Bolthole Index

Donley County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Howardwick, Texas

Howardwick, Texas (Donley County) requires a city building permit before any new structure, move-in or manufactured home goes on a lot1. The city also runs its own zoning through the mayor and city council2. Septic permits inside city limits come from TCEQ, not the city3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the city for new, move-in and manufactured structures1
Zoning
Yes, administered by the city mayor and council2
Septic
TCEQ permit and inspection; required before the city issues a building permit34
RV living
Up to 6 months on a residential lot while a permanent home is built; city RV camping permit required56
Minimum home size
750 sq ft living area, tiny homes excepted; larger in some districts7
Owner-installed septic
Allowed under TCEQ permitting and inspection8
Driveway on a state highway
TxDOT permit (Form 1058)9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Howardwick City Hall

Building permits, RV camping permits, zoning questions and variance requests inside Howardwick city limits; permit forms are downloadable from the city's building permits page

(806) 874-2222

245 Rick Husband Blvd. Howardwick, TX 79226

Septic permits

TCEQ Region 1 Office (Amarillo)

Regional TCEQ office covering Donley County; contact it for septic (OSSF) permits and inspections for Howardwick addresses

806-353-9251

5809 S. Western St. STE 260, Amarillo TX 79110-3631

Online permits →

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

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Do you need a building permit in Howardwick, Texas?

Yes. Howardwick requires a building permit before any new structure, move-in structure, manufactured home or other permanent structure is placed on a lot1. The city's permit page also lists tiny homes, RV parking, additions, garages, carports, storage buildings and livestock among the things that need a city permit10.

A building permit lasts six months and can be extended another six months by the planning and zoning commission1. The city will not issue the building permit until you hold a valid TCEQ septic permit1. Structures must also pass acceptable inspections before anyone can live in them or put them into service11.

We could not confirm the city's permit fees, whether it issues a certificate of occupancy, or whether it offers an owner-builder exemption, so ask City Hall before you budget.

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

The City of Howardwick issues its own building permits through City Hall at 245 Rick Husband Blvd.; the phone number is (806) 874-222210. The permit application, setback sheet, zoning sheet, street-address sheet and variance request are downloadable from the city's building permits page10.

Donley County does not stand in for the city here. Texas counties have only limited, specific authority over building and zoning in unincorporated areas12, and the city's own ordinance controls dwellings inside city limits13. Donley County's rules for land outside the city are on the Donley County page.

Does Howardwick have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and house size?

Howardwick has its own zoning, administered through the mayor and city council2. The zoning map includes an R-1-CT district for manufactured homes and cottages as single-family residential, and a manufactured home still needs a city building permit before it is placed on a lot14.

Permanent homes must have at least 750 square feet of living area, except tiny homes7. Waterfront lots require 900 square feet and Nacona Hills requires 1,000 square feet, and anything smaller needs a special permit from city council7.

On residential lots outside the C-1RV zoning, an RV may be placed for up to six months while a permanent structure is built, as long as the residence has a valid building permit5. RV camping also needs a permit from city hall6.

We could not confirm Howardwick's rules on minimum lot size, lot coverage, building height, accessory dwellings or where tiny homes may be occupied. Call City Hall and ask for the zoning sheet for your lot.

How do septic permits work in Howardwick, Texas?

Septic permits inside Howardwick come from TCEQ, the state environmental agency, rather than from the city3. A valid permit is required before any work on an on-site sewage system, with an inspection on completion4. The city then requires that TCEQ permit before it issues the building permit3.

The city code says a landowner may install their own on-site system, under TCEQ permitting and inspection8. Sewage must go to an approved on-site system or a dump site designed for it, and raw sewage may not be dumped on the ground15.

TCEQ's Region 1 office in Amarillo covers Donley County16. Ask it to confirm who the current permitting authority is for your address before you apply.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Howardwick?

In Howardwick, an RV on a residential lot is a temporary arrangement: up to six months while a permanent structure is built, tied to a valid building permit for the residence5. The planning and zoning commission may renew and extend that period, and after the home is finished an RV may be stored on the property5. Separately, RV camping requires a city permit available from city hall6.

Tiny homes need a city permit, and the city's size rule excepts them from the 750-square-foot minimum107. We could not confirm where tiny homes may be lived in, so confirm the zoning for your lot with City Hall first.

Building a home in Howardwick: the steps, in order

  1. Call Howardwick City Hall at (806) 874-2222 to confirm your lot's zoning, setbacks and street address10.
  2. Check the minimum living area for your district7.
  3. Get a TCEQ septic permit for the lot4.
  4. Apply for the city building permit, which requires that TCEQ permit1.
  5. If you will live in an RV during construction, get the city's RV camping permit and keep to the six-month limit65.
  6. Pass the required inspections, including the septic inspection, before moving in114.
  7. If the driveway meets a state highway, apply to the local TxDOT district office with Form 10589.

What stays with Donley County, and what to check before you buy in Howardwick

Land outside Howardwick city limits falls under Donley County rules, not the city's. Unincorporated Donley County has adopted no county zoning ordinance, so no county rule sets lot size, setbacks or RV occupancy there17.

