Bolthole Index

Dallas County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of Addison, Texas

The Town of Addison, Texas requires building permits for building, remodeling or enlarging a building, with exceptions for specified cosmetic and replacement work.1 Addison sets its own zoning through the Unified Development Code; Dallas County’s lack of county zoning does not describe land inside Addison.2 We could not confirm the septic permitting authority inside town limits; ask Addison Development & Neighborhood Services and Dallas County Environmental Health before planning an on-site system.34

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction, remodeling and enlargement; specified minor work is exempt1
Zoning
Town Unified Development Code and parcel zoning map25
Owner-builder
Homeowners may do their own building and trade work; required building permits still apply6
Small factory-built homes
Cottage-development definition requires permanent foundations, wheels removed and public utilities7
Septic
Texas generally requires an OSSF permit and approved plan; confirm who serves an Addison address8
Driveway approach
Building permit required to install or replace the connection to the street9

Who to call

Building permits

Addison Building Inspection

Residential building permit questions and homeowner construction projects inside Addison.

972-450-2880

16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Addison Planning and Zoning Division

Parcel zoning and development approval questions inside Addison.

972-450-2848

16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001

Building permits

Addison Development Services — Permit and Plan Portal Assistance

Help registering, applying and paying through Citizen Self Service.

972-450-2880

[email protected]

16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001

Online permits →

Septic permits

Dallas County Health and Human Services — Environmental Health Division

County OSSF design review and installation inspection; ask whether the division serves the specific Addison address.

(214) 819-2115

2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Addison, TX?

Addison requires building permits when building, remodeling or enlarging a building, and for other listed property improvements.1 Addison exempts specified cosmetic work, including painting, wallpapering, carpeting, cabinets and trim, and its residential page also states an exemption for replacing fixtures or existing wiring or plumbing.1 Ask Building Inspection to classify the actual scope before treating a larger renovation as replacement work.3 Installing or replacing a driveway approach—the portion connecting to the street—also requires a building permit in Addison.9

Who handles building permits in the Town of Addison?

Addison Building Inspection answers residential project questions at 972-450-2880, at the Addison Service Center, 16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001.3 The Town provides Citizen Self Service instructions for applying for building permits and plans and paying invoices.10 For portal assistance, contact Development Services at [email protected] or 972-450-2880.10 Addison allows homeowners to perform work in their own homes without a building contractor license, including their own electrical, plumbing, mechanical and irrigation work without a contractor or trade license; required building permits still apply.6

Does the Town of Addison have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Addison has its own Unified Development Code and zoning map, effective September 1, 2025.2 Addison’s updated map has 15 zoning districts, so start with the parcel’s designation rather than Dallas County’s unincorporated-area answer.5 The Planning and Zoning Division provides access to an interactive map showing current property zoning.11 We could not confirm residential minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or minimum dwelling size; ask Addison Planning and Zoning for the standards applying to the parcel and proposed use.11 Addison’s published zoning fees include $650 for a special-use permit, $200 for a variance and $1,000 for zoning-change or planned-development review; these are zoning fees, not a residential building-permit estimate.12

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Addison?

Texas generally requires a permit and approved plan to construct, alter, repair, extend or operate an on-site sewage facility, or OSSF.8 We could not confirm which OSSF permitting authority serves incorporated Addison; ask the Town and Dallas County Environmental Health to identify the authority for the address before ordering a system design.34 Dallas County Environmental Health describes design review, authorization to construct and installation inspection, but that description does not establish coverage inside Addison.4 Texas’s exemption for a qualifying single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres requires every stated condition, including a site evaluation and all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from property lines; acreage alone is insufficient.8

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Addison?

We could not confirm a general permission for RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings inside Addison; take the proposed use and parcel address to Addison Planning and Zoning.11 Addison’s cottage-development definition does address factory-built small single-family dwellings: homes must meet applicable building codes or federal manufactured-housing standards, have wheels removed, rest on permanent foundations and connect to public water, sewer and electric services.7 Those conditions describe cottage developments rather than a general right to place a tiny home or occupied RV on any Addison lot.13

Building a home in the Town of Addison: what are the steps?

  1. Identify the parcel’s zoning on Addison’s interactive map and ask Planning and Zoning about the proposed residential use and dimensional standards.11
  2. For zoning requests or full civil-construction requests, use Addison’s Land and Development Application and submit all applicable checklists.14
  3. Confirm the construction scope with Building Inspection and obtain the required building permit; homeowner work does not remove that requirement.16
  4. Use the Town’s Citizen Self Service guidance for applications and invoice payments, asking portal assistance for help when needed.10
  5. Resolve any proposed OSSF authority before installation; Texas generally requires an approved plan and septic permit.8

For land outside Addison, consult the Dallas County guide: the county building-permit information describes unincorporated areas, rather than construction inside Addison.15

Watch-outs

  • Addison’s homeowner license exemption does not waive required building permits.6
  • Public water, sewer and electricity are required for the factory-built dwellings described in Addison’s cottage-development definition; do not plan that housing form as an off-grid installation.13
  • We could not confirm private-well requirements inside Addison; ask Planning and Zoning about the proposed water supply before buying for that purpose.11

