Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Frankston, Texas

Town of Frankston’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Single-family residences, multiple-family residences, and specified commercial, manufacturing, storage, and warehouse buildings inside Frankston's incorporated limits, including remodeling or repair of those structures.

  • Permit is also required for remodeling or repair of the enumerated structures.
  • A permit is granted unless it violates a flood-zone ordinance or other City ordinance.
  • A permit is valid for 120 days and becomes void if construction has not begun or it is not renewed within that period.

  permit validity: 120 days (Void if construction has not begun within that period or unless renewed within that period.)

  “The owner of any land situated within the incorporated limits of the City of Frankston shall neither construct nor allow construction or placement, on such land, of any building or structure of a type set forth in Sub-Paragraphs (a) through (c) below, without having obtained a building permit from the City of Frankston for such construction.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Frankston town limits.

  • The published subdivision ordinance refers to the City's comprehensive zoning ordinance; the current zoning text and district schedule were not located in the reviewed official ordinance collection.

  “Ordinances, or parts of ordinances, with the exception of the building code and comprehensive zoning ordinance of the City which are inconsistent or in conflict with any of the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are, hereby repealed.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Tiny Houses inside Frankston town limits.

  • Applies to Tiny Houses regulated by the Town ordinance.

  minimum footprint: >= 320 square feet

  “The Tiny House shall have a minimum footprint of three hundred-twenty (320) square feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots containing a Tiny House inside Frankston town limits.

  • The percentage applies to structures only and is part of the Tiny Houses Ordinance.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent (Structures only.)

  “Maximum lot coverage (structures only) shall be forty (40) per cent.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV occupancy on private land inside Frankston town limits.

  • Occupancy longer than seven days is allowed only in an approved recreational vehicle park.
  • At an owner's residence, an RV must be in the side or rear yard and cannot be used for occupancy longer than seven days in a twelve-month period.

  maximum occupancy outside approved RV park: <= 7 days (Owner-residence placement must be in the side or rear yard; measured in a twelve-month period.)

  “The placement of a recreational vehicle for occupancy longer than seven (7) days shall not be permitted except in an approved recreational vehicle park. A recreational vehicle may be placed at an owner’s residence as long as the RV is placed in the side or rear yard area and not used for occupancy longer than seven (7) days in a twelve (12) month period.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Property with a septic system inside Frankston town limits when inspection is for possible noncompliance with the City's 150-foot well-separation rule.

  • The duty is limited to an inspection for possible noncompliance with Section 4.

  minimum septic-system distance from water well: >= 150 feet

  “Septic Systems: No septic system shall be placed within 150 feet of any water wells. The Customer shall allow his/her property to be inspected for possible noncompliance with this section.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Composting toilets serving Tiny Houses inside Frankston town limits.

  • The prohibition is limited to Tiny Houses governed by the Tiny Houses Ordinance.

  “The Tiny House must be connected to City utilities, which is water and sewer services. Sewer service is essential to dispose of all human waste. No composting toilets will be permitted.”

• Well permitRequired

  Water supply for an RV park inside Frankston town limits where City water supply is unavailable.

  • Applies only if City water supply is not available.
  • The permit is from TCEQ, and the City must approve proposed water-facility plans before construction.

  “Each site within an RV park shall be provided with a connection to the city water supply if available. If city water supply is not available then a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) shall be obtained to install a well.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Tiny Houses located inside Frankston town limits.

  • The requirement is part of the Tiny Houses Ordinance and applies to a permitted tiny house.
  • The ordinance states sewer service is essential for human-waste disposal.

  “The Tiny House must be connected to City utilities, which is water and sewer services. Sewer service is essential to dispose of all human waste. No composting toilets will be permitted.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Property proposed to be subdivided within the Town's jurisdiction and control.

  • Building permits are withheld unless an original or resubdivided lot is in a duly approved and recorded subdivision and ordinance provisions are met.
  • City Council may grant a variance upon stated hardship and public-interest findings.

  preliminary plat fee: 35 USD (Plus USD 1.00 per lot.)

  “No building permit shall be issued by the City on any piece of property other than an original or a resubdivided lot in a duly approved and recorded subdivision after the effective date of this ordinance, unless all the provisions of this ordinance have been complied with.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Covered construction requiring a Town building permit inside Frankston town limits.

  • The provision makes permit issuance contingent on no violation of a flood-zone ordinance; this research did not locate the flood-zone ordinance itself.

  “In each case the permit shall be granted unless found to be in violation of any flood zone ordinance or other ordinance heretofore or hereinafter adopted by the City.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building, moving, demolition, commercial, remodeling, and specified plumbing-inspection permits inside Frankston town limits.

  • Payment accompanies the application and is returned if the application is denied.
  • Fees quoted are from the ordinance's published schedule.

  residential construction fee below 1,000 square feet: 25 USD · residential construction fee over 1,000 square feet: 50 USD · commercial and non-residential application fee: 300 USD (Plus USD 0.20 per square foot of impermeable surface.)

  “The fees are as follows: Building/Structure moving or demolition: $25.00 (Includes moving mobile homes) Construction: Residential: Less than 1000 $25.00 «“ “ over 1000 $50.00 Commercial and non-residential: Application Fee $300.00 Plus a Review Fee of $0.20 per square foot of impermeable surface”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for covered structures inside Frankston town limits.

  • The listed information is the ordinance's minimum application content.
  • The application is submitted to City Hall by the landowner.

  “The application for any building permit required by this ordinance will be submitted by the landowner concerned to City Hall and shall contain as a minimum the following:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Frankston or Anderson County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Frankston town limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Frankston town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Frankston town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Frankston town limits.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Frankston town 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.