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

No. Unincorporated Kerr County does not require a general building permit or certificate of occupancy, and its Subdivision Rules and Regulations impose no zoning restrictions^1,8. The County Engineer still permits floodplain development, driveways onto county-maintained roads, public-utility installation in county rights-of-way, and subdivision construction². Setback restrictions, plat restrictions, and deed restrictions can still limit what you build, while septic systems require separate county permits^1,3. Inside an incorporated municipality, local rules may differ; the City of Kerrville has its own zoning code and adopted building codes^4,11.

For floodplain development, driveway, and utility right-of-way permits, contact the Kerr County Engineer's Office at 3766 TX-27, Kerrville, TX 78028, 830-896-9046; floodplain permit applications go to floodplain@kerrcountytx.gov². The county advises calling ahead for an appointment, since staff are often in the field¹². For septic and water-well permitting, contact the Kerr County Environmental Health Department at 550 Earl Garrett Street, Suite 100, Kerrville, TX 78028, 830-896-9020, envhealth@env.kerrcountytx.gov³. For general road questions and the county's own plain-language FAQ on permits and zoning, the Road & Bridge Department is at the same 3766 TX-27 address, 830-257-2993, kcroads@rb.kerrcountytx.gov⁸. If your driveway connects to a state highway instead of a county road, that goes through the Kerrville Area TxDOT office using Form 1058¹³.

Unincorporated Kerr County has no county zoning, although setback, plat, and deed restrictions may still apply to a particular parcel¹. The county regulates subdivisions outside Kerrville and Ingram; those rules are administered by the County Engineer unless the Commissioners' Court expressly waives platting authority². Unincorporated land has no county zoning rule setting minimum home or lot size, building height, or RV, tiny-home, manufactured-home, or accessory-dwelling occupancy⁷. Incorporated municipalities may administer their own zoning, including the City of Kerrville, so verify whether the parcel lies inside city limits before relying on the unincorporated-area answer⁴.

Kerr County Environmental Health is the local authorized agent for OSSF permitting, enforcement, and inspections tied to authorizations to construct^3,14. As of August 7, 2026, every new septic system requires a permit regardless of tract size; the change is not retroactive, and qualifying older systems may remain grandfathered³. Off-grid sanitation is therefore not permit-free, and the county source does not establish that every alternative sanitation technology is allowed³. Only 0.2% of Kerr County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so arrange a site evaluation and allow room in the budget for a more complex design¹⁰. For a well within the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District, submit exempt-well registration at least 10 days before drilling; the district decides whether the well is exempt or needs an operating permit⁹.

Unincorporated Kerr County has no county zoning rule restricting RV, tiny-home, or manufactured-home occupancy or setting a minimum dwelling size⁷. That answer does not override a subdivision plat, deed restriction, setback restriction, floodplain rule, or septic requirement^1,3,5. Incorporated municipalities may apply their own zoning, so first confirm whether the parcel is outside city limits⁴. Before buying, ask the County Engineer whether the proposed placement involves regulated floodplain development, read the parcel's recorded restrictions, and confirm the sanitation plan with Environmental Health^2,3.

First, check the parcel's flood status; work touching Zone A, Zone AE, or Floodway requires a floodplain development permit through the County Engineer^2,5. Second, order a septic site evaluation early because only 0.2% of county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field¹⁰. Third, apply through Environmental Health for the OSSF permit required for every new system³. Fourth, contact the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District at least 10 days before drilling to register an exempt well or learn whether an operating permit is required⁹. Fifth, confirm subdivision compliance outside Kerrville or Ingram². Sixth, obtain a county-road driveway permit from the County Engineer, or use the state process for a state-highway connection^6,13. A public utility also needs a permit for installation or maintenance in a county right-of-way². Unincorporated Kerr County has no general building-permit or certificate-of-occupancy step beyond the applicable specific permits¹.

Water and drought are real factors here: annual precipitation runs about 28.9 inches, but 49.1% of years bring severe drought, nearly half — and with only 0.2% of soils free of septic limitations, both a reliable well and a well-designed septic system deserve serious budget¹⁰. The land is more varied than flat Gulf Coast counties: 79.1% sits at 15% slope or less and 41.3% is wooded, so grading and clearing costs can matter more than in flatter counties¹⁰. Check FEMA flood maps before you buy, since floodplain status drives the county's clearest permit requirement and shapes RV, tiny-home, and manufactured-home rules on that specific parcel⁵. If the tract is part of a subdivision, confirm it complies with the county's 2023 subdivision and manufactured-home-rental-community regulations, and read the plat and any deed restrictions directly, since the county has no zoning to fall back on^2,8. Typical property tax runs about 1.1% effectively, with a median bill near $3,115 a year, against a typical home value around $375,304¹⁰.