Bolthole Index

Kendall County, Texas

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

58Index Score / 100
#101 of 254 in Texas

Unincorporated Kendall County, Texas does not issue a conventional city-style building permit, but it requires a county Development Permit before any property development, including septic or well work1. Kendall County has no zoning, so minimum lot size, setbacks and RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy are unregulated by zoning outside city limits23. Every permit runs through the same office: the Kendall County Engineer's Office, which also serves as the county's floodplain administrator and OSSF (septic) permitting authority456. The order matters: a 911 Rural Address and Access Permit comes first, then the Development Permit, then septic or well permits4.

At a glance

Building permit
No conventional permit, but a county Development Permit is required for property development1
Zoning
None countywide2
Septic permit
Required, through the County Engineer's Office (TCEQ authorized agent)78
RV / tiny home living
Unrestricted by zoning, but the Development Permit chain still applies if it has plumbing31
Minimum home size / setbacks
No county zoning minimum or setback rule3
Owner-builder exemption
Not published; no conventional building permit exists anyway9
Septic soils
None of the county's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field10
Driveway on a state highway
TxDOT Form 1058 permit required11

Who to call

Building permits

Kendall County Engineer's Office (Development)

Issues the county Development Permit required for any property development in unincorporated Kendall County, including the lighting permit issued alongside it

830-249-9343

[email protected]

400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Septic permits

Kendall County Engineer's Office (Onsite Sewage / OSSF)

Reviews and approves OSSF (septic) permit applications for unincorporated Kendall County as TCEQ's authorized agent

830-249-9343

[email protected]

400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Floodplain permits

Kendall County Engineer's Office / Floodplain Administrator

Administers Kendall County's Flood Damage Prevention Order as the county's floodplain administrator

830-249-9343

[email protected]

400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Roads & driveways

Kendall County Engineer's Office (Access/Driveway Permit)

Issues access (driveway) permits for connections to public county roads, required before development, septic and well permits

830-249-9343

[email protected]

400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Also useful

Kendall County Engineer's Office (911 Rural Addressing)

Assigns 911 rural addresses for new construction in unincorporated Kendall County, ahead of the Development Permit

830-249-9343

[email protected]

400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Also useful

Kendall County Clerk's Office

Records deed restrictions for unincorporated Kendall County land and the Affidavit to the Public required for aerobic septic systems

830-331-8233

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 24, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Kendall County, Texas?

Unincorporated Kendall County does not issue a conventional building permit the way a city does, but a county Development Permit is required before any property development, including the issuance of septic or well permits1. The Development Permit and a required lighting permit are issued together once the 911 Rural Address and Access Permit is already in hand, so a new home follows a specific order rather than one building-permit application14. Every application goes through the Kendall County Engineer's Office at 400 E Blanco Road in Boerne, reachable at 830-249-93434. Texas only lets a county adopt a fire or residential building code once its population passes 250,000, or if it borders a county that large, and Kendall County's population is about 50,500, so that separate state authority does not apply here either1213.

Who is the Kendall County building department, and how do you reach them?

Kendall County routes development, septic, floodplain, driveway-access and addressing questions through one office: the Kendall County Engineer's Office, which also serves as the county's floodplain administrator45. It sits at 400 E Blanco Road, Boerne, TX 78006, and can be reached at 830-249-9343 or [email protected]4. The Development Permit, Access/Driveway Permit, 911 Rural Addressing, Floodplain and Onsite Sewage programs are all run from this same office, so one call or email can usually start any of them4141565. Questions about a recorded deed restriction on unincorporated land go to the Kendall County Clerk's Office instead, at 830-331-823316.

Does Kendall County have zoning?

Kendall County has no zoning, so no county ordinance sets minimum lot size, setbacks, building height or lot coverage on unincorporated land2. Texas law grants counties zoning power only in narrow, specific circumstances, and Kendall County does not fall into any of them, which is why the commissioners court has never adopted zoning districts here17. Because no zoning authority exists, accessory dwellings, RVs used as housing, tiny homes and manufactured homes are all unrestricted by county zoning outside city limits3. That does not make land use paperwork-free: the county's Development Permit still applies to property development on the parcel, and any recorded deed restriction controls independent of the county's lack of zoning1.

How do septic permits work in Kendall County?

