Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Kosse, Texas

Town of Kosse’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Installation of HUD-code manufactured homes inside Kosse town limits; tiny homes also need a city permit

  • Application to city secretary with plat/survey, site plan, installer identity and photographs
  • Mayor issues or denies within 30 days; no decision is a denial
  • General new-construction permit rule not located; fee schedule lists a new residential construction permit line

  manufactured home permit fee: $500 plus 5 cents per sq ft

  “must apply for and obtain a permit from the city before any installation of the hud-code manufactured home begins.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  All construction inside Kosse town limits

  • Adopted with amendments as noted in the ordinance
  • Also adopts 2023 NEC, 2021 IFC, IPC, IMC, IECC, Property Maintenance Code, Private Sewage Disposal Code, NFPA 101, NFPA 72 and 2021 International Tiny House provisions

  International Building Code edition: 2021

  “the city of kosse adopts the following codes with amendments as noted: international building code adopted the 2021 edition of the international building code and the 2021 international existing building code are hereby adopted by reference as though copied fully in this section.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Residential occupancy inspection inside Kosse town limits

  • Inspection before moving in while vacant
  • New inspection when utilities off more than 30 days or change of occupancy
  • $30 initial inspection; one free follow-up

  occupancy inspection fee: 30 USD (first follow-up free)

  “all inspection points must pass the occupancy inspection prior to occupying the property.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Residential occupancy inside Kosse town limits

  • Utilities are not turned on until a certificate of occupancy is issued

  “utilities will not be turned on until a certificate of occupancy is issued.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle occupancy inside Kosse town limits

  • Ordinance applies only within the incorporated boundaries
  • City council may approve exceptions for extreme conditions
  • Outside an RV park, temporary residence limited to 30 days per calendar year

  temporary residence limit outside RV park: <= 30 days per calendar year (city council approval for extreme conditions)

  “except if parked within an recreational vehicle park, no person may use a recreational vehicle as a temporary residence for more than 30 days in any calendar year.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes inside Kosse town limits

  • City permit required before installation; $500 plus 5 cents per sq ft
  • Must meet the 2021 International Tiny House provisions and engineer plans
  • Defined as 400-900 sq ft, with a driveway, skirting, city water and sewer
  • Must pass occupancy inspection before occupancy

  permit fee: $500 plus 5 cents per sq ft

  “the tiny home must pass the occupancy inspection by the building official before occupying the home.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  HUD-code manufactured homes and mobile homes inside Kosse town limits

  • Mobile homes (pre-June 15, 1976) are banned prospectively
  • One manufactured home per lot; not on a lot with an existing residence
  • TDHCA licensed installer, skirting, driveway with culvert, site pad
  • Must be new or used in good condition
  • Permit $500 plus 5 cents per sq ft

  “hud-code manufactured homes may be used as single-family dwellings in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal for manufactured homes inside Kosse town limits where city sewer is not available; the town ordinance defers to Limestone County and state OSSF requirements

  • Applies only where city sewer service is not available
  • Rule-makers named are Limestone County and the State of Texas
  • County's own OSSF page was not opened

  “if city sewer service is not available to a hud-code manufactured home, any means of sewage disposal must meet the ossf requirements of limestone county and the state of texas.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Tiny homes inside Kosse town limits

  • Composting toilets not permitted for tiny homes
  • Applies to tiny homes only

  “sewer service is essential to dispose of all human waste. no composting toilets will be permitted.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes and tiny homes inside Kosse town limits

  • Manufactured homes: connect to city water and sewer where available; otherwise sewage disposal must meet county/state OSSF requirements
  • Tiny homes: must be connected to city water and sewer
  • Rule for conventional site-built homes not located

  “the tiny home must be connected to city utilities, which are water and sewer services.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  HUD-code manufactured homes inside Kosse town limits (tiny homes also must have a driveway)

  • Applies to manufactured homes; general driveway rule not located

  “access by means of a driveway with a culvert is required for all hud-code manufactured homes.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit and inspection fees inside Kosse town limits

  • Fee schedule effective June 1, 2021
  • New residential construction line shows $00.00

  new commercial construction: 300 USD (flat fee) · occupancy inspection: 30 USD (first follow-up free) · demolition: 30 USD · new sewer tap: 800 USD

  “fees effective june 1, 2021 building permits permit fee new commercial construction $300.00 flat fee new residential construction $00.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Manufactured home installation permit process inside Kosse town limits

  • Tiny home permit follows the same process
  • General building permit process not located

  decision deadline: <= 30 days (no decision is deemed denial; appeal to city council within 30 days)

  “the decision must be made within 30 days of receipt of the application, and if a decision is not made within that period the application is considered denied.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Kosse or Limestone County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Kosse town limits
• Local zoning — Zoning inside Kosse town limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Kosse town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Kosse town limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Kosse town 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.