Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Keene, Texas

Keene’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New residential buildings, additions, listed residential work, renovations, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work inside Keene city limits.

  • The City describes the listed work as work for which permits are usually required; applicants are directed to contact Development Services to determine whether a particular project requires a permit.
  • Construction may begin after fees are paid and an approved permit is issued.

  “The best way to find out if you need a building permit is to call the Development Services Department at Keene City Hall, but usually building permits are required for the following: *New Residential buildings, *Additions (bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms, etc.) *Residential work (decks, garages, fences, fireplaces, pools, water heaters, etc.). *Renovations (garage conversions, kitchen expansions, re-roofing, etc.) *Electrical systems * Plumbing systems and *HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems).”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted projects inside Keene city limits.

  • The approved permit packet states approximately how many inspections may be needed for the project.
  • Inspection requests called in by 4:00 pm are usually scheduled for the next business day.

  “On-site inspections will be required to make certain the work conforms to the permit, local/state codes, and plans. Your approved permit packet will state approximately how many inspections may be needed for your project. If inspection requests are called in by 4:00 pm, the inspections are usually scheduled for the next business day.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Structures with any part located within the floodplain inside Keene city limits.

  • The contractor must apply to the Floodplain Administrator.
  • An elevation certificate is required for all structures constructed in the FEMA-designated floodplain.

  “If any part of the structure is located within the floodplain, the contractor must apply for a Floodplain Development permit from the Floodplain Administrator. An elevation certificate will be required for all structures constructed in the FEMA designated Floodplain.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential development permits and listed water and sewer connections inside Keene city limits.

  • The development packet states that Planning and Development will notify the applicant of the permit fee, including water and sewer fees, after plan-review approval.
  • Plan-review fees are $100 plus third-party-review fees.

  new residential permit fee: 0.67 USD per square foot (plus plan review) · plan review fee: 100 USD (plus fees charged by third party review)

  “The Planning & Development Department will contact you when the plan review has been approved and notify you of the amount of the permit fee, including any water & sewer fees. Permit Fees New Residential .67 per square foot + plan review. [...] Plan Review Fees are $100 plus fees charged by 3rd party review and are included in the fee calculator.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Keene city limits.

  • Applicants document project details on the permit application and attach sketches or plans.
  • Plans are reviewed for compliance with local and state requirements.
  • A permit is issued if plans meet the requirements; otherwise the building official may suggest solutions.
  • Fees must be paid and an approved permit issued before starting the project.

  “At this stage you will document the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, and “how” of the job on the permit application and attach any sketches or plans of the proposed work. In a brief amount of time, the building official and our third party inspection/review firm will review your plans and determine if your project is in compliance with local & state requirements. If your plans meet these requirements, a permit is issued. If not, the building official may suggest solutions to help correct the problem.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Keene city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Keene city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Keene city limits.
• Local zoning — Land inside Keene city limits.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Keene city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.