Kendall County is the TCEQ authorized agent for OSSF (septic) permitting in unincorporated areas, so applications go to the County Engineer's Office rather than a TCEQ regional office76. A septic permit is required before an OSSF is constructed, altered, extended or repaired under state law, and the county permitting authority must approve or deny a completed application within 30 days of receiving it86. Every aerobic septic system needs a signed Affidavit to the Public recorded at the County Clerk's Office and a maintenance contract from the licensed installer, on top of the permit itself6. A septic permit is also part of the Development Permit chain: the 911 Rural Address and Access Permit must be issued first, then the Development Permit, before the county will issue a septic permit14. A 10-acre exemption can remove the state permit requirement, but only if every condition is met: a site evaluation by a licensed evaluator or engineer, a single-family home on at least 10 acres with no other dwelling on the tract, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, and every part of the system kept at least 100 feet from the property line8. Soils compound this: none of Kendall County's land is rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, which is likely why the county requires a recorded affidavit and maintenance contract on every aerobic system it approves106.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Kendall County?

Kendall County's zoning rules do not restrict RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy on unincorporated land, because the county has no zoning ordinance3. That is a zoning-only answer: an RV or tiny home used as a residence still needs the same permit chain as a house once it has plumbing, starting with a 911 Rural Address and Access Permit, then a Development Permit, then a septic or well permit14. Kendall County's soils give almost every parcel severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so an RV or tiny home relying on a standard gravity system is unlikely to pass; budget for the same engineered-system cost a full house would face10. If the site sits in a mapped floodplain, the county's Flood Damage Prevention Order applies to placing any structure there, RV or otherwise5.

Building a home in Kendall County: the steps, in order

  1. Request a 911 address and, if the driveway connects to a public county road, an Access/Driveway Permit, before anything else1514.
  2. If access is instead to a state highway, contact the local TxDOT office at 830-249-2262 rather than the county14.
  3. Apply for the county Development Permit through the County Engineer's Office at 830-249-9343 or [email protected]; a required lighting permit is submitted and issued alongside it4.
  4. Apply for a septic (OSSF) permit through the same office if the site is not on public sewer, and expect a decision within 30 days of a complete application6.
  5. Budget for an engineered or aerobic septic system rather than a standard drain field, since none of the county's soils are rated free of severe limits for conventional systems, and record the required Affidavit to the Public at the County Clerk's Office once it is installed106.
  6. Ask the County Engineer's Office, which also serves as floodplain administrator, whether the parcel sits in a mapped floodplain5.
  7. Check the deed at the County Clerk's Office, 830-331-8233, for any recorded restriction the county's lack of zoning does not override16.

What to check before you buy land in Kendall County

Soils and water come first here: none of Kendall County's land is rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so price in an engineered or aerobic system, not a standard one, before making an offer10. Rainfall averages just 32.9 inches a year and the county sees severe drought in about 48.1% of years, so a private well should be sized, and ideally tested, for dry-year yield rather than an average year1819. About 79.7% of the land sits at 15% slope or less and 44.6% is wooded, so most parcels are buildable, though hill-country terrain can still complicate a septic field or driveway grade2021. Kendall County has no federal land, so public-land boundary issues are not a factor the way they are in some rural counties22. The county sits about 30 miles from the nearest metro area with a population density of about 76 people per square mile, closer to a metro edge than many rural Texas counties2324. Typical homeowner's insurance runs about $2,493 a year, and the effective property tax rate is about 1.2%, for a median bill near $5,890 a year on the county's typical home252627. Farmland trades at roughly $4,256 an acre while a typical home is valued around $593,419, a wide gap worth factoring in when comparing raw land to an improved parcel2829.

Watch-outs

  • Kendall County's Development Permit is not optional paperwork: the county requires a 911 Rural Address and Access Permit before it, and septic or well permits after it, so build the timeline for all three into your plans4.
  • None of Kendall County's soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so get a site evaluation before assuming a standard gravity system will work10.
  • An Access/Driveway Permit is not required for a driveway that fronts a private roadway, but an address request is still required, so confirm which rule applies to your road before applying14.
  • No county building department exists to confirm an owner-builder exemption in Kendall County, and none is published, so line up your own inspections if you want a second set of eyes on the work9.

