Bolthole Index

Ellis County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Garrett, Texas

Town of Garrett is a town in Ellis County, Texas. Town of Garrett adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Garrett’s rules apply, not the county’s. 6 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 12, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Ellis County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Garrett

Town of Garrett’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Remodels and additions inside City of Garrett

    • Applies to 'most' remodels and additions; exceptions not stated on page.
    “city of garrett requires building permits for most remodel & additions to your property.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside City of Garrett

    • Codes named: NEC 2020, IFC 2015, IBC 2015; page also lists ordinance 21-107 adopting 2017 international codes.
    “city of garrett follows the nec 2020; ifc 2015; and ibc 2015 codes.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside City of Garrett limits

    • Page lists zoning ordinance 19-105 and a zoning map ordinance; ordinance text not opened.
    • Page does not itself name Ellis County.
    “subdivision ordinance 19-104 of (docx) download ordinance 19-105 zoning (pdf) download”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside City of Garrett

    • Ordinance text not opened.
    “subdivision ordinance 19-104 of (docx) download ordinance 19-105 zoning (pdf) download”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permits inside City of Garrett

    • Fee schedule is a downloadable document dated 2.21.23; amounts not read.
    “you may preview master fee list in forms for fees.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permits inside City of Garrett

    • Checklist, application and plan-submittal documents are linked; contents not read.
    “residential plan submittal requirements and non-residential plan submittal requirements are listed below in the downloads, for your review.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Inside Garrett town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Inside Garrett town
  • Zoning districts — Inside Garrett town
  • Minimum dwelling size — Inside Garrett town
  • Minimum lot size — Inside Garrett town
18 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Garrett publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ellis County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Garrett means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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