Bolthole Index

Cherokee County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in New Summerfield, Texas

New Summerfield, Texas (Cherokee County) has adopted the 2012 International Residential Code for detached one- and two-family homes inside city limits1, and requires a city permit before a manufactured home is placed2. Septic systems need a city permit and county inspection services also permit new ones3. We could not confirm the city's zoning districts, so ask City Hall before you buy4.

At a glance

Building code
2012 International Residential Code adopted for one- and two-family homes in the city1
Building permit
Required for manufactured homes; site-built home permit rule not confirmed2
Septic
City permit first, then county inspection services permit and inspect new systems3
Septic lot size
At least 20,000 square feet and 200 feet wide5
City sewer
Connection required where the property line is within 500 feet of city sewer6
Manufactured home permit fee
$150, including electrical and plumbing inspections7
Zoning, RVs, tiny homes
Not confirmed; ask City Hall4

Who to call

Building permits

City of New Summerfield City Hall

City hall for the city's permits, zoning questions and code enforcement inside New Summerfield city limits

(903) 726-3651

[email protected]

13280 State Hwy 110 N.

Septic permits

Cherokee County Public Health

County health department; ask whether it handles septic inspection and permits for your address

(903) 586-6191

1502 South Bolton Street Jacksonville, Texas 75766

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 New Summerfield means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in New Summerfield, Texas?

Inside New Summerfield city limits, the city has adopted the 2012 International Residential Code as its residential building code for detached one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures1. New Summerfield requires a permit before any manufactured home is placed, erected or installed, except within a licensed manufactured home park2. The city's published manufactured-home permit fee is $150, which includes electrical and plumbing inspections7. We could not confirm the permit steps for a conventional site-built house or a certificate of occupancy, so call City Hall before you draw plans4.

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

New Summerfield City Hall is the place to start for building permits inside the city, at 13280 State Hwy 110 N., phone (903) 726-36514. City Hall is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday4. For manufactured homes, the city's building official reviews the application, may ask for a site plan or survey and proof of ownership, and issues the permit once the plan meets the ordinance8. The building official may also inspect to confirm compliance9.

Does New Summerfield have zoning, and what about RVs and tiny homes?

We could not confirm New Summerfield's zoning districts, minimum home size, setbacks, accessory dwelling rules, or whether RV or tiny-home living is allowed inside the city. Ask City Hall for the zoning map and ordinance for your lot4. One rule we did confirm: a manufactured home occupied as living quarters may not have a driveway in the front yard, except along either side of the lot at a right angle to the street10. Outside city limits, unincorporated Cherokee County has adopted no county zoning ordinance, so the county sets no rule on RV, tiny-home or setback questions there11. See the Cherokee County page for land outside the city.

How do septic permits work inside New Summerfield?

Any septic system inside New Summerfield needs prior inspection and a permit from the city3. For a new residence or relocated mobile home, county inspection services must also permit the system, and a county representative is called out to inspect it regardless of acreage12. Construction using a septic system needs a lot at least 20,000 square feet and 200 feet wide, and the county health department can require more area if the ground absorbs poorly5. Where city water lines are available you must connect to water, and where the property line is within 500 feet of city sewer you must connect to sewer6. Texas also lets a single-family dwelling on a tract of at least 10 acres seek an exemption from septic permitting under strict conditions, but the city's own rule requires a permit inside city limits133. Cherokee County soils are tough: USDA rates only about 14% as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation14.

Building a home in New Summerfield: the steps, in order

  1. Call City Hall to ask what permits your lot needs and which zoning district it sits in4.
  2. Check whether city sewer is within 500 feet of your property line; if so, you must connect6.
  3. If you need septic, confirm the lot meets the 20,000 square foot, 200 foot width minimum5.
  4. Get the city septic permit and schedule county inspection312.
  5. For a manufactured home, apply for the city permit before placement2.
  6. Subdividing land? The city regulates subdivisions under Ordinance 2000-615.

What stays with Cherokee County and the state?

Septic inspection stays with county inspection services, the inspection arm of the county health department, even inside the city16. Cherokee County Public Health is at 1502 South Bolton Street, Jacksonville, phone (903) 586-619117. A driveway onto a state highway needs a TxDOT permit on Form 105818. Cherokee County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%19.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a certificate of occupancy rule, a private well permit rule, or RV, tiny-home and short-term-rental rules inside New Summerfield; call City Hall4.
  • Floodplain rules apply to any manufactured home in a FEMA-designated flood zone inside the city20.
  • The city adopted the 2012 residential code with local deletions and amendments, so ask City Hall for the amended text1.

Sources

  1. City of New Summerfield, TX Residential Code (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article 3.04 Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article 13.06 On-Site Sewage Facilities (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of New Summerfield City Hall (newsummerfield.us)
  5. Article 13.06 On-Site Sewage Facilities (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article 13.03 Water and Sewer Service (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  7. Appendix A Building and Construction Related Fees (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article 3.04 Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article 3.04 Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article 3.04 Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  11. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  12. Article 13.06 On-Site Sewage Facilities (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  13. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. 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
  15. Chapter 10 Subdivision Regulation (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  16. Article 13.06 On-Site Sewage Facilities (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked
  17. Cherokee County Public Health (co.cherokee.tx.us)
  18. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Article 3.04 Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes (New Summerfield), quoted and re-checked

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 New Summerfield

New Summerfield’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Placement, erection, or installation of manufactured homes inside New Summerfield city, except within a duly licensed and lawful manufactured-home park.

