Grey Forest, TX Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Grey Forest, Texas, in Bexar County, requires a city building permit for essentially all construction, and the city's own zoning ordinance splits the city into two single-family districts¹². New homes need at least 0.75 acre in District A or 1.5 acres in District B³⁴. Septic permits for every system in Bexar County come through the county; how that works inside city limits we could not confirm⁵.

At a glance

Building permit: Required for all construction inside Grey Forest unless the ordinance gives an exception¹
Zoning: Yes: District A (east of Scenic Loop Road) and District B (west), both single-family⁶²
Minimum lot, new home: 0.75 acre in District A; 1.5 acres in District B³⁴
RV as a residence: Temporary only: 30 days within any 6 month period⁷
Setbacks: 25 feet from the road, 15 feet for a dwelling from property lines⁸
Septic: Bexar County permits all on-site sewage facilities; city-limit procedure unconfirmed⁵
Driveway: City permit for driveways bordering a public roadway⁹

Who to call

Building permits

City of Grey Forest (City Secretary, building permits)

Building, electrical, gas, plumbing, HVAC and driveway permit applications, variances through the Board of Adjustment, and the fee schedule

(210) 695-3261

[email protected]

18502 scenic loop road grey forest, tx 78023

Septic permits

Bexar County Environmental Services (Public Works)

OSSF (septic) permits, inspections, and renewals for Bexar County as TCEQ's authorized agent

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 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Grey Forest, Texas?

Yes. Grey Forest requires building permits on any and all construction inside the city unless the ordinance names an exception¹. The city's page lists building, electrical, gas, plumbing, HVAC, driveway and sewer permits under one heading¹⁰.

Grey Forest has adopted the International Building Code, International Plumbing Code, National Electrical Code and International Residential Code, so plans are reviewed against those codes¹¹. A permit lasts one year, with one six-month extension at no fee¹. Construction may stop if it deviates from the approved plan or fails an inspection¹².

The Bexar County rule that single-family homes need no permit applies only to unincorporated land, not inside Grey Forest¹³.

Who issues building permits in Grey Forest, and how do you apply?

The City of Grey Forest issues them, not Bexar County. Applications can be dropped off at city hall, 18502 Scenic Loop Rd, or emailed to the city secretary's office¹⁴. Call the City Secretary at (210) 695-3261 for the current fee schedule¹⁰.

The application must come with a platted site plan showing setbacks and the location of wells and septic systems, plus construction and foundation plans¹⁰. A building inspector reviews the plans before work starts¹⁰. Anything that misses a lot-size, setback or code rule needs a variance from the Board of Adjustment after a public hearing¹⁴. Driveways that border a public roadway need their own permit⁹.

Does Grey Forest have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and RVs?

Yes. Grey Forest has its own zoning ordinance with two districts: District A east of Scenic Loop Road and District B to the west². Both are single-family districts².

A new single-family home needs at least 0.75 acre in District A and 1.5 acres in District B, with 100 feet of public road frontage; existing dwellings are exempt³⁴. Structures must sit 25 feet from the road, and 15 feet from property lines for a dwelling or 10 feet for other structures⁸. Impervious cover is capped at 33% of the lot¹⁵, and buildings top out at two stories and attic or 35 feet¹⁶.

Inside Grey Forest the city, not Bexar County, decides these rules; unincorporated Bexar County has no zoning¹⁷.

Can you live in an RV, camp or place a mobile home in Grey Forest?

Only briefly. An RV or camping trailer may serve as a temporary residence for no longer than 30 days within any 6 month period, and the council may extend that for special circumstances⁷. Camping on a residential lot is limited to 3 successive nights unless the city gives permission, and campfires are generally not allowed¹⁸.

Parking a mobile home in Grey Forest is unlawful except as the ordinance provides; mobile homes already lawfully in place are nonconforming uses with anchoring, foundation and skirting standards¹⁹. We could not confirm the city's rule on tiny homes or accessory dwellings; ask the City Secretary before you plan one¹⁰.

How do septic permits work in Grey Forest?

Bexar County requires that all on-site sewage facilities within Bexar County be permitted⁵. Bexar County Environmental Services, part of Public Works, is the county's septic office²⁰. Installations are inspected at various points during installation²¹.

Grey Forest's building permit application asks for an applicable septic system permit where city ordinances require one¹⁰. Whether the city or the county issues that permit inside city limits is something we could not confirm, so call the City Secretary and Bexar County Environmental Services before you buy a lot without sewer service. Typical soils matter too: only 5.7% of Bexar County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system²².

Building a home in Grey Forest: the steps, in order

Confirm the lot's district (A or B) and that it meets the minimum lot size and 100 feet of road frontage³⁴.
Get a septic answer from Bexar County Environmental Services²⁰.
Prepare a platted site plan and construction plans¹⁰.
Submit the building permit application to the City Secretary¹⁴.
Wait for the building inspector's approval before any construction begins¹⁰.
Request a variance from the Board of Adjustment if a rule cannot be met¹⁴.
Schedule the required inspections as work proceeds¹².

What stays with Bexar County, and what to check before you buy in Grey Forest

Outside city limits the county's answers apply instead: single-family construction in unincorporated Bexar County is permitted only voluntarily¹³. See the Bexar County page for land outside the city.

Inside Grey Forest, floodplain building must satisfy FEMA and Bexar County floodplain management rules²³. Short-term rentals need a city license, are capped at five active licenses, and may not operate in an RV²⁴. Bexar County's effective property tax rate is 1.8%²⁵. We could not confirm certificate of occupancy, owner-builder or fee details inside the city; ask the City Secretary.

Watch-outs

Do not assume Bexar County's no-permit rule for single-family homes covers Grey Forest; the city requires building permits on all construction¹.
The ordinance text we reviewed dates from 2017 and may have been amended since, so confirm the current code edition with the City Secretary¹¹.
The authority for septic permits inside Grey Forest is unconfirmed; the county permits all septic systems in Bexar County, so ask both offices⁵.

Sources

Written October 14, 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.

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

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Grey Forest, Texas