re-checked
  16. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Industrialized Housing and Buildings Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  18. Building Site Inspection Program, quoted and re-checked
  19. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Water Well Drilling and Plugging, quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Projected mid-century days at or above 100°F: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  30. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  31. Agricultural, Timberland and Wildlife Management Use Special Appraisal, quoted and re-checked

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

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Refugio County has no countywide zoning.

RuleRefugio CountyAransas CountySan Patricio CountyGoliad CountyBee CountyCalhoun CountyVictoria County
Building permitLimitedLimitedLimitedNot requiredLimitedLimitedNot required
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsRefugio CountyCounty Dept. of Env. HealthSan Patricio CountyCounty Env. Services Dept.County Community AffairsVictoria County Public Health Dept.County Public Health Dept.

County locator

Refugio County in Texas

68
County map
Refugio County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Refugio County scores

Seclusion83100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency3996% ev.
Admin Boringness87100% ev.
Durability38100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost81100% ev.

Evidence strength: 99%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$136kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$2,528Land / acre
35.7"Annual rain
17.4% of yrsSevere drought
18.9 / yr (+15.4)Mid-century 100°F days
24.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.88" (+6.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.39×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,492Home insurance / yr
-2.7% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
515,250People within 2 hr
4,476Radius comparison (15 mi)
8.7People / sq mi
0.6%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
1.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
7,942 acWorkable land screen
19.4%Wooded land
9.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
71.6°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Refugio 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.

Austwell · Town of Bayside · Town of Refugio · Town of Woodsboro

Answers from the rulebook for Refugio County

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

Refugio County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Refugio County's Development Permit Application for residential, non-residential, mobile-home, new-construction, substantial-improvement, fill-placement, and natural-waterway or drainage-course alteration proposals.

    • The county publishes a Development Permit Application under its Building Permits heading.
    • The application charges a $20.00 permit fee.
    • The form asks whether the property is located in an identified flood hazard area and whether additional information is required.
    • One copy of plans and specifications must be provided if the proposed construction is in a flood plain.
    • The form provides for an exemption certificate, permit approval, or permit rejection by the County Judge.
    • The form asks whether other federal, state, or local permits are required and whether other county regulations, including the septic tank ordinance, apply.
    • The source does not expressly establish that an ordinary construction project outside the floodplain requires this county permit; the countywide requirement is therefore limited/conditional rather than universal.

    permit fee: 20 USD

    “Building Permits Development Permit Application”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Construction in Refugio County seeking a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association windstorm Certificate of Compliance or windstorm insurance coverage through TWIA.

    • Starting April 1, 2026, WPI-1 applications must be certified to either the 2024 IRC or 2024 IBC.
    • Construction must be certified to be eligible for windstorm insurance coverage through TWIA.
    • The Refugio County map identifies Inland II and Inland I zones; required wind speed is determined by the structure's location.
    • The cited state program does not establish that Refugio County itself adopted a general county building code.

    code edition: 2024 International Residential Code or 2024 International Building Code (Applies to Windstorm Certificate of Compliance applications (WPI-1) beginning April 1, 2026.) · effective date: 2026-04-01 (For WPI-1 certification under the TDI windstorm program.)

    “Starting April 1, 2026, Windstorm Certificate of Compliance applications (WPI-1) must be certified in accordance with either the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) or the 2024 International Building Code (IBC). Construction must be certified to be eligible for windstorm insurance coverage through TWIA.”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 land · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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.”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 Refugio County: no county rule sets this, because Refugio 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.refugio.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 septicLocal (with conditions)

    The local OSSF application process administered through Refugio County's County Judge's Office.

    • The county packet establishes a county application process but does not establish that Refugio County is the permitting authority throughout all incorporated municipalities.
    • The applicable local permitting authority may differ by area of jurisdiction.
    “Return all items on checklist to the County Judge’s Office.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    The Refugio County OSSF application process shown in the county's published packet.

    • The packet requires a completed OSSF development application and supporting site, planning, deed, map, affidavit, and maintenance-contract materials where applicable.
    • The packet lists a $300 residential permit fee and a $500 commercial permit fee.
    • The packet does not establish that this county process applies throughout incorporated municipalities.

    residential permit fee: 300 USD · commercial permit fee: 500 USD

    “DO NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION PRIOR TO APPLICATION APPROVAL. UNAUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION CAN RESULT IN CIVIL AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private on-site sanitation using an OSSF rather than a public sewer connection in Refugio County.