Wells are regulated by the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, which requires all wells drilled in the district to be registered or permitted18. We could not confirm a city well rule inside Howardwick. Donley County's typical property tax rate is about 1.1%19. The county's typical home value is about $136,46920. About 47.8% of the county's soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so a site evaluation is still wise21.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Howardwick's permit fees; the city code refers to a fee schedule, so ask City Hall at (806) 874-2222 before you apply10.
  • The city requires a valid TCEQ septic permit before it issues a building permit, so septic comes first in the schedule1.
  • The six-month RV allowance on residential lots ends when the permit period ends unless the planning and zoning commission extends it5.
  • Rules for land outside Howardwick city limits differ from the city's; see the Donley County page before buying in the surrounding area17.

Sources

  1. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 5 Zoning and Building Regulations (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 5 Zoning and Building Regulations (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 5 Zoning and Building Regulations (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  9. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Howardwick City Hall (cityofhowardwick.com)
  11. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  12. Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 233 (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Howardwick Code of Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 4 Zoning Classifications (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Howardwick, TX — Division 6 Additional Requirements (Howardwick), quoted and re-checked
  16. TCEQ Region 1 Office (Amarillo) (tceq.texas.gov)
  17. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  18. Well Permitting and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  21. 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

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 Howardwick

Howardwick’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New structures, move-in structures, manufactured homes, and other permanent structures placed on lots inside Howardwick city limits.

    • A valid permit is also required before utility-service installation or septic-system construction begins.
    • A valid TCEQ septic-system permit is required before the city issues a building permit.
    • Building permits last six months and may be renewed or extended for an additional six months by the planning and zoning commission.

    initial permit validity: 6 months (May be renewed and extended for an additional six months by ruling of the planning and zoning commission.)

    “Building permits shall be required before any new structure, move-in structure, manufactured home, or other permanent structure is placed on a lot.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Structures subject to the city permit rule inside Howardwick city limits.

    • The cited provision requires evidence of acceptable inspections before a structure can be inhabited or put into service.
    • The provision specifically makes a valid TCEQ septic permit a prerequisite to city building-permit issuance.
    “evidence of acceptable inspections performed before such structure can be inhabited or put into service.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Howardwick city limits, Texas.

    • The ordinance states that zoning authority is exercised through the mayor, city council, and optionally appointed citizens.
    “The city administers zoning responsibilities and exercises its authority through the city administration consisting of the mayor, city council”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Permanent residential structures inside Howardwick city limits.

    • Tiny homes are excepted.
    • Waterfront lots require 900 square feet; Nacona Hills requires 1,000 square feet.
    • Anything less requires a special permit from city council.

    minimum living area: >= 750 square feet (Except tiny homes; waterfront lots require 900 square feet and Nacona Hills requires 1,000 square feet; lesser size only by city-council special permit.)

    “All permanent residential structures, with the exception of tiny homes, shall have a minimum 750 square feet living area”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles on residential lots outside C-1RV zoning inside Howardwick city limits.

    • Placement is limited to six months while a permanent structure is built.
    • Permission is conditional on construction of a residence with a valid building permit.
    • The planning and zoning commission may renew and extend the period.
    • After completion, an RV may be permanently stored on the owner's property.

    RV placement period: <= 6 months (Planning and zoning commission may renew and extend the time.)

    “Recreational vehicles may be placed on residential lots for a period not to exceed six (6) months while a permanent structure is built.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    RV camping inside Howardwick city limits.

    • A permit is required and available from city hall.
    • The storage exception applies only where the owner has a habitable permanent residence on the property; it does not state an RV-camping exception.
    “Permits are required for RV camping, and are available from city hall.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sewage disposal for any housing type or RV inside Howardwick city limits.

    • Sewage must go to a specially designed dump site or an approved on-site sewage system.
    • Raw sewage may not be dumped on the ground.
    • On-site systems remain subject to TCEQ permitting and completion inspection.
    “All sewage must be disposed of in a dump site specifically designed for receipt of such sewage, or in an approved on-site sewage system”

Rules another office applies inside Howardwick

Howardwick does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in the R-1-CT manufactured home and/or cottage single-family residential district inside Howardwick city limits.

    • A city building permit is required before a manufactured home is placed on a lot.
    • District-specific zoning controls apply.
    “Green - Manufactured home and/or cottage - Single-family residential district.”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    On-site sewage disposal systems inside Howardwick city limits.

    • The system must comply with Texas Health and Safety Code requirements as administered by TCEQ through permitting and inspection.
    • The city requires a valid TCEQ septic permit before it issues a building permit.
    “as administered by the state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ) through their permitting and inspection processes.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of an on-site sewage disposal system inside Howardwick city limits.

    • A valid permit is required before work is done.
    • A valid TCEQ septic-system permit is required before the city issues a building permit.
    “Any such actions require a valid permit before any work is done, and an inspection on completion.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site sewage disposal systems constructed, altered, repaired, or extended inside Howardwick city limits.

    • Inspection is required on completion.
    • The code says on-site systems may be installed by the land owner in accordance with TCEQ permitting and inspections.
    “On-site sewage systems may be installed by the land owner in accordance with permitting and inspections by TCEQ.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Howardwick city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Structures inside Howardwick city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Howardwick city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Howardwick city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Howardwick city limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

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