Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Longview, Texas

At a glance

Building permits

City construction permit applications and inspection requests through Development Services¹

Zoning

City Unified Development Code applies inside Longview²

Septic authority

Gregg County Health Department for property in Gregg County³

Conventional septic lot size

0.5 acre with community water or 1 acre with a well; older platted lots may be considered⁴

Septic fee

$350 for conventional design or single-family professional design⁵⁶

Owner-builder route

Homeowners seeking homestead exempt permits must contact city Development Services¹

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Does Longview have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Longview has municipal zoning administered through the city’s Unified Development Code, and the code covers zoning districts and land uses.²⁷ Longview also regulates subdivision and platting through that code.⁸ Start with Longview Planning and Zoning for questions about zoning changes, subdivisions or a variance; those are responsibilities of the city division.⁹ We could not confirm district-specific minimum lot sizes, setbacks or minimum dwelling sizes; ask Planning and Zoning to identify the standards for your parcel before choosing a house plan.⁷

Who handles building permits in Longview, Texas?

Longview Development Services offers an online construction permit portal for applications, payments, digital plans, review status and inspection requests.¹ The portal is designed for general contractors, licensed trades and design professionals.¹ Homeowners seeking homestead exempt permits are directed to contact Development Services in person or by phone for the permitting process.¹ Ask Building Inspection which building and trade approvals your proposed home needs; we could not confirm the complete city exemption list or residential inspection sequence.¹

How do septic permits work inside Longview?

For Longview property in Gregg County, Gregg County Health Department handles septic-system permitting.³ Its conventional-design checklist specifies at least 0.5 acre with community water or 1 acre with a water well, with consideration available for undersized lots platted before January 1, 1988.⁴ The published conventional-design fee is $350; professionally designed single-family systems also have a $350 fee.⁵⁶ These are septic-system criteria, separate from Longview’s zoning-district standards.⁴⁷ Ask the city about sewer service and connection requirements before commissioning a septic design; we could not confirm those city requirements.

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

We could not confirm Longview’s rules for living in an RV, occupying a tiny home, temporary camping or adding an accessory dwelling. Ask Longview Planning and Zoning about the proposed residential use and ask Building Inspection about construction approvals before buying a unit.⁹¹ Longview has its own zoning code, so the absence of county zoning outside city limits does not establish permission inside Longview.² For land outside the city, use the Gregg County guide, whose no-zoning answer applies to unincorporated Gregg County.¹⁰

Building a home in Longview: what should you do first?

1. Take the proposed use and any subdivision or variance questions to Longview Planning and Zoning.⁹
2. Contact city Development Services about the construction application; professionals can submit plans digitally through the portal, while homeowners seeking homestead exempt permits should contact the department directly.¹
3. If the Gregg County property will use septic, hire a Registered Sanitarian or Professional Engineer for a professional design and submit the application and plans to Gregg County Health Department; obtain authorization before construction.¹¹
4. Arrange the septic installation inspection before covering the system, giving at least 1 working day’s notice; approval follows a successful inspection.¹¹

Watch-outs

• We could not confirm Longview’s RV occupancy, tiny-home or district-specific dimensional rules; ask city Planning and Zoning before committing to a parcel or dwelling.⁹
• A composting toilet does not remove the wastewater question: other wastewater from an off-grid dwelling remains subject to applicable OSSF requirements.¹²
• Gregg County’s professional septic-design process requires construction authorization before work and an inspection before the system is covered.¹¹

Sources

1. Longview Development Services / Building Inspection (longviewtexas.gov)
2. Unified Development Code - City of Longview (Longview), quoted and re-checked
3. Septic Systems / Gregg County, quoted and re-checked
4. How to Obtain a GCHD Permit for an On-Site Sewage Facility, quoted and re-checked
5. Gregg County Health Department OSSF Permit Checklist, quoted and re-checked
6. Gregg County Health Department OSSF Permit Checklist, quoted and re-checked
7. Unified Development Code - City of Longview (Longview), quoted and re-checked
8. Unified Development Code - City of Longview (Longview), quoted and re-checked
9. Longview Planning and Zoning (longviewtexas.gov)
10. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
11. Gregg County Health Department OSSF Permit Checklist, quoted and re-checked
12. Chapter 285 – On-Site Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked

Written October 15, 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.