    • Off-grid sanitation is available through an OSSF subject generally to county permitting and approval.
    • The 10-acre single-family-dwelling exception applies only when all Chapter 285 conditions are satisfied: no nuisance or groundwater pollution, all system parts at least 100 feet from the property line, on-property effluent disposal, and only one dwelling on the tract.
    • Boreholes, cesspools, and seepage pits are prohibited for installation or use under 30 TAC Chapter 285.
    • A county application packet is required for the county OSSF process, with residential and commercial fees stated in the packet.

    minimum tract size for state permit exception: >= 10 acres (Single-family dwelling and all other 30 TAC Chapter 285 conditions must be met) · minimum property-line separation for exception: >= 100 feet (Applies to all parts of the OSSF)

    “No planning materials, permit, and inspections [or inspection] are required for an OSSF for a single family dwelling located on a tract of land that is ten acres or larger provided the OSSF complies with all other requirements of Chapter 285, Subchapter D: Planning, Construction, and Installation Standards for OSSFs”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells and groundwater production within the Refugio Groundwater Conservation District, whose jurisdiction covers Refugio County.

    • A drilling permit is not required to drill a water well in Refugio County.
    • Written notice of intent to drill must be provided to the district before drilling begins.
    • The district advises applicants to investigate groundwater production-permit requirements before drilling.
    • The district issues Historic Use Protection, Standard-Capacity Non-Historic Use Production, and High-Capacity Non-Historic Use Production permits; the applicable production permit depends on the use and category of groundwater production.
    “Drilling permits are no longer required to drill water wells within Refugio County. However, any person drilling a water well within Refugio County must provide the district with written notice of intent to drill a well before the start of drilling activities.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Proposed development in an identified flood hazard area or flood plain covered by the Refugio County Development Permit Application.

    • If the proposed property is in a flood plain, the applicant must provide one copy of the construction plans and specifications.
    • The application asks whether additional federal, state, or local permits are required.
    • The application asks whether other county regulations apply, specifically identifying the septic tank ordinance.
    • The County Judge may issue an exemption certificate, approve the permit application, or reject it.
    “IS THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN IDENTIFIED FLOOD HAZARD AREA?”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    County development permit applications for residential, non-residential, other construction, placement of fill, or alteration of a natural waterway or drainage course in Refugio County.

    • The official application identifies a $20.00 permit fee.
    • The application includes new construction and substantial improvement to existing structures, including houses, mobile homes, non-residential construction, commercial construction, and other specified construction.
    • The application asks whether additional federal, state, or local permits are required and identifies the septic tank ordinance as an applicable county regulation.
    • No effective date or fee-schedule date is stated on the application.

    permit fee: 20 USD

    “DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION $20.00 PERMIT FEE APPLICATION NUMBER _____”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Development permit applications for proposed residential, non-residential, mobile-home, commercial, fill, or natural-waterway/drainage-course work in Refugio County where the county application applies.

    • The application requires property and construction information, including location, acreage or subdivision details, nature of construction, and description of the proposed work.
    • The applicant must provide one copy of plans and specifications if the property is in a flood plain.
    • The form asks whether additional federal, state, or local permits are required and whether other county regulations apply, including the septic tank ordinance.
    • The County Judge may issue an exemption certificate, approve the application, or reject the application.
    “APPLICANT WILL PROVIDE ONE COPY OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION, IF IN A FLOOD PLAIN.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Texas counties generally lack zoning authority in unincorporated areas and Refugio County publishes no zoning ordinance.

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

Texas rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner performing electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning and refrigeration work on the owner's own residence or homestead in Texas.

    • Electrical work is exempt from state electrician licensing when performed on a dwelling the person owns and resides in.
    • Plumbing is exempt from state plumbing licensing when performed by the property owner in the property owner's homestead.
    • Air-conditioning and refrigeration contracting is exempt from the applicable state registration requirements when performed in a building owned solely by the person as the person's home.
    • These exemptions do not establish a blanket exemption for every construction trade or contractor-regulated activity.
    “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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — An owner or company purchasing or leasing an industrialized house or building for its own use in Refugio County.
      “No, you do not have to be registered as an industrialized builder. If you are purchasing the house for your own use (you will live there), then you will need to file an application for a residential installation permit with the Department. You will describe the construction for which you will be responsible on the permit application.”
    • 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”
  • InspectionsRequired

    The first installation of industrialized housing and permanent industrialized buildings in Refugio County when the site is outside a municipality or within a jurisdiction without a building inspection department.

