Bolthole Index

Crosby County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lorenzo, Texas

Lorenzo, Texas has its own zoning ordinance with eight districts for land inside city limits1. Residents must also obtain a city permit before living in an RV on a lot2. We could not confirm how Lorenzo issues building permits, so ask city hall. Septic permits in Crosby County run through the county's authorized agent, administered by Garza County3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: city zoning ordinance with eight districts1
Building permit
Not confirmed inside Lorenzo; a certificate of occupancy is required for new buildings4
Septic
Crosby County authorized agent, administered by Garza County; confirm it covers city addresses3
RV living
City permit required; temporary stays are short2
Mobile homes
Listed as a use in the GR district, with a 5,000 sq ft minimum lot5
Minimum lot, 1 F-1 district
10,500 sq ft, 75 ft wide, 140 ft deep6
Flood development permit
Required in special flood hazard areas7

Who to call

Septic permits

Crosby County OSSF Authorized Agent (administered by Garza County)

OSSF permit administration for Crosby County; the record separately lists the permit office at 201 W Aspen St, Crosbyton, TX, 79322

(806) 990-4810

[email protected]

412 E 15TH ST POST, TX, 79356 - 2716

Also useful

Crosby County Judge's Office

County-level questions when no specialized building, zoning, floodplain or road office is published

806-675-2011

[email protected]

201 W Aspen St Crosbyton, TX 79322

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

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Does Lorenzo, Texas have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Lorenzo, Texas has a zoning ordinance that divides the city into eight districts: 1 F-1, 1 F-2, 1 F-3, 2-F, GR, RS, LI and HI1. Land annexed into the city is temporarily classified 1 F-1 until permanent zoning is set1. The district boundaries are drawn on the city's zoning district map8.

In the 1 F-1 one-family district, a residential lot needs at least 10,500 square feet, 75 feet of width and 140 feet of depth, with older lots of record allowed to keep using smaller areas6. A building in 1 F-1 needs a front yard of at least 30 feet and a rear yard of at least 28 feet9. Buildings may cover no more than 40 percent of the lot10 and may not exceed 2 standard stories11. Other districts differ, so check the district map before you buy.

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

We could not confirm how building permits work inside Lorenzo city limits. The city's code has a Building Regulations chapter on eCode360, and the zoning ordinance expects new buildings to receive a certificate of occupancy from the city's building inspector, applied for together with the building permit4. Ask Lorenzo city hall for the permit steps and fees before you start.

Outside city limits, Crosby County does not appear to require a residential building permit in unincorporated areas12. The county's rules do not apply inside Lorenzo; see the Crosby County page for land outside the city.

How do septic permits work in and around Lorenzo?

Texas requires a permit and approved plan to construct, alter, repair or extend an on-site sewage facility13. Crosby County's on-site sewage program is administered through its TCEQ authorized agent, which is run by Garza County314. We could not confirm whether that agent also handles septic permits for addresses inside Lorenzo, because the city's own rules on septic and sewer connection were not confirmed. Ask the agent and city hall which applies before you buy a lot.

A single-family home on a tract of at least 10 acres may be exempt from permitting if the system sits at least 100 feet from the property line and every other state condition is met13. City lots are far smaller than that, so the exemption rarely helps inside Lorenzo.

Can you live in an RV or mobile home in Lorenzo, Texas?

Lorenzo requires a permit from the city administrator before anyone parks a recreational vehicle on a lot for use as a residence, and the same permit is needed to connect an RV to city water or sewer2. Temporary residence is limited to 72 hours in any 60 days, or up to 10 days separated by 30 days with the owner's permission2. The permit application fee is set each year and is no less than $252.

Mobile homes are listed as a use in the GR general residence district, and a mobile home placed permanently needs a lot of at least 5,000 square feet5. The one-family districts list only one-family dwellings5.

Building a home in Lorenzo: the steps, in order

  1. Find the zoning district for the lot on the city's zoning district map and confirm it allows a one-family dwelling8.
  2. Check the lot against the district's minimum lot area, yards and height6.
  3. Ask city hall for the building permit requirements, which we could not confirm4.
  4. If the lot is in a special flood hazard area, obtain a floodplain development permit; new residential structures must have the lowest floor at or above base flood elevation7.
  5. Ask the Crosby County authorized agent about the septic permit, or confirm city sewer service with city hall14.
  6. After completion, obtain a certificate of occupancy from the city's building inspector before using the building4.

What stays with Crosby County, and what to check before you buy in Lorenzo

Septic permits and, in the county's portion served by the High Plains Water District, water-well permits come from outside city hall. Wells producing less than 17.5 gallons per minute do not need a district permit there but may be registered15. Crosby County is only partly inside that district, so confirm a parcel's status with the district15.

Property taxes are set per county in our data: Crosby County's effective property tax rate is about 1.8%16, with a median annual bill of $1,34517. A driveway onto a state highway needs a TxDOT driveway permit using Form 105818.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Lorenzo's building permit process, building codes, inspection rules or fee schedule; ask city hall before you buy or build, because the zoning ordinance refers to a building permit4.
  • We could not confirm whether the Crosby County septic agent or the city handles septic and sewer for addresses inside Lorenzo; call the agent and city hall; the county agent's area is administered by Garza County3.
  • Land inside a special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit from the city7.
  • Crosby County's lack of county zoning applies only to unincorporated land; Lorenzo's zoning ordinance governs inside the city19.

