Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Manor, Texas

Manor’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Manor city limits.

  • The City states that it does not regulate property use in its ETJ; Travis County issues permits there.

  “Zoning, in part, is used in the city limits to assist in the safe, orderly, healthful, and coordinated development of the city, to conserve existing and future developments, protect the value of real property, and facilitate the adequate and efficient provision of transportation, water, wastewater, schools, parks, emergency and recreational facilities, and other public requirements. The City does not regulate the use of property in the ETJ, Travis County issues permits in the ETJ.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Manor city limits.

  • Current zoning must be determined from the Manor Zoning Map; use and other district controls are addressed in the Zoning Guide and Zoning Codes.

  “Determine current zoning with the Manor Zoning Map (PDF) Review Zoning Guide (PDF) and Zoning Codes for permitted uses, zoning conditions, and specific use permits”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Residential projects in a flood zone inside Manor city limits.

  • Applies only if the project is in a flood zone; compliance with City and federal regulation is required.

  “** FLOOD ZONE – Must comply with City and Federal Regulation, if applicable**”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Manor city limits.

  • Fees vary by building type and square footage. The City separately lists water and wastewater tap fees of $750 each.

  residential building-permit fee: per 0.75 USD per square foot (Includes trade permits.) · multifamily building-permit fee: per 0.3 USD per square foot (Includes trade permits.) · commercial building-permit fee: per 0.8 USD per square foot (Includes trade permits.)

  “Building permit fees are based on square footage. $0.75 per square foot residential (includes trade permits) $0.30 per square foot multifamily (includes trade permits) $0.80 per square foot commercial (includes trade permits)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and planning-and-zoning permit applications inside Manor city limits.

  • Effective May 27, 2026, all new applications must be submitted through GovWell.

  application platform: GovWell

  “Effective May 27, 2026 the City has transitioned Building Permit Applications and Planning and Zoning Permit Applications to GovWell. All new applications must be submitted using GovWell.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Manor city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Manor city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Manor city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Manor city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Manor city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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