    • Permit is required before placement, erection, or installation.
    • This claim does not establish the permit rule for conventional site-built dwellings.
    “Permits shall be required for the placement, erection, or installation of manufactured homes inside the city other than within a duly licensed and lawful manufactured home park prior to any such placement, erection, or installation.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Detached one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures located in New Summerfield city.

    • The adopted IRC is the 2012 edition.
    • The adoption is subject to deletions and amendments in § 3.02.072.

    International Residential Code edition: 2012 (Subject to § 3.02.072 deletions and amendments.)

    “is hereby adopted as the residential building code for the city”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Manufactured homes and manufactured-home parks regulated by Article 3.04 inside New Summerfield city.

    • The building official may make inspections necessary to determine Article 3.04 compliance.
    • The source does not establish a general inspection schedule for all site-built dwellings.
    “The building official is authorized and directed to make such inspections as are necessary to determine compliance with this article.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Any construction inside New Summerfield city using an on-site sewage facility.

    • At least 20,000 square feet and 200 feet wide is required, subject to possible larger area if required by ground absorption in county-health-department opinion.
    • Subdivision OSSF lots served by city water generally require one-half acre unless a specified site-specific design is approved.
    • This is an OSSF sanitary rule, not a complete zoning-district lot-size schedule.

    minimum OSSF lot area: >= 20000 square feet (May be larger if ground absorption requires it in county health department opinion.) · minimum OSSF lot width: >= 200 feet (For installation and construction of on-site sewage facilities.)

    “The minimum lot size for installation and construction of on-site sewage facilities (septic tanks) shall have an area of at least 20,000 square feet and shall be at least 200 feet wide, provided it meets the requirements set forth hereinbelow.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage facilities required by new residences, businesses, relocated mobile homes, and other structures inside New Summerfield city limits.

    • An initial city permit is required.
    • County inspection services, the inspection arm of the county health department, permit, design, and inspect required systems.
    • State laws and TCEQ rules also supply applicable standards.
    “inspected by the county inspection services”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Any on-site sewage facility on premises inside New Summerfield city limits.

    • Prior city inspection and city permit are required.
    • For new residences, businesses, relocated mobile homes, and other structures requiring OSSF, county inspection services must also permit the system.
    “It should be unlawful for any person, firm, and/or corporation owning, renting, leasing, and/or controlling in whole or in part any premises situated within the city limits to construct, use or maintain, or permit to be constructed, used or maintained, on such premises, any on-site sewage facilities (septic tanks) without prior inspection and issuance of a permit by the city.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Required on-site sewage facilities serving new residences, businesses, relocated mobile homes, or other structures inside New Summerfield city.

    • County inspection services is the inspection arm of the county health department.
    • The rule applies regardless of acreage.
    “Once application is made, a representative from the county inspection services will be contacted for inspection of on-site sewage facilities, regardless of the size of acreage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside New Summerfield city limits where city water or sanitary sewer is available.

    • Water connection is required if proper city water lines are presently available.
    • Sewer connection is required where the property line is within 500 feet of city sewer.
    • Water closets must connect within 30 days after city-engineer notice for buildings on lots extending within 500 feet of sewer.

    sewer availability distance: <= 500 feet (Measured from property line to city sanitary sewer.)

    “proper water lines are presently available”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside New Summerfield city.

    • The adopted subdivision ordinance is Ordinance 2000-6, as amended.
    “The subdivision ordinance, Ordinance 2000-6, adopted by the city”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways serving manufactured homes occupied as living quarters inside New Summerfield city.

    • No driveway may be in the front yard, except along either side of the lot at a right angle to the street.
    • The source does not establish an access-permit rule for all residences.
    “No driveway shall be permitted in the front yard of any manufactured home occupied as living quarters except along either side of the lot at a right angle to the street.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Manufactured homes in FEMA-designated flood zones inside New Summerfield city.

    • Applies only to manufactured homes located in a FEMA-determined flood zone.
    • The source does not establish the general permitting rule for every type of floodplain development.
    “Any manufactured home located in a flood zone as determined by FEMA must meet all floodplain management regulations.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Published city building and construction permit fees, including manufactured-home permits, inside New Summerfield city.

    • The schedule states a $150 manufactured-home permit fee that includes electrical and plumbing inspections.

    manufactured home permit fee: 150 USD (Includes manufactured-home permit, electrical inspection, and plumbing inspection.)

    “Manufactured home permit: $150.00. Includes manufactured home permit, electrical inspection, and plumbing inspection.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Manufactured-home permit applications inside New Summerfield city.

    • City forms may require applicant identity, home make/year, and lot location/legal description.
    • At the building official's request, a site plan/survey and ownership proof are required.
    • The building official issues the permit once satisfied that the plan and application meet the article's requirements.
    “All applications for permits shall be made upon standard forms provided by the city. The forms may include certain information necessary for the review of applications, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New Summerfield or Cherokee County directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside New Summerfield city limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside New Summerfield city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside New Summerfield city.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside New Summerfield city.
  • Building height — Buildings inside New Summerfield city.
7 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • 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 New Summerfield publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cherokee County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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