Bolthole Index

Fort Bend County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Simonton, Texas

Simonton, Texas requires city construction approval, and new homes need a certificate of occupancy after a successful final inspection.123 Fort Bend County handles septic applications, permits, fees and appeals inside Simonton.4 Occupied RVs outside licensed parks are limited to 7 days in any month on private property, excluding manufactured home parks.5

At a glance

Building permit
City application, review, approval and applicable fee1
Zoning
We could not confirm general zoning; ask Simonton City Hall6
Septic permits
Fort Bend County handles applications, permits, fees and appeals4
RV living
Outside licensed parks: occupied RVs limited to 7 days per month on private property, excluding manufactured home parks5
Occupancy approval
New homes and newly installed mobile homes need a city certificate of occupancy3
Tiny homes and setbacks
We could not confirm specific rules; ask Simonton City Hall before buying6

Who to call

Building permits

City of Simonton Building Permit Department / City Hall

City construction applications, published building checklists and certificate-of-occupancy forms; starting contact for planning and floodplain questions

281-533-9809

[email protected]

35011 FM 1093

Septic permits

Fort Bend County Environmental Health Department

County contact for Simonton septic applications, permits and inspections

281-342-7469

4520 Reading Rd., Suite A-800, Rosenberg, Texas 77471

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

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Do you need a building permit in Simonton, TX?

Simonton construction applicants must submit an application for city review and approval and pay the applicable fee.1 Simonton publishes a residential permit application and labels its floodplain building permit application as required for all construction in Simonton.6 Ask the Building Permit Department which forms cover your proposed house, addition or other work before starting.6

Simonton construction permits last 12 months; an extension of up to 6 months is available if requested before expiration and substantial construction has commenced.1 The city council sets the fee schedule by resolution, so request the current schedule for your project.7

Who issues building permits in Simonton, and how do you apply?

Start with the City of Simonton Building Permit Department through City Hall; the city accepts permit applications by email at [email protected].6 The city forms page publishes new-home plan-review and inspection checklists, remodel/addition information and a certificate-of-occupancy application.6 Use those project-specific materials when preparing your submission.6

Simonton requires a certificate of occupancy before habitation of new residential construction and newly installed mobile homes, with a successful final inspection by the city building code official first.32 Permanent utility connections must wait until the certificate is issued, including electric, water, sewer or septic, and gas connections.8

Does Simonton have zoning, lot-size or setback rules?

We could not confirm whether Simonton has a general zoning ordinance or establish city lot-size, setback, minimum dwelling-size or accessory-dwelling requirements; ask City Hall to identify the rules for your parcel and intended use.6

Simonton does regulate subdivision and development platting: preliminary and final plats, or a development plat for a single unplatted lot, require approval unless an exception applies.9 Construction and utility connections in an unapproved subdivision are prohibited except as specifically permitted.9 Agricultural-use land has a subdivision-platting exemption, but that exemption concerns platting and does not establish permission to occupy an RV or bypass construction approval.1051

How do septic permits work inside Simonton?

Simonton routes all on-site sewage facility applications, permits, fees and appeals through Fort Bend County; a license is required before installation or substantial modification.4 The city administrator coordinates with Fort Bend County as the authorized septic agent for Simonton.11 Contact Fort Bend County Environmental Health about the application for your site.412

Texas generally requires a permit and approved plan to construct, alter, repair, extend or operate a septic system, and local authorities may impose stricter requirements.13 The state exemption for a single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres also requires a licensed site evaluation, all system parts at least 100 feet from property lines, on-site disposal, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, and no other dwelling on the tract; ask the county whether local requirements allow the exemption.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Simonton?

Simonton generally prohibits RV occupancy outside a city-licensed RV park, with a private-property exception of no more than 7 days in any month; manufactured home parks are excluded from that exception.5 Storing or parking an RV outside a park requires no occupants, no temporary or permanent utility connections, and no parking on or extending over public property.5 Those conditions make an RV on a vacant lot unsuitable as an ongoing residence while building.5

Licensed parks also have occupancy limits by RV type, including 4 months in any consecutive 12-month period for motor homes, travel trailers and fifth wheels.14 We could not confirm a specific tiny-home occupancy rule; ask City Hall how the proposed structure would be classified before buying it.6

Building a home in Simonton: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Simonton City Hall which construction applications and plan-review materials fit your project, and resolve any required plat approval before construction.69
  2. Ask Fort Bend County Environmental Health to review your septic proposal before installation, and obtain the required septic approval.412
  3. Submit the city construction application, obtain approval and pay the applicable fee before proceeding.1
  4. For a home in the designated floodplain, address elevation, foundation and no-fill requirements in the site plan; Simonton requires an elevation survey before the certificate of occupancy.15
  5. Complete the city final inspection and obtain the certificate of occupancy before habitation and permanent utility connections.238

What should you check before buying land in Simonton?