Sources

  1. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Lorenzo, TX Article 8.07 Recreational Vehicle Regulations - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  3. TCEQ OSSF Authorized Agent search (OARS) (2026 county census)
  4. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Lorenzo, TX Article 3.05 Flood Damage Prevention - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Lorenzo, TX Exhibit 14A Zoning Ordinance - eCode360 (Lorenzo), quoted and re-checked
  12. Crosby County, Texas official website (2026 county census)
  13. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Crosby County OSSF Authorized Agent (administered by Garza County) (www6.tceq.texas.gov)
  15. Elections - High Plains Underground Water Conservation District #1, quoted and re-checked
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Texas law on county zoning and building authority

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.

Answers from the rulebook for Lorenzo

Lorenzo’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New, converted or structurally altered buildings and land use inside Lorenzo city

    • Applied for with the building permit
    • Issued within 10 days after completion if compliant
    “no building hereafter erected, converted or structurally altered shall be used, occupied or changed in use and no land may be used until a certificate of occupancy and compliance shall have been issued by the building inspector of the city of lorenzo”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lorenzo city limits

    • Eight districts: 1 F-1, 1 F-2, 1 F-3, 2-F, GR, RS, LI, HI
    • Annexed land is temporarily classified 1 F-1 until permanent zoning is established
    “the city of lorenzo, texas, is hereby divided into eight (8) zoning districts.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Lorenzo city

    • Boundaries are shown on the city zoning district map, which was not opened
    “the boundaries of the districts set out herein are delineated upon the zoning district map of the city of lorenzo”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    1 F-1 one-family dwelling district inside Lorenzo city

    • Lot of record prior to a blank 1962 date with less area may still be used
    • Other districts differ: 1 F-2 8,250 sq ft; 1 F-3 7,000 sq ft; GR 5,000 sq ft for one-family

    minimum lot area: >= 10500 sq ft (older lots of record) · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft · minimum lot depth: >= 140 ft

    “the minimum area of the lot for residential purposes shall be ten thousand five hundred (10,500) square feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    1 F-1 one-family dwelling district inside Lorenzo city

    • Side yards sum to 20% of lot width, each at least 5 ft; corner-lot street side at least 15 ft
    • Rear yard 20% of lot depth, never less than 28 ft
    • Section 15 special yard rules may modify; other districts differ

    front yard: >= 30 ft · rear yard minimum: >= 28 ft

    “there shall be a front yard having a minimum depth of thirty (30) feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    1 F-1 one-family dwelling district inside Lorenzo city

    • Accessory buildings may not cover more than 30 percent of the required rear yard
    • 1 F-2, 1 F-3 and 2-F use the 1 F-1 coverage limit

    maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

    “shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the total area of the lot.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    1 F-1 one-family dwelling district inside Lorenzo city

    • 1 F-3, 2-F, GR and residential uses in RS use equivalent limits; HI has no height requirement

    maximum height: <= 2 standard stories

    “no building shall be erected to exceed two (2) standard stories in height.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV use as a residence on lots inside Lorenzo city

    • Permit from city administrator required; also required to connect an RV to city water or sewer
    • Temporary residence up to 72 hours in any 60 days, or up to 10 days separated by 30 days with owner permission and permitted separately metered water connections
    • No permit for residence in F-1, F-2, F-3, 2-F or GR districts for commercial purposes or compensation
    • Application fee set annually, no less than $25 per permit
    • Longer period may be requested under the article

    permit fee floor: >= 25 USD (if council sets no fee)

    “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park or permit the parking of a recreational vehicle on any lot or tract of land within the city for use or occupancy as a residence without first having applied for and obtaining a permit from the city administrator”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary residence in a recreational vehicle (camper, tent trailer) inside Lorenzo city

    • Only through the RV permit; 72 hours in 60 days or 10 days separated by 30 days
    • Tent camping not separately addressed in opened text
    “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park or permit the parking of a recreational vehicle on any lot or tract of land within the city for use or occupancy as a residence without first having applied for and obtaining a permit from the city administrator”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured homes in the GR general residence district inside Lorenzo city

    • Mobile homes are listed as a use in GR; the one-family districts list only one-family dwellings
    • Trailer courts, camps or parks require 7,000 sq ft total and 1,400 sq ft per unit
    • Ten feet minimum between trailer units

    minimum lot area for mobile home placed permanently: >= 5000 sq ft

    “for mobile homes a minimum lot area of five thousand (5000) square feet shall be required where mobile homes are placed permanently or semi-permanently on lots and used as fixed housing”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Areas of special flood hazard inside Lorenzo city

    • Based on FEMA FIRM community number 480916 dated September 18, 2002 and revisions
    • Adopted by Ordinance 090707 on 7/9/07
    • New residential structures must have lowest floor elevated to or above base flood elevation
    “a floodplain development permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this article.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Lorenzo city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Lorenzo city
  • Building code adopted — Building codes inside Lorenzo city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Lorenzo city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Lorenzo city
14 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Lorenzo publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Crosby County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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