Bolthole Index

Bexar County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Converse, Texas

Converse, Texas has a city residential building-permit process: submit the application and supporting documents, then wait for approval before beginning work.1 Converse sets zoning inside city limits, while Bexar County requires septic permits for on-site sewage facilities throughout the county.23 In Converse’s R-1 and R-6 districts, the main dwelling needs at least 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area.45

At a glance

Building applications
City residential building-permit process; apply through SmartGov1
Zoning
City zoning with district-specific rules26
Septic permits
Bexar County Environmental Services3
Minimum home size
R-1 and R-6: 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area45
RVs in flood-hazard areas
Conditional; flood rules do not settle private-lot residential occupancy7
Planning applications
Pre-application meeting required for zoning, special use, variances, plats and site development8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Converse Building Division

Residential building applications and construction permit process in Converse

210-658-8285

[email protected]

406 S Seguin Converse, TX 78109

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

City of Converse Planning Division

Converse platting, zoning and variances

210-658-5356

406 South Seguin Converse, TX 78109

Septic permits

Bexar County Environmental Services

Septic permits, renewals and installation inspections throughout Bexar County

210-335-6700

612 Nogalitos San Antonio, TX 78204

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Converse, Texas?

Converse publishes new and existing residential building-permit applications through its city Building Division.1 Converse accepts the application and required supporting documents from a registered contractor, property owner or agent, and associated fees are due when the application is submitted.1 Work can begin once the city approves the application, collects all fees and issues the building permit.1 Ask the Building Division which application and supporting plans your proposed home or alteration needs; the city’s process is the starting point for an address inside Converse.1

Who handles building applications and zoning in Converse?

The City of Converse Building Division is the contact for residential building applications, and the city provides SmartGov for online submission.1 The Converse Planning Division handles platting, zoning and variances.8 Converse requires a pre-application meeting for zoning, special use permits, variances, plats and site development permits.8 Schedule that meeting before submitting a planning application, and allow for a separate planning review: submitting before a commission or council meeting does not guarantee a place on that agenda.8 Septic permitting stays with Bexar County Environmental Services rather than the city building counter.3

Does Converse have zoning, minimum home sizes and setbacks?

Converse has zoning inside city limits, with district-specific use and dimensional regulations.26 In Converse’s R-1 and R-6 districts, the main dwelling must provide at least 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area, excluding porches, terraces, garages, carports and detached accessory buildings.45 In R-1, the minimum front yard is 20 feet and the minimum side yard is 7.5 feet, increasing to 10 feet on the street side of a corner lot.9 The R-1 rear yard must be 20 feet or 20 percent of average lot depth, whichever is smaller; double-frontage lots require front yards on both streets.9 Ask Converse Planning to identify the parcel’s district before designing the home.8

How do septic permits work inside Converse?

Bexar County requires septic permits for on-site sewage facilities throughout Bexar County, including an on-site system inside Converse.3 New systems need a new septic permit, while repairs or changes need a repair permit; both approve a License to Operate.10 Septic installations are inspected at various points during installation.11 Standard systems require renewal every 5 years, with tank pumping, a pump receipt and a $30 renewal fee.10 Aerobic systems have an initial permit valid for 2 years, followed by a homeowner-maintained service contract and quarterly reports from the service provider.10 For a Converse property with an existing septic system, ask Environmental Services for the permit status before committing to the purchase.12

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Converse?

We could not confirm permission for year-round RV living, tiny-home occupancy or an independent accessory dwelling on a private lot in Converse; ask Converse Planning about the proposed residential use.8 A tiny main dwelling below 1,250 square feet would not meet the stated heated-and-cooled living-area minimum in Converse’s R-1 or R-6 district.45 Converse’s flood rule requires an RV in the specified flood-hazard zones to stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, remain fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the cited permit, elevation and anchoring requirements.7 That flood rule addresses RV placement in flood-hazard areas and does not establish general residential occupancy permission.7

Building a home in Converse: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Converse Planning to identify the parcel’s zoning and whether the proposed use needs a planning application or variance.8
  2. Compare the home design with the district requirements; R-1 and R-6 require at least 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area.45
  3. Schedule the required pre-application meeting before a zoning, special use, variance, plat or site development application.8
  4. If the Converse home will use septic, contact Bexar County Environmental Services for the septic permit and installation inspections.311
  5. Submit the city building application and supporting documents, pay associated fees and wait for issuance before work begins.1

What should you check before buying land in Converse?