For Simonton land in the designated floodplain, new or substantially improved or repaired homes must be elevated and use pier-and-beam foundations to the extent allowed by applicable law; fill is prohibited on a lot used to construct a foundation or structure there.15 Ask City Hall to review the proposed site plan before budgeting for foundation work.156

Simonton adopts county driveway and culvert requirements on county easements and rights-of-way; where a culvert is missing, the landowner pays for the culvert and the county Road and Bridge permit fee.16 We could not confirm the private-well approval requirements inside Simonton; ask City Hall which office must approve your water source.6 For land outside city limits, consult the Fort Bend County guide: county development-permit requirements apply to unincorporated land.17

Watch-outs

  • Simonton RV occupancy on private land outside licensed parks is limited to 7 days per month, excluding manufactured home parks; do not plan a longer construction stay without asking City Hall about lawful alternatives.56
  • Simonton’s agricultural subdivision exemption addresses platting, while city construction approval remains a separate requirement.101
  • Simonton building permit fees are non-refundable.6

Sources

  1. ecode360.com (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  2. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 8-21 Required construction permit; certificate of occupancy (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 8-21 Required construction permit; certificate of occupancy (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  4. Article IV: Septic Systems (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  5. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 16-104 Recreational vehicles outside RV parks (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Simonton Building Permit Department / City Hall (simontontexas.gov)
  7. ecode360.com (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 8-21 Required construction permit; certificate of occupancy (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  9. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 26-4 Special provisions (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  10. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 26-4 Special provisions (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: Septic Systems (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  12. Fort Bend County Environmental Health Department (fortbendcountytx.gov)
  13. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 16-104 Recreational vehicles outside RV parks (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  15. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 8-24 Foundations and § 8-27 Site plan (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  16. Simonton Code of Ordinances, § 12-115 Driveway culverts (Simonton), quoted and re-checked
  17. Development Permits | Fort Bend County, quoted and re-checked

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 Simonton

Simonton’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    New residential construction, newly installed mobile homes, new commercial structures, and new occupants or tenants of existing commercial structures inside Simonton city.

    • A final inspection by the city building code official is required before the certificate of occupancy is provided.
    “A certificate of occupancy shall be provided only after the successful conclusion and completion of the final inspection by the city building code official;”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Residential and commercial building occupancy inside Simonton city.

    • Required before occupancy or habitation of new residential construction, newly installed mobile homes, new commercial structures, and new occupants or tenants of existing commercial structures.
    • Permanent utility connections may not be made until the certificate is issued.
    • A temporary certificate of completion may allow temporary electrical connections for testing for up to 90 days at the building official's discretion.

    temporary certificate duration: <= 90 days (At the building code official's discretion and after necessary HVAC, plumbing, and electrical inspections.)

    “Prior to the occupancy of any residential or commercial building or structure within the city, a certificate of occupancy shall be required and must be obtained from the city, under the following terms:”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles outside licensed RV parks inside Simonton city.

    • Storage or parking outside an RV park is allowed only when no one occupies the RV, no temporary or permanent utilities are connected, and it is not parked on or extending over public property.
    • An occupied RV may be parked or temporarily placed on privately owned property, except manufactured home parks, for no more than seven days in any one-month period.

    temporary occupancy limit: 7 days per month (Private property only; manufactured home parks excluded.)

    “No recreational vehicle may be used for occupancy within the city except within an RV park licensed by the city as such, or except as provided in subsection (c) of this section.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary occupancy of RVs on private property or in licensed RV parks inside Simonton city.

    • Outside an RV park, an occupied RV may be temporarily placed on private property for no more than seven days in any one-month period.
    • Inside a licensed RV park, camping trailers are limited to 14 days per consecutive six-month period; truck campers to 30 days per consecutive six-month period; motor homes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels to four months per consecutive 12-month period; park models to six months per consecutive 12-month period and may not be a primary residence.
    • Applicable utility-connection conditions apply.

    private-property RV occupancy: 7 days per month (Outside RV parks.) · camping trailer occupancy: 14 days per consecutive six-month period (Licensed RV park.) · truck camper occupancy: 30 days per consecutive six-month period (Licensed RV park.) · motor home/travel trailer/fifth wheel occupancy: 4 months per consecutive 12-month period (Licensed RV park.)

    “A camping trailer may be placed in an RV park licensed by the city as such for a period not to exceed 14 days in any consecutive six-month period, and may be used for sleeping and living purposes during the time it is so placed in a park provided it is:”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage facilities inside Simonton city limits.

    • The city administrator administers the city rules and coordinates with Fort Bend County.
    • Fort Bend County is identified as the authorized agent of the state commission on environmental quality for Simonton.
    • The article applies only to the incorporated area within city boundaries.
    “Coordinate with and support the County of Fort Bend as the on-site sewage facility authorized agent of the state commission on environmental quality for the unincorporated areas of the county, the City of Fulshear, the City of Simonton, the Village of Fairchilds, and the Village of Pleak.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or substantial modification of a private sewage facility inside Simonton city; permitting is handled by Fort Bend County.