Sources

  1. Residential Projects (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  2. Unified Development Code (UDC) (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  3. Addison Building Inspection (developmentservices.addisontx.gov)
  4. Dallas County Health and Human Services — Environmental Health Division (dallascounty.org)
  5. City Council Adopts New Zoning Map under Unified Development Code (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  6. developmentservices.addisontx.gov (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 7.2. Use-related definitions (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  8. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. developmentservices.addisontx.gov (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  10. Addison Development Services — Permit and Plan Portal Assistance (developmentservices.addisontx.gov)
  11. Addison Planning and Zoning Division (developmentservices.addisontx.gov)
  12. Zoning and Land Development Fee Schedule (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  13. Sec. 7.2. Use-related definitions (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  14. Development Application Information (Town of Addison), quoted and re-checked
  15. Department of Unincorporated Area Services | Obtaining a Development Permit (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 Town of Addison

Town of Addison’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building, remodeling, enlarging, and listed property improvements inside Addison town limits.

    • Cosmetic work such as painting, wallpapering, carpeting, cabinets, and trim work does not require a permit.
    • Replacing fixtures or existing wiring or plumbing does not require a permit.
    “Permits are required when building, remodeling or enlarging a building. Permits are also required for other improvements to your property. Projects that are cosmetic, such as painting, wallpapering, carpeting, cabinets, and trim work, etc., do not require permits. Additionally, permits are not required when replacing fixtures or existing wiring or plumbing.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    Homeowners performing work in their own homes inside Addison town limits.

    • Permits remain required where applicable.
    • Homeowners may perform electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and irrigation work themselves without a contractor or trade license.
    “Homeowners are allowed to perform work in their own homes without a building contractor license. Homeowners are also allowed to perform all electrical, plumbing, mechanical and irrigation work without a contractor or trade license if they do the work themselves.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Addison town limits.

    • Addison currently enforces the listed code editions.
    “Addison is currently under the 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electric Code, and the 2018 International Electrical Code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Addison town limits.

    • The Town's Unified Development Code and zoning map became effective September 1, 2025.
    “Zoning, first established in Addison in 1965, determines how land can be used for homes, shops, offices, parks, and other purposes and sets development standards like building size, lot layout, and design.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and parcel zoning inside Addison town limits.

    • The Town provides an interactive zoning map and adopted Unified Development Code.

    number of districts under new map: 15 districts

    “Before this update, Addison had 17 zoning districts shaped by decades of amendments to the original ordinance. The new map streamlines and modernizes the framework into 15 districts that are easier to understand, and better aligned with the Town’s vision for future growth.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Factory-built small single-family dwellings in a cottage development inside Addison town limits.

    • Applicable building codes or federal manufactured-housing standards must be met.
    • Wheels must be removed and the dwelling must be placed on a permanent foundation.
    • Public water, sewer, and electric services are required.
    “This use can include communities of five or more factory built small single-family detached dwellings, provided that each home meets applicable Building Codes or the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Law of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), and that each dwelling has any wheels removed, is mounted on a permanent foundation, and is connected to public water, sewer, and electric services.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Factory-built small single-family dwellings in a cottage development inside Addison town limits.

    • Each home must meet applicable building codes or federal manufactured-housing standards.
    • Wheels must be removed and the home must be mounted on a permanent foundation.
    • The dwelling must connect to public water, sewer, and electric services.
    “This use can include communities of five or more factory built small single-family detached dwellings, provided that each home meets applicable Building Codes or the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Law of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), and that each dwelling has any wheels removed, is mounted on a permanent foundation, and is connected to public water, sewer, and electric services.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Installing or replacing a driveway approach inside Addison town limits.

    • The permit item concerns the portion of the drive connecting to the street.
    “Installing or replacing a driveway approach (the portion of the drive connecting to the street)”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning and land-development applications inside Addison town limits.

    • Fees vary by application type and, for some reviews, acreage or resubmittal count.
    • The reviewed schedule lists a $650 special-use-permit fee, $200 variance fee, and $1,000 zoning-change or planned-development review fee.

    special use permit fee: 650 USD · variance fee: 200 USD · zoning change or planned development review fee: 1000 USD

    “Special Use Permit Fee | $650 [...] Variance Fee | $200.00 [...] Zoning Change or Planned Development Review Fee | $1,000”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning, land-development, and construction applications inside Addison town limits.

    • The Land and Development Application is used for zoning requests and full civil-construction requests.
    • Applicable checklists must be completed and submitted.
    • Some permits requiring plan review are not available online and must be emailed with the digital plan set.
    “Please note that the Land and Development Application is used for all zoning requests as well as Full Civil Construction requests. All applicable checklists must be completed and submitted with the application.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Addison or Dallas County directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Addison town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Addison town limits.
  • Setbacks — Residential setbacks inside Addison town limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Addison town limits.
  • Building height — Residential building height inside Addison town limits.
9 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • 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 Town of Addison publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Dallas County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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