Bolthole Index

Bell County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Holland, Texas

The Town of Holland, Bell County, Texas adopted a zoning map and zoning ordinance, and it adopted the 2024 International building codes, with its Building Official issuing permits and inspecting work123. Septic is different: lots must hook to the city sewer unless the City Council grants an exception, and the Bell County Public Health District must then approve the system4. We could not confirm Holland's RV or tiny-home rules.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: the town has a zoning map and ordinance; district details not confirmed15
Building permit
Town issues permits under its adopted 2024 codes23
New-home permit fee
$981.25 for plan review and inspection, up to 1,500 sq ft6
Septic
Only by City Council exception, then county health district approval4
Septic lot size
At least one-half acre (21,780 sq ft), more if soils require7
Floodplain
Development permit required in special flood-hazard areas8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Holland, Building Permits & Inspections

Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy and zoning enforcement inside Holland town limits

(254) 657-2460

102 W. Travis St. Holland, TX 76534

Septic permits

Bell County Public Health District, Environmental Health (OSSF Program)

On-site sewage facility (septic) permitting for Bell County, including approval of systems the Town of Holland allows by exception

254-532-9800

4236 Lowes Dr. Temple, TX 76502

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Holland, Texas have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Yes. The Town of Holland has a zoning map and an Article 9.03 zoning ordinance on file in its code1. The online code does not publish the district names or standards, so we could not confirm minimum dwelling size, lot coverage, building height or accessory dwelling rules5. We also could not confirm whether RVs or tiny homes may be lived in on a lot inside Holland. Call the Building Permits & Inspections office before you buy and ask for the zoning district of the exact lot9.

One rule we did confirm: a mobile home used as a dwelling in Holland needs a specific use permit, applied for through the city secretary, and the home must sit at least 75 feet from an existing residence or commercial building and at least 15 feet from any property line1011.

Do you need a building permit in Holland, TX, and who issues it?

Yes, the town runs its own building permits. Holland adopted the 2024 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Energy Conservation codes plus other listed codes, and the National Electrical Code is enforced by the State of Texas2. The Building Official can issue permits and inspect work3. Inside the town limits, Holland's own office handles these permits, not Bell County.

Holland's fee schedule lists $981.25 for plan review and inspection of a new residential dwelling of up to 1,500 square feet, with a separate schedule for larger homes6. A driveway permit from the city costs $50; a driveway onto a TxDOT road also needs a TxDOT application, with a copy of that permit sent to City Hall12. We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption or a certificate-of-occupancy rule in the code, so ask the office.

Who handles building permits and inspections in Holland, TX?

The Town of Holland's Planning & Inspections department enforces building codes and zoning regulations and schedules building inspections9. Reach City Hall at (254) 657-2460, 102 W. Travis St., Holland, TX 765349. The town's page says you print and fill out the building permit application and return it to City Hall9.

Flood-hazard areas add a step. Any development in a special flood-hazard area inside Holland needs a development permit reviewed by the town's floodplain administrator8.

How do septic permits work inside Holland, Texas?

Holland expects a city sewer connection. Under the town code, lots must connect to the city wastewater system before a building permit is issued, unless the City Council grants an exception after weighing whether city sewer service is available to the lot4. Each separate subdivided lot needs its own application13.

If the exception is granted, the septic system still needs approval from the Bell County Public Health District4. Lots served by septic must be at least one-half acre (21,780 square feet), or larger depending on soils and percolation tests7. Bell County Public Health District's Environmental Health office handles septic permits14. We could not confirm a Holland-specific inspection rule, so ask the district.

Building a home in Holland: the steps, in order

  1. Call Holland City Hall at (254) 657-2460 and ask for the lot's zoning district and whether city sewer reaches it9.
  2. Ask the City Council for a private sewage facility exception if no sewer line serves the lot4.
  3. Get the county health district's approval for the septic system and check the lot meets the one-half acre minimum714.
  4. File the building permit application with City Hall and pay the plan-review and inspection fee69.
  5. If the lot touches a flood-hazard area, get the floodplain development permit8.
  6. Apply for a driveway permit, plus a TxDOT permit if the road is a state road12.

What stays with Bell County, and what to check before you buy in Holland

Septic approval and the county rules that apply outside town limits stay with Bell County. Land outside Holland's town limits follows the county's rules, covered on the Bell County page. Do not assume the county's answers on permits or zoning apply inside Holland.

Private water wells inside Holland carry a $100 town permit fee6. Bell County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%15, and only about 6.8% of Bell County soils are rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation16.

Watch-outs

  • Holland's online code names a zoning ordinance but does not show district rules, so confirm the district and its limits with City Hall before you close5.
  • A septic system inside Holland is not a right: the City Council must grant an exception, and sewer connection can be required instead4.
  • We could not confirm Holland's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, short-term rentals or owner-builders; ask City Hall at (254) 657-24609.

Sources

  1. Chapter 9: Planning and Development Regulations - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article 4.02: Construction Codes and Standards - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article 4.02: Construction Codes and Standards - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  4. Article 12.05: Private Sewage Facilities - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 9: Planning and Development Regulations - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  6. Appendix A: Fee Schedule - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article 12.05: Private Sewage Facilities - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article 4.04: Flood Damage Prevention - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Holland, Building Permits & Inspections (cityofholland.org)
  10. Article 4.05: Mobile Homes - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article 4.05: Mobile Homes - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  12. Appendix A: Fee Schedule - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article 12.05: Private Sewage Facilities - City of Holland, TX (Town of Holland), quoted and re-checked
  14. Bell County Public Health District, Environmental Health (OSSF Program) (bellcountyhealth.org)
  15. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  16. 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

Written October 24, 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 Town of Holland

Town of Holland’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Development in special flood-hazard areas inside Holland town limits.

