Bolthole Index

Atascosa County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Pleasanton, Texas

Pleasanton, Texas, in Atascosa County, requires building permits inside city limits and takes applications online through its MGO portal, with only a listed set of exemptions such as sheds of 100 square feet or less12. The city also has a zoning chapter with a zoning commission and board of adjustment3. Septic permits are a separate office: Atascosa County Environmental Health4; we could not confirm how that applies on city lots.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside city limits, with a list of exempt work; applied for online through MGO12
Zoning
Yes: the city code has a zoning chapter; the district schedule was not confirmed35
Building codes
2015 International Building and Residential Codes, as amended6
Residential setbacks
25 feet front, 5 feet side and back (manufactured homes not covered)7
Septic
Atascosa County Environmental Health is the county's authorized agent; city-lot rules unconfirmed48
Floodplain
City floodplain development permit required in flood hazard areas9
RV and tiny homes
Not confirmed inside city limits; ask the city2

Who to call

Building permits

City of Pleasanton Permit Clerk (Community Development Services)

Building permits, plan review, inspections and contractor registration inside Pleasanton city limits

830-569-3867

[email protected]

108 Second Street, Pleasanton, TX 78064

Septic permits

Atascosa County Environmental Health Department

On-site sewage facility (septic) permits and inspections for Atascosa County as a TCEQ-authorized agent

830-769-2748

1 Courthouse Circle Drive, Ste 103, Jourdanton, TX 78026

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 25, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Pleasanton, Texas?

Yes, for most building work inside Pleasanton city limits. The city's building code lists the work that is exempt from permits and states that an exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or other laws1. One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures are exempt only when the floor area does not exceed 100 square feet1. Anything larger, including a house, needs a permit.

The city has adopted the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code, both as amended, and the 2014 National Electrical Code6. Before anyone moves in, the code requires all inspections to pass and a certificate of occupancy to be issued1011.

The county's looser rule does not carry over. Atascosa County says single-family permits in unincorporated areas are optional12; that applies outside Pleasanton, not inside it.

Who issues building permits in Pleasanton, and how do you reach them?

The City of Pleasanton issues building permits itself, not Atascosa County. The city says it uses My Government Online (MGO) for all building permits, plan reviews, inspections and contractor registrations2. Create an MGO account, submit the application and plans there, then request inspections through the same project.

For questions, call the City Permit Clerk at 830-569-3867 or email [email protected]2. City Hall is at 108 Second Street, Pleasanton, TX 780642. For large or detailed developments the city encourages a concept meeting with its building official, public works team, city engineer and fire chief before applying2.

The Atascosa County Fire Marshal's Office handles county building permits for commercial, public and larger multifamily buildings in unincorporated areas13; that office is not the place to apply for a house inside Pleasanton.

Does Pleasanton, Texas have zoning?

Yes. The Pleasanton city code contains Chapter 153, Zoning, covering general zoning, a zoning commission, zoning variances and a board of adjustment3. We could not confirm the district schedule or zoning map, so the minimum lot size, building height, dwelling size and accessory-dwelling rules for any given lot are unconfirmed5. Ask the City Permit Clerk which district a parcel is in before you buy.

One dimensional rule is confirmed for any residential structure inside city limits: 25 feet from the front property line and 5 feet from side and back lines7. Manufactured-home setbacks are not changed by that rule, and the City Council can consider a variation when an owner shows sufficient need and no adverse effect on neighbors in the same block7.

Subdividing land inside the city goes through Chapter 152 of the city code and is reviewed by city staff and approved by the City Council14.

How do septic permits work in Pleasanton, Texas?

Septic permits in Atascosa County come from the county, not from the city building office. Atascosa County Environmental Health is the county's OSSF designated representative, and applications go to that department4. Before authorization to construct, the county requires a design by a licensed site evaluator, registered sanitarian or professional engineer, plus an approved 911 address, a FEMA floodplain map and payment15. County inspections run Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and an extra visit after the first inspection costs a $75.00 re-inspection fee16.

We could not confirm whether those county rules govern a septic system on a lot inside Pleasanton city limits, or what the city requires there. The city code adopts an International Private Sewage Disposal Code without naming who permits systems6. Call the County Environmental Health Department at 830-769-2748 and the City Permit Clerk before you count on a septic system on a city lot17.

Soils across Atascosa County rate poorly for conventional drain fields: only 3.3% of soils rate "not limited", so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system18.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Pleasanton, Texas?

We could not confirm a Pleasanton rule on long-term RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings. The city's code mentions RV parks and mobile homes, but we found no provision answering whether you can live in an RV or tiny home on a private city lot5. Because Pleasanton has zoning, the answer depends on the lot's district, so ask the City Permit Clerk at 830-569-3867 before you buy or park anything2.

Outside city limits the picture is different. Unincorporated Atascosa County has adopted no county zoning ordinance, and state law gives the county no power to set RV, tiny-home, minimum-size or lot-size rules there19. Those county answers do not apply inside Pleasanton. For land outside the city, see the Atascosa County page.

Building a home in Pleasanton, Texas: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the City Permit Clerk (830-569-3867, [email protected]) which zoning district the lot is in and whether a concept meeting makes sense23.
  2. Check the lot against the floodplain chapter: a floodplain development permit is required for development subject to it9.
  3. Plan for the 25-foot front and 5-foot side and back setbacks7.
  4. Sort out sewage: confirm with Atascosa County Environmental Health (830-769-2748) and the city who permits wastewater for the lot17.
  5. Create an MGO account and submit the building permit application and plans2.
  6. Request inspections through MGO as work proceeds2.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before moving in11.

