Building permits, zoning and land rules in Gray County, Texas

Unincorporated Gray County does not require a county building permit¹. Construction still has statewide requirements: the minimum energy code for a single-family home is Chapter 11 of the 2015 International Residential Code, while other residential, commercial, and industrial buildings fall under the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code¹⁰. Factory-built industrialized housing follows a separate state design-package and code-approval system¹¹. Texas licensing exemptions allow an owner to perform qualifying electrical, plumbing, or air-conditioning work on the owner's own residence or homestead, but they are not a blanket exemption for every trade or local approval⁷. Inside Pampa, ask the city about building approvals and zoning; septic approval remains with the applicable TCEQ authority, and wells in the district remain under Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District rules^3,5,6.

Gray County has no building department and does not require a county building permit for unincorporated construction¹. For general county business and questions about the county's subdivision requirements, start with the County Judge's office at 806-669-8008^4,12. Septic permits generally go to the applicable permitting authority; TCEQ Region 1 in Amarillo acts where no local jurisdiction is authorized³. For well registration or a drilling and operating permit, contact the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District at 806-883-2501 or info@pgcd.us^6,13. Inside Pampa, ask the city about building approvals and zoning, while septic and well authority stays with the applicable TCEQ authority and groundwater district^3,5,6.

On unincorporated Gray County land, no county rule sets minimum dwelling size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height, or restrictions on RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured-home placement, accessory dwellings, or temporary camping². The boundary matters: the City of Pampa has zoning districts and a city zoning map, but the available source does not extend that city zoning conclusion beyond Pampa's corporate limits⁵. Before relying on the unincorporated answer, verify whether the parcel lies inside Pampa or another municipality; we could not confirm the zoning status of Lefors, McLean, or every other municipality in Gray County. Zoning does not replace wastewater or water approvals: septic permits remain with the applicable TCEQ authority, and district well rules apply where the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District has jurisdiction^3,6.

A septic permit and approved plan are generally required before constructing, installing, altering, extending, or repairing an on-site sewage facility in Gray County³. Confirm the applicable permitting authority before filing; TCEQ Region 1 in Amarillo acts where no local jurisdiction is authorized³. After authorization to construct, a TCEQ-licensed designated representative working for the authorized agent inspects the installation against TCEQ criteria or the agent's stricter order; the cited rule does not say every permit-exempt system is inspected¹⁴. A narrow exception may apply to a single-family tract of at least 10 acres when every system part is at least 100 feet from the property line and all other state conditions are met³. Composting toilets do not eliminate wastewater approval: the cited product approval does not authorize an individual installation, and all other wastewater still requires an approved on-site sewage facility¹⁵.

Unincorporated Gray County has no county rule restricting RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured-home placement, or temporary camping². The county also sets no minimum dwelling size or accessory-dwelling restriction on unincorporated land². Inside Pampa, city zoning applies, so the unincorporated answer does not carry across the city line⁵. An uninstalled manufactured home cannot be occupied except for viewing on a retailer's sales lot¹⁶. Any occupied setup still needs lawful wastewater disposal; septic permits generally remain required, and a composting toilet does not by itself authorize an installation or dispose of other wastewater^3,15.

1. Verify whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside Pampa, because Pampa has city zoning while county land-use limits do not apply in unincorporated Gray County^2,5.
2. Before dividing land outside municipal limits, ask the County Judge's office whether a plat must be filed; many divisions into two or more parts must be platted, while qualifying agricultural, farm, ranch, wildlife-management, or timber-production divisions may be exempt until that use ends^8,12.
3. Design the home to the statewide energy code even though Gray County does not require a county building permit^1,10.
4. Decide who will perform regulated trade work; state owner-builder licensing exemptions are conditional and do not cover every trade or local approval⁷.
5. Obtain the generally required septic permit and approved plan from the applicable authority before work begins³.
6. Register a new well with the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, or obtain drilling and operating permits when the well is not exempt⁶.
7. For new or changed access to a state highway, submit TxDOT Form 1058, receive the executed driveway permit, and give 24-hour notice before construction in the right-of-way⁹.

Only 41% of Gray County's soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so make the site evaluation part of the purchase decision¹⁷. Every well in the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District must be registered or permitted, and wells producing 17.5 gallons per minute or less fall in the registration category under the cited district rule⁶. If a tract may be divided, review Gray County's subdivision regulations before closing; outside municipal limits, many divisions into two or more parts require a recorded plat, subject to agricultural and other exceptions^4,8. A new or modified driveway onto a state highway requires an executed TxDOT driveway permit before right-of-way work begins⁹. Gray County sees severe drought in roughly 31% of years and averages 22.7 inches of precipitation annually¹⁷.