    • A license to install must be obtained before installation.
    • A license to substantially modify must be obtained before substantial modification.
    • The city code states that all on-site sewage facility applications and permitting are through Fort Bend County, including applications, permits, fees, and appeals.
    “On-site sewage facility applications and permitting are through the County of Fort Bend. All applications, permits, fees, and appeals will be handled through the County of Fort Bend.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Disposal or discharge of sewage from property inside Simonton city.

    • Discharge is allowed only into a licensed sewage facility or an existing private sewage facility that existed on the ordinance's effective date and has not been substantially modified.
    • Private sewage facilities include septic tanks, pits, privies, cesspools, holding tanks, and other on-site systems.
    “After the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, it shall be unlawful to dispose of or discharge sewage except as follows:”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Permanent utility connections for residential or commercial buildings inside Simonton city.

    • Permanent electric, water, sewer, septic, natural-gas, and liquid-propane connections may not be made before the certificate of occupancy.
    • A temporary certificate of completion may permit temporary electric connections for testing for no more than 90 days.
    • The cited provision does not establish a distance-to-public-utility rule or require connection when public service is available.

    temporary certificate duration: <= 90 days (Testing connections only and subject to building official discretion.)

    “The city shall not allow permanent connection of utilities such as electric power, water, sewer or septic, natural gas, and/or liquid propane gas service to be made until the issuance of the certificate of occupancy;”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Subdivision platting inside Simonton city.

    • Land to be developed or used for agricultural purposes, including farming or grazing, is exempt from the subdivision article.
    • Prima facie evidence is the tax designation applied by the county central appraisal district.
    • Subdivisions with each parcel at least 10 acres, access, and no public improvement dedication are also exempt.

    minimum resulting parcel size: >= 10 acres (Each parcel must have access and no public improvement is dedicated.)

    “Land to be developed or used for agricultural (for example, farming, grazing) purposes. Prima facie evidence of such use shall be determined by the tax designation applied to the property by the county central appraisal district.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development platting inside Simonton city and, where stated, its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

    • Preliminary and final plats, or a development plat for a single unplatted lot, must be approved unless an exception applies.
    • No construction or utility connection may occur in an unapproved subdivision except as specifically permitted.
    • Agricultural land and subdivisions where each resulting parcel is at least 10 acres with access and no public improvement dedicated are exempt from the article's platting requirements.

    exempt parcel size: >= 10 acres (Each parcel must have access and no public improvement may be dedicated.)

    “It shall be unlawful for any person to subdivide any tract, lot, or parcel of land within the city or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city, unless and until preliminary and final plats of such subdivision, or a development plat of a single unplatted lot have been approved in accordance with the terms of this article, unless such division is specifically excepted from platting requirements by this article or other laws of the state.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway access and culverts for property inside Simonton city.

    • The city adopts county requirements for driveways and culverts on county easements and rights-of-way, subject to the city's ability to specify culvert diameter at permitting.
    • If a culvert is not already installed, the landowner pays for the culvert and a permit fee set by the Fort Bend County Road and Bridge Department; the county installs and covers it.
    “When a landowner buys property within the city and driveway culverts are not already installed, it will be the landowner's expense to purchase the culvert, as well as to pay a permit fee in the amount set by the county road and bridge department at the time of application.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New or substantially improved/repaired structures and homes in the designated 100-year floodplain inside Simonton city.

    • Structures must be elevated and constructed on a pier-and-beam foundation to the extent allowed by applicable law.
    • No fill is allowed on a lot used for construction of a foundation or structure within the designated 100-year floodplain.
    • A floodplain site plan requires an elevation certificate at least 18 inches above natural ground, 12 inches above the curb/crown of street, and/or base flood elevation, whichever is greater.
    • An elevation survey is required before a certificate of occupancy.

    minimum elevation above natural ground: >= 18 inches (Whichever is greater among natural ground, 12 inches above curb/crown, and base flood elevation.)

    “To the extent allowed under applicable law, all new or substantially improved/repaired structures and homes constructed on land within the designated 100-year floodplain according to the latest flood insurance rate map as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the National Flood Insurance Program shall be elevated and constructed on a pier and beam foundation.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    City construction permits inside Simonton city.

    • The city council adopts the permit application and fee schedule by resolution from time to time.
    • Applicants must pay according to the current fee schedule.
    “The city council shall adopt a permit application and permit fee schedule as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council from time to time;”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City construction-permit process inside Simonton city.

    • Applicant completes the application, city reviews and approves it, and applicant pays the applicable fee.
    • Permit term is 12 months.
    • One extension up to six months is available under the stated timing and substantial-construction condition.

    permit term: 12 months · extension: <= 6 months (One extension; request before expiration and substantial construction must have commenced.)

    “Any person seeking a permit must fill out a permit application and have such application reviewed and approved by the city;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Simonton or Fort Bend County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Simonton city.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Simonton city limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning-district publication for land inside Simonton city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling-size requirements inside Simonton city.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot sizes inside Simonton city.
8 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • 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 Simonton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fort Bend County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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