What stays with Atascosa County, and what to check before you buy in Pleasanton

The county handles septic permits through Atascosa County Environmental Health4. Texas groundwater conservation districts, where one covers the property, decide private-well permits, and we could not confirm a city well rule20. A driveway onto a state highway needs a TxDOT permit (Form 1058)21; we could not confirm the city's own driveway rules.

Costs and setting: Atascosa County's effective property tax rate is 1.3% with a median bill of $2,079 a year2223, and the county's typical home insurance premium is $1,743 a year24. Pleasanton's own tax rate is set by the city; ask the City Hall office at 830-569-38672.

For rules on land outside city limits, use the Atascosa County page.

Watch-outs

  • Pleasanton's zoning district schedule and map were not confirmed, so lot size, height and dwelling-size limits for a specific lot are unknown until you ask the City Permit Clerk5.
  • The county's optional single-family permit rule applies only to unincorporated Atascosa County, not to lots inside Pleasanton12.
  • Who permits septic systems on lots inside Pleasanton city limits is unconfirmed; call Atascosa County Environmental Health and the City Permit Clerk before buying17.
  • Check flood hazard status before you buy: the city requires a floodplain development permit for development subject to its floodplain chapter9.

Sources

  1. § 150.01 BUILDING CODE (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Pleasanton Permit Clerk (Community Development Services) (pleasantontx.gov)
  3. CHAPTER 153: ZONING (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health – Atascosa County, quoted and re-checked
  5. CHAPTER 153: ZONING (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 150.01 BUILDING CODE (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  7. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Environmental Health – Atascosa County (2026 county census)
  9. CHAPTER 151: FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 150.01 BUILDING CODE (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  11. § 150.01 BUILDING CODE (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  12. Atascosa County Permit and Inspection Process, quoted and re-checked
  13. Atascosa County Permit and Inspection Process, quoted and re-checked
  14. CHAPTER 152: SUBDIVISIONS (Pleasanton), quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health – Atascosa County, quoted and re-checked
  16. Environmental Health – Atascosa County, quoted and re-checked
  17. Atascosa County Environmental Health Department (co.atascosa.tx.us)
  18. 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
  19. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  20. Water Code Chapter 36 — Groundwater Conservation Districts (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 25, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Pleasanton

Pleasanton’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Building work inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • The code expressly exempts listed work from permits; exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or other laws or ordinances.
    • One-story detached accessory tool/storage structures and similar uses are exempt only when floor area does not exceed 100 square feet.

    accessory-structure exemption floor area: <= 100 square feet (One-story detached structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.)

    “Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following:”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction regulated by Pleasanton's building code inside city limits.

    • The adopted codes are subject to the additions, insertions, deletions, and changes prescribed in the following divisions of § 150.01.

    International Building Code edition: 2015 (As amended.) · International Residential Code edition: 2015 (Chapters 1 through 33; as amended.) · National Electrical Code edition: 2014 (Including Annexes 80.1 through 80.13; as amended.)

    “The International Building Code, 2015 edition, including Appendixes C, E, F, G, J, I and J, as amended; the International Residential Code, 2015 edition, Chapters 1 through 33, including Appendixes E, H, J, M and O, as amended; the International Fuel Gas Code, 2015 edition; the International Fire Code, 2015 edition, including Appendix D, C, D, F, H, I and J, as amended; the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition, as amended; the International Mechanical Code, 2015 edition, as amended; the International Property Maintenance Code, 2015 edition; the International Existing Building Code, 2015 edition; the International Energy Conservation Code, 2015 edition; the International Zoning Code, 2015 edition, specific to Chapter 8 only; the International Swimming and Spa Code, 2015 edition; the International Private Sewage Disposal Code, 2015 edition; all published by the International Code Council; and the National Electrical Code, 2014 edition, including Annexes 80.1 through 80.13, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, as amended; are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this section, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in divisions that follow.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings or structures requiring a certificate of occupancy inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • Occupancy cannot occur before all required inspections pass and a certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • The code states exceptions for work exempt from permits and accessory buildings or structures.
    “The permit holder or their duly authorized agent or representative shall not allow occupancy of a building or structure before the passing and completion of all required inspections and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of buildings and structures inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • Not required for work exempt from permits under Section 105.2 or for accessory buildings or structures.
    • A change in existing occupancy classification also requires a certificate of occupancy.
    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • The published city code contains Chapter 153, Zoning, including general zoning, a zoning commission, zoning variances, and a board of adjustment.
    “establishes zoning districts and zoning regulations”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning administration inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • The published zoning chapter identifies general zoning and zoning bodies, but a district schedule or zoning map was not opened.
    “CHAPTER 153: ZONING Section 153.01 Airport Zoning Board 153.02 General zoning 153.03 Zoning Commission 153.04 Zoning variances 153.05 Board of Adjustment”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Any residential structure inside Pleasanton city limits.

    • The rule does not amend manufactured-home setbacks.
    • A City Council variation may be considered after the property owner/builder shows sufficient need and no adverse effect on properties within the same block.

    front setback: 25 feet (From front property line (street side).) · side and back setback: 5 feet (From side and back property lines.)

    “Five feet from side and back property lines.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity inside Pleasanton city limits, subject to Chapter 152 scope and jurisdiction.

    • The published subdivision chapter includes scope and jurisdiction, application, processing procedure, general requirements and standards, and access regulations.
    “it shall first be reviewed by the City Manager, City Engineer and staff and then approved by the City Council.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development subject to the Pleasanton floodplain-management chapter.

    • The chapter identifies lands to which it applies and areas of special flood hazard; the particular parcel's floodplain status remains material.
    “A floodplain development permit shall be required”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders of residences inside Pleasanton city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwelling size inside Pleasanton city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Pleasanton city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Pleasanton city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Pleasanton city limits.
15 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Pleasanton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Atascosa County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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