    • The rule applies only to areas of special flood hazard within City jurisdiction.
    • Development must conform to the flood-damage-prevention article and other applicable regulations.
    “This article shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the city. [...] A development permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this article.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Holland town limits.

    • Codes are adopted in their entirety, including appendices, unless specifically amended by City ordinance.
    • The National Electrical Code is adopted and enforced by the State of Texas with State amendments or subsequent editions.

    adopted building and construction codes: 2024 IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IRC, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, International Existing Building Code, NFPA, and International Property Maintenance Code (NEC is as adopted and enforced by Texas.)

    “The following codes are hereby adopted by reference as the official building and construction codes of the City of Holland, Texas: [...] Each code is adopted in its entirety, including all appendices, as published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), unless specifically amended by ordinance of the City of Holland.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Construction subject to Holland's adopted construction codes.

    • The Building Official, Fire Marshal, or authorized representatives administer and enforce the adopted codes.
    “The Building Official shall have the authority to issue permits, conduct inspections, approve alternative materials and methods as permitted by the adopted codes, and take any lawful action necessary to ensure compliance.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Holland town limits.

    • The codified planning chapter identifies a zoning map and an Article 9.03 zoning ordinance on file; district text was not reproduced in the online code chapter.
    “§ 9.01.002 Zoning map adopted. [...] ARTICLE 9.03 ZONING [...] § 9.03.001 Ordinance on file.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts inside Holland town limits.

    • The official online chapter confirms adoption of a zoning map and zoning ordinance but does not publish the individual district names or standards in the opened chapter.
    “§ 9.01.002 Zoning map adopted. [...] ARTICLE 9.03 ZONING [...] § 9.03.001 Ordinance on file.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots inside Holland town limits that will be served by septic systems.

    • Larger lots may be required based on soils and percolation tests.
    • Lots must conform to Bell County regulations based on percolation tests.

    minimum septic-served lot area: >= 21780 square feet (or larger dependent on soils and percolation tests) · minimum septic-served lot area: >= 0.5 acre (or larger dependent on soils and percolation tests)

    “Lots to be served by septic systems shall be a minimum of 21,780 square feet in size (one-half acre), or larger dependent on soils and percolation tests, and shall conform to the Bell County regulations based on percolation tests.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Mobile homes used as fixed or mobile-home dwellings inside Holland town limits.

    • The setbacks are conditions of the required specific-use permit.

    distance from existing residence or commercial building: >= 75 feet · distance from property line: >= 15 feet

    “A specific use permit issued for the purpose of a mobile home as a fixed dwelling or as a mobile home dwelling shall have the following requirements: [...] That no mobile home shall be placed within 75 feet of an existing residence or commercial building nor within 15 feet of any property line.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage facilities inside Holland town limits after a City exception.

    • City Council may grant an exception after considering City wastewater availability.
    • A separate application is required for each separate subdivided lot.
    • Bell County Public Health District approval is required after the exception.
    “Upon submission of an application, the city council may grant an exception to this article and allow the installation and use of a private sewage facility. [...] Placement of a private sewage facility on a lot for which an exception has been granted is subject to approval by the Bell County Public Health District.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage facilities inside Holland town limits.

    • Available only after City Council exception and Bell County Public Health District approval.
    • City considers City wastewater availability.
    • Each separate subdivided lot requires a separate application.
    “Upon submission of an application, the city council may grant an exception to this article and allow the installation and use of a private sewage facility. [...] Placement of a private sewage facility on a lot for which an exception has been granted is subject to approval by the Bell County Public Health District.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and plat activity inside Holland town limits.

    • The online planning chapter identifies an Article 9.02 subdivision ordinance on file; detailed substantive standards were not reproduced in that chapter.
    “ARTICLE 9.02 SUBDIVISIONS [...] § 9.02.001 Ordinance on file.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways accessing a TXDOT road inside Holland town limits.

    • A TXDOT-road driveway requires a TXDOT application.
    • A copy of the permit must be submitted to City Hall.
    • TXDOT sets the fee.

    City driveway permit fee: 50 USD (Does not state an application requirement for every driveway.)

    “Driveway Permit | $50 [...] Driveway on a TXDOT Road | An application must be submitted to TXDOT. TXDOT sets this fee. Required to submit a copy of the permit to City Hall.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in special flood-hazard areas inside Holland town limits.

    • Applies to all special flood-hazard areas within City jurisdiction.
    • The floodplain administrator reviews, approves, or denies development-permit applications.
    • No structure or land may be located, altered, or have its use changed without full compliance.
    “This article shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the city. [...] A development permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this article. [...] Review, approve or deny all applications for development permits required by adoption of this article.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Permits and construction activity inside Holland town limits.

    • Fees vary by permit type, project valuation, dwelling square footage, and plan-review/inspection category.

    new residential plan review and inspection fee: 981.25 USD (0 to 1,500 square feet; larger-dwelling fee schedule applies) · private water well permit fee: 100 USD

    “Construction or Improvement of a Residential Dwelling [...] 0 to 1,500 S.F. | $981.25 [...] PRIVATE WATER WELL PERMIT FEES [...] Private Water Well Permit | $100 each”
  • Permit processPartial

    Mobile-home specific-use permit applications inside Holland town limits.

    • Application is for a mobile home as a fixed dwelling or mobile-home dwelling.
    • Fee is as set out in Appendix A.
    “A specific use permit may be applied for by filing the request with the city secretary and paying an application fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Holland town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Holland town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Holland town limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Holland town limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Holland town limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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 Town of Holland publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bell County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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