Sources

  1. Kendall County - Development Information (2026 county census)
  2. Permits Required, Building Codes, Certificates of Occupancy, and Zoning Regulations (2026 county census)
  3. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  4. Kendall County Engineer's Office (Development) (kendallcountytx.gov)
  5. Kendall County Engineer's Office / Floodplain Administrator (kendallcountytx.gov)
  6. Kendall County Engineer's Office (Onsite Sewage / OSSF) (kendallcountytx.gov)
  7. Kendall County - Development Information (2026 county census)
  8. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. (2026 county census)
  10. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  11. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Local Government Code Chapter 233, County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. County population: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Kendall County Engineer's Office (Access/Driveway Permit) (kendallcountytx.gov)
  15. Kendall County Engineer's Office (911 Rural Addressing) (kendallcountytx.gov)
  16. Kendall County Clerk's Office (kendallcountytx.gov)
  17. Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  29. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written September 24, 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.

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County locator

Kendall County in Texas

58
County map
Kendall County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Kendall County scores

Seclusion43100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency4896% ev.
Admin Boringness7490% ev.
Durability35100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost62100% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$593kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$4,256Land / acre
32.9"Annual rain
48.1% of yrsSevere drought
22.3 / yr (+18.4)Mid-century 100°F days
26.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.69" (+10.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.41×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,493Home insurance / yr
3% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
5,246,441People within 2 hr
41,856Radius comparison (15 mi)
76.3People / sq mi
0%Federal land
79.7%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
44.6%Wooded land
11.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
66.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Kendall County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Kendall County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    New commercial construction and projects involving substantial improvements in Kendall County.

    • A Development Permit must be granted before a Building Permit may be obtained.
    • The County Fire Marshal grants Building Permits.
    • The cited rule applies to new commercial construction and substantial improvements; it does not establish a conventional county building-permit requirement for all single-family residential construction.
    “All new commercial construction projects and projects involving substantial improvements to a site are required to first obtain a Building Permit.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    County-administered building and fire-code requirements in Kendall County.

    • Kendall County has not adopted building codes for single-family residential developments.
    • The county has adopted a Fire Code administered by the Kendall County Fire Marshal.
    “While Kendall County has not adopted building codes for single family residential developments, the County has adopted a Fire Code administered by the Kendall County Fire Marshal”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certain multi-family and non-residential developments subject to the Kendall County Fire Code.

    • Certificates of Occupancy are issued by the Kendall County Fire Marshal's Office.
    • The source limits the statement to certain multi-family and non-residential developments.
    “that office issues Certificates of Compliance and Certificates of Occupancy for certain multi-family and non-residential developments.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning regulations in unincorporated Kendall County.

    • Area municipalities may have requirements within their city limits and extraterritorial jurisdictions.
    • Subdivision conditions, covenants, restrictions, deed restrictions, and homeowners association requirements may still apply.
    “Kendall County does not regulate land use and has not adopted zoning regulations in the unincorporated areas of the County.”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Building height · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Camping on your land · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Manufactured homes · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule

    Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or modification of driveways connecting to public county roads.

    • No Access Permit is required for driveways fronting a private roadway, but an address request form remains required to obtain an address.
    • State Highway access requires contacting TxDOT.
    • An address and access permit must be issued before applying for Development, Septic, or Well Permits.
    • The permit application requires documents and a permit fee.
    “An Access (Driveway) Permit is required before the construction or modification of a driveway that connects to a public county road.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development activities in or outside the floodplain that are regulated by Kendall County.

    • The county requires permits for all development, including site improvements within or outside the floodplain.
    • Floodplain minor and major residential development permits have different published fees.
    • Additional floodplain submittals may be required depending on project location and proximity to the floodplain.

    minor residential floodplain development permit fee: 200 USD · major residential floodplain development permit fee: 300 USD

    “Permits are required for all development including placement or modification of driveways, any work within County-maintained right of way, outdoor lighting, on-site sewage facilities, and any site improvements whether within or outside of the floodplain for land improvement and residential and commercial development.”