For a Converse parcel, ask Planning to confirm the zoning district and address the intended dwelling or accessory use before purchase.86 We could not confirm a Converse-specific private-well permit rule or an individual-home public water or sewer connection rule; ask the city Building Division which utility office should review the address.1 For land outside city limits, use the Bexar County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building answer rather than applying it inside Converse.13 Septic remains a county responsibility, so obtain the existing system’s permit status and ask Environmental Services about proposed changes.310

Watch-outs

  • Converse residential building permits expire 180 days after issuance; discuss the construction schedule with the Building Division before applying.1
  • Converse’s RV flood-hazard requirements do not answer whether private-lot RV residential occupancy is allowed; ask Converse Planning about the intended use.78

Sources

  1. City of Converse Building Division (conversetx.gov)
  2. Code of Ordinances | Converse, TX (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  3. On-Site Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked
  4. library.municode.com (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  5. library.municode.com (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 50-136. Use regulations (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 22-82. Specific standards (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Converse Planning Division (conversetx.gov)
  9. library.municode.com (Converse), quoted and re-checked
  10. On-Site Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked
  11. On-Site Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked
  12. Bexar County Environmental Services (bexar.org)
  13. Bexar County FAQ - When is a building permit required in the unincorporated areas (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 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 Converse

Converse’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Converse city limits; the city maintains Chapter 50 Zoning and district regulations.

    “In the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District, no land shall be used and no building shall be erected for or converted to any use other than:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Converse city limits, including R-1 Single-Family, R-2 Duplex, and R-6 Single-Family districts.

    • District-specific use and dimensional regulations apply.
    • The cited sources do not constitute a complete district schedule.
    “In the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District, no land shall be used and no building shall be erected for or converted to any use other than:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Main dwelling structure in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

    • Area excludes porches, terraces, garages, carports, and detached accessory buildings.

    minimum heated and cooled living area: >= 1250 square feet (main structure; exclusions stated in the section)

    “The minimum floor living area of the main structure of any dwelling exclusive of porches, terraces, garages, carports (one car, enclosed, 225 square foot minimum) and detached accessory buildings shall be 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Main dwelling structure in the R-6 Single-Family District.
      “The minimum floor living area of the main structure of any dwelling exclusive of porches, terraces, garages, carports (one car enclosed 225 square foot minimum) and detached accessory buildings shall be 1,250 square feet of heated and cooled living area.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential lots in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

    • Double-frontage lots require the front yard on both streets.
    • Corner and reverse-frontage rules apply as stated.

    front yard: >= 20 feet (double-frontage lots) · side yard: >= 7.5 feet (corner street side yard must be at least 10 feet) · rear yard: 20 feet or 20 percent of average lot depth, whichever is smaller

    “There shall be a front yard having a minimum depth of 20 feet. [...] The minimum side yard shall be seven and one-half feet except that on a corner lot the street side yard shall be not less than ten feet. [...] There shall be a rear yard having a depth of 20 feet or 20 percent of the average depth of the lot, whichever is smaller.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residences in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District.

    • Maximum is expressed as either three stories or 38 feet.

    maximum height: <= 38 feet (also limited to three stories)

    “No residence may exceed the three stories or 38 feet maximum height limitation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Residences in the R-6 Single-Family District.
      “No residence may exceed the three stories or 38 feet maximum height limitation.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on sites in flood-hazard zones A1-30, AH, and AE inside Converse city limits.

    • The RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, or fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the cited permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements.
    • A ready-for-highway-use RV must be on its wheels or jacking system, attached only by quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and have no permanently attached additions.

    maximum consecutive days under temporary option: < 180 days

    “Require that recreational vehicles placed on sites within zones Al-30, AH, and AE on the community's FIRM either (i) be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, or (ii) be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or (iii) meet the permit requirements of division 4, subsection 22-63 (a), and the elevation and anchoring requirements for "manufactured homes" in subsection (4) of this section.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in North Park inside Converse city limits.

    • Camping without a permit is prohibited.
    • A permit requires registering the vehicles and persons camping and paying a fee per vehicle per night.
    • This source addresses city-park camping, not private residential land.
    “Camping in North Park without a permit is prohibited. Camping permits may be obtained by registering the vehicles and persons that will be camping and paying a fee per vehicle per night.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential building-permit requirement inside Converse city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor or permit requirements inside Converse city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Converse city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Converse city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Converse city limits.
9 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Converse publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bexar County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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