    • Site inspections are required for the first installation of all industrialized housing and permanent industrialized buildings.
    • Site inspections are also required for industrialized buildings designed to be moved from one commercial site to another commercial site when used as a school or place of religious worship.
    • Site inspections are not required for unoccupied industrialized buildings not open to the public, such as communication equipment shelters, unless the building is also classified as a hazardous occupancy by the mandatory building code.
    • The industrialized builder or installation permit holder must schedule inspections and give the inspector at least 48 hours' notice.
    • Minimum phases include foundation before concrete, set inspection, and final inspection.
    • The final inspection must be completed within 180 days of the start of construction, subject to a Department extension for justifiable cause.

    inspection notice: >= 48 hours · final inspection deadline: <= 180 days after start of construction (The Department may grant an extension upon written request demonstrating justifiable cause.)

    “Site inspections are required for the first installation of all industrialized housing and permanent industrialized buildings. Exception: Site inspections are not required for the installation of unoccupied industrialized buildings not open to the public, such as communication equipment shelters, that are not also classified as a hazardous occupancy by the mandatory building code.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    OSSF installation and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas

    • Authorized agents or their designated representatives inspect system installation.
    • Some permitting authorities impose more stringent requirements.
    • Maintenance-provider inspection and reporting requirements apply to systems and circumstances governed by 30 TAC §285.91(4).
    • Electronic monitoring may reduce reporting to every six months where the stated monitoring conditions apply.

    reduced maintenance reporting interval with qualifying electronic monitoring: 6 months (only where the system uses the specified electronic monitoring, automatic notification, and disinfection monitoring)

    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Texas agricultural appraisal, including eligible agricultural land in Refugio County; this is a property-tax special appraisal rather than a county zoning exemption.

    • The land must be currently devoted principally to agricultural use.
    • Agricultural land must be currently devoted principally to agricultural use to the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area.
    • The land must have been devoted to agricultural or timber production for at least five of the past seven years.
    • Land within an incorporated city or town has additional statutory criteria.
    • A change to non-agricultural use may trigger rollback tax for each of the previous three years in which the land received the lower appraisal; qualifying Subchapter C or 1-d land may also incur interest upon sale or discontinuation of agricultural use.

    prior agricultural or timber production: per 5 years of the past 7 years

    “Property owners may qualify for agricultural appraisal if land meets the following criteria: The land must be currently devoted principally to agricultural use.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New access driveways and modifications to existing access driveways connecting property in Refugio County to highways on the Texas state highway system.

    • The rule applies to property abutting state highways and state highway rights-of-way, not all local or county roads.
    • A completed TxDOT Form 1058 is required for new or modified access driveways.
    • The application must be submitted by the property owner or authorized representative representing all parties in interest.
    • The application must be for securing or changing access to the owner's property, not for parking or servicing vehicles on state highway rights-of-way.
    • No driveway construction may begin in the right-of-way until a fully executed permit is received and the applicant gives TxDOT 24-hour notice.
    • The permitting process may be transferred to an eligible county or municipality only at its request and with TxDOT approval.
    • Refugio County is served by TxDOT's Corpus Christi District.

    permit form: 1058 (Required for new access driveways or modifications to existing access driveways.) · advance notification: 24 hours (Notice to TxDOT is required after receipt of the fully executed permit and before construction in the right-of-way.)

    “A completed Permit Form 1058 is necessary whenever new access driveways are constructed or existing access driveways are modified.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”

Inside cities and towns in Refugio County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Construction and development activities within the Town of Woodsboro, Texas.

    • Development activities must comply with the Town’s Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan.
    • The official page does not reproduce the current zoning map, district schedule, dimensional standards, or amendment dates.
    “The Code Enforcement Division helps to protect the Town of Woodsboro public’s well-being and enhance the quality of life by enforcing the health, safety, zoning and sanitation codes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Buildings, structures, land uses, zoning districts, yards, open spaces, and related development within the Town of Bayside, Texas.
      “The Planning & Zoning Commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, and also makes recommendations to the Council regarding the current and future development of the Town of Bayside.”
    • Present (with conditions) — Land-use zoning within the Town of Bayside, Refugio County, Texas.
      “The Planning & Zoning Commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, and also makes recommendations to the Council regarding the current and future development of the Town of Bayside.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy in Refugio County.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer connection requirements for property development in Refugio County.
  • Subdividing land — Subdivision and platting of land in Refugio County, Texas
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use in Refugio County.

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 Refugio County, Texas

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

Refugio County scores 68/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and sparse surroundings — about 4,476 people within 15 miles. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (35.7″/yr rainfall).

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

Refugio County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Refugio County (OSSF, TCEQ-authorized agent). 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 Refugio County?

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

Land in Refugio County runs about $2,528 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Refugio County?

Refugio County gets about 35.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 17.4% of years.

How remote is Refugio County?

A typical private-land location has about 4,476 people within 15 miles and 3,057,316 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Refugio compares in Texas

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