Texas rules that apply here

  • Who permits septicMixed

    On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems, throughout Texas

    • In most areas, local governments act as TCEQ-authorized agents and administer the OSSF program.
    • The TCEQ regional office is the permitting authority where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.
    • Local permitting programs may be more stringent than state minimums.
    “TCEQ is not often the OSSF permitting authority. [...] The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an OSSF in Texas

    • A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.
    • A 10-acre exemption may apply only if all listed conditions are met: site evaluation by a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator or professional engineer; single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres; no nuisance or groundwater pollution; all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from the property line; effluent disposed of on the property; and the single-family dwelling is the only dwelling on the tract.
    • Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs begin.
    • Grandfathered systems may also be exempt if the stated conditions are met.

    minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (single-family dwelling and all other TCEQ conditions must be met) · minimum OSSF distance from property line for 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet (all parts of the OSSF) · emergency repair reporting deadline: <= 72 hours (after repairs have begun; written report to permitting authority)

    “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. [...] An OSSF may be exempt from permitting if it complies with all other requirements, including planning, construction, and installation standards of 30 TAC 285 AND meets the “10 acre rule”:”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    OSSF installation and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas

    • Authorized agents or their designated representatives inspect system installation.
    • Some permitting authorities impose more stringent requirements.
    • Maintenance-provider inspection and reporting requirements apply to systems and circumstances governed by 30 TAC §285.91(4).
    • Electronic monitoring may reduce reporting to every six months where the stated monitoring conditions apply.

    reduced maintenance reporting interval with qualifying electronic monitoring: 6 months (only where the system uses the specified electronic monitoring, automatic notification, and disinfection monitoring)

    “Many times, the AA has a "designated representative" (DR) to assist them with their responsibilities, which include reviewing plans for constructing, altering, extending or repairing each OSSF; issuing permits; and inspecting system installation. [...] If the system uses an electronic monitor, automatic radio or telephone to notify the maintenance provider of system or component failure and to monitor the amount of disinfection in the system, reporting may be reduced to every six months.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Constructing a new driveway or revising an existing driveway on the right of way of a Texas state highway.

    • The applicant should contact the local District TxDOT office.
    • The applicant must submit Form 1058, Permit to Construct Access Driveway Facilities on Highway Right of Way.
    • The application must be for the bona fide purpose of securing or changing access to the owner's property, not parking or servicing vehicles on state highway rights of way.
    • No construction may begin on the right of way until a fully executed driveway permit is received and the applicant gives TxDOT 24-hour notification.
    • The driveway must comply with the executed permit and applicable regulations; TxDOT inspection must find construction satisfactory.
    • Where a local public agency has permitting authority, drainage impacts on the state highway system still require TxDOT approval before local approval.
    • Driveway geometrics, utilities, environmental requirements, wetlands considerations, ADAAG, TAS, and other applicable state and federal laws must be considered.

    required form: Form 1058, Permit to Construct Access Driveway Facilities on Highway Right of Way · advance notification: 24 hours (Notification to TxDOT is required before construction on the right of way.) · private residential driveway maximum width: <= 24 feet (Except as increased by permissible radii.) · minimum driveway radius to highway pavement: >= 15 feet

    “The applicant shall complete and submit to TxDOT a Form 1058”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Texas counties adopting zoning regulations for specified unincorporated or otherwise specially defined areas.

    • Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters.
    • For Padre Island, the authority applies in Cameron or Willacy County outside a municipality and within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development, or within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.
    • Other Chapter 231 subchapters address special areas including the Amistad Recreation Area in Val Verde County, military zones, certain lakes, the El Paso Mission Trail Historical Area, Lake Somerville, and Falcon Lake in Zapata County.
    • The cited statute was enacted effective September 1, 1987; the Falcon Lake subchapter was added effective June 15, 2007, and amended effective September 1, 2009.

    Padre Island distance from publicly owned park or recreational development: <= 2 miles (Area must be outside a municipality and in Cameron or Willacy County.) · Padre Island distance from beach, wharf, or bathhouse: <= 2 miles (The beach, wharf, or bathhouse must be used by at least 500 persons annually.)

    “This subchapter applies to the areas of Padre Island located in Cameron or Willacy County and located: (1) outside a municipality but within two miles of a publicly owned park or recreational development; or (2) within two miles of a beach, wharf, or bathhouse used by at least 500 persons annually.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    Texas counties adopting and enforcing fire-code building permits for specified buildings in unincorporated areas and applying residential building-code standards in certain counties.

