Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Texarkana, Texas

Texarkana’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, construction, electrical and plumbing work inside Texarkana city

  • Unless otherwise exempted by the Code, the Land Development Code, or an adopted technical code.

  “without first obtaining a building permit as issued by the city.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family residential construction inside Texarkana city limits

  • Adopted with local amendments in Sec. 105-99; Chapter 11 Energy Efficiency deleted and R110.2 certificate issued deleted.
  • Ordinance No. 2026-010 dated 4-13-2026.

  code edition: International Residential Code 2024 (save and except amended, modified or deleted portions)

  “that certain building code known as the International Residential Code, 2024 edition, save and except such portions as are hereinafter amended, modified, or deleted by this article”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Texarkana city limits (Bowie County, TX)

  • Zoning is in Chapter 140 of the Land Development Code with a schedule of uses by zoning district; specific use permits (S) are used for some uses.

  “The following legend may be used in interpreting the schedule of use:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts in Texarkana city

  • Districts named in the code include SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, PUR, 2F-1, 2F-2, TH, MF-1, MF-2, O and NS, plus agriculture, commercial, industrial and planned development districts.

  “In the SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, PUR, 2F-1, 2F-2, TH, MF-1, MF-2, O and NS districts”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Access driveways connecting to streets inside Texarkana city

  • Application to the department of public works; fee set by city council and on file with the city secretary or city website.

  “A valid permit to construct access driveways and/or angle parking aprons will be required in addition to building permits.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Residential construction in areas of special flood hazard inside Texarkana city

  • Applies where base flood elevation data is provided; engineer, architect or surveyor certification to the floodplain administrator.
  • Nonresidential must be elevated one foot above base flood or floodproofed.

  “New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement), elevated to or above the base flood elevation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Texarkana city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Texarkana city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Texarkana city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size, SF districts
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size, SF districts and agriculture

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.