    • Under Section 233.061, the county must have a population over 250,000 or be adjacent to a county with a population over 250,000.
    • Under Section 233.062, the fire code applies only to commercial establishments, public buildings, and multifamily residential dwellings consisting of four or more units constructed in an unincorporated area.
    • The fire code does not apply to an industrial facility having a fire brigade that conforms to Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements.
    • A covered applicant must submit a plan and a commissioners-court-set application fee; the county must issue or deny the permit within 30 days, and failure to act within 30 days approves the construction for purposes of the subchapter.
    • The fire code must conform to the International Fire Code or Uniform Fire Code as those codes existed on May 1, 2005, or establish protective measures exceeding those standards; later editions may be adopted.
    • Residential standards under Section 233.152 apply only if the county adopts a resolution or order and the county is within 50 miles of an international border or has a population over 100.
    • Those residential standards apply only to new single-family-house or duplex construction beginning after September 1, 2009; manufactured or modular structures governed by Occupations Code Chapters 1201 or 1202 are excluded from the definition of new residential construction.
    • A municipality's building code controls in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and Section 233.152 does not authorize county prior approval of new residential construction or county zoning regulations.
    • Fire-code inspection and permit fees may be charged under a fee schedule based on building type, limited to amounts necessary to administer and enforce the subchapter; inspection fees must be reasonable and reflect approximate inspection costs.

    county population threshold for fire-code authority: > 250000 persons (A county adjacent to a county over 250,000 also qualifies.) · multifamily residential dwelling threshold: >= 4 units (The fire code applies only to covered buildings constructed in an unincorporated area.) · residential-code border distance: <= 50 miles (Alternative qualification is county population over 100.) · application decision period: 30 days (If the commissioners court does not issue or deny the permit within 30 days after receiving the application and fee, construction is approved for purposes of the subchapter.) · residential standards effective construction date: > 2009-09-01 (Applies only to new residential construction that begins after September 1, 2009.)

    “The commissioners court of a county with a population of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to a county with a population of over 250,000 may adopt a fire code and rules necessary to administer and enforce the fire code. [...] The fire code applies only to the following buildings constructed in an unincorporated area of the county: (1) a commercial establishment; (2) a public building; and (3) a multifamily residential dwelling consisting of four or more units.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from Kendall County development or building requirements.
  • Inspections — County building inspections in Kendall County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Kendall County.
  • Well permit — Water-well permitting in Kendall County.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water and sewer utility connections in Kendall County.
2 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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.

Water rights & wells in Kendall County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Texas’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt up to a limit

Texas groundwater is governed by the rule of capture; a Groundwater Conservation District must exempt qualifying domestic/livestock wells and may not restrict their production, but well registration and spacing rules can still apply and the exemption does not cover wells serving a platted subdivision.

Limit: Domestic/livestock well exempt from GCD production permitting if on a tract >10 acres AND incapable of producing >25,000 gal/day (Tex. Water Code §36.117)

Texas Water Code §36.117 / TWDB ↗
  • Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Areapartial of county

    TCEQ PGMA identifying existing or anticipated critical groundwater problems; drives GCD coverage and heightened management. Domestic/livestock wells remain exempt from GCD permits but spacing/registration may apply.

    TCEQ — Priority Groundwater Management Areas ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Texas state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Kendall County, Texas

Is Kendall County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Kendall County scores 58/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Kendall County, Texas?

Kendall County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Kendall County Development / Environmental Health (TCEQ OSSF authorized agent). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Kendall County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Kendall County is allowed: Unincorporated Kendall County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Kendall County has no zoning ordinance. Kendall County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning. Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits. Chapter 231 does not grant a general statewide county zoning power; authority is provided through geographically or subject-matter limited subchapters. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Kendall County, Texas?

Land in Kendall County runs about $4,256 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Kendall County?

Kendall County gets about 32.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 48.1% of years. On water rights, Kendall County lies in the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area — TCEQ PGMA identifying existing or anticipated critical groundwater problems; drives GCD coverage and heightened management. Domestic/livestock wells remain exempt from GCD permits but spacing/registration may apply..

How remote is Kendall County?

A typical private-land location has about 41,856 people within 15 miles and 5,775,269 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Kendall compares in Texas

Compare side-by-side →See all 254 Texas counties ranked →