Medina County, TX Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Medina County, Texas confirms a construction prerequisite for unincorporated subdivisions, but we could not confirm a general residential building permit or inspection program for other unincorporated land¹². Countywide septic permits and permits for development in the floodplain go through the Environmental Health Department³⁴. Unincorporated Medina County has no county zoning ordinance⁵⁶.

At a glance

Building permit: General permit unconfirmed; a subdivided lot needs a Commissioners Court-approved Final Plat before construction starts¹²
Zoning: No county zoning ordinance; Texas counties can't zone unincorporated land⁵⁶
Septic permit: Required countywide for every on-site sewage system; $200 for a conventional system, $400 for aerobic³⁷
Floodplain development permit: $45 fee, required before any development in the floodplain⁴
Water well: A registered well is required if the property isn't on public or community water⁸
Driveway / utility permit: Issued by your precinct commissioner's office, not a single countywide office⁹
Subdivision setbacks: 50 feet from state/federal road right-of-way, 25 feet from other roads, on platted subdivision lots¹⁰
Septic soil difficulty: About 15.7% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field¹¹

Who to call

Septic permits

Medina County Environmental Health Department

OSSF (septic) permitting and inspection for Medina County; either the homeowner or the designer/installer can obtain the permit here

(830) 741-6195

1502 Avenue K, 2nd Floor, Hondo, Texas 78861

Floodplain permits

Medina County Environmental Health Department (Floodplain Administrator)

Floodplain development permits for any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate in a mapped floodplain, including buildings, grading, filling, and excavation

(830) 741-6195

1502 Avenue K, 2nd Floor, Hondo, Texas 78861

Also useful

Medina County Clerk

Recording and filing of final subdivision plats; a plat approved by Commissioners Court must be filed here before construction can begin on a subdivided lot

(830) 741-6000

1100 16th Street, Hondo, TX

Roads & driveways

Medina County Precinct 1 Commissioner's Office

Driveway and utility permits for Precinct 1; Medina County's other three precincts issue their own driveway and utility permits separately (Precinct 2: 830-931-4000, Precinct 3: 830-741-6006, Precinct 4: 830-665-8015, per the county's own permits guide)

(830) 741-6016

275 County Road 341, Hondo, TX 78861

Also useful

Medina County 911 Addressing Department

Assigns the physical address EMS and the Sheriff's Department use to find a residence in an emergency; needed before applying for other permits

830 741 8997

Well permits

Medina County Ground Water Conservation District

Well registration for properties not on public or community water

830 741 3162

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

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

Medina County's published rules do not confirm whether a general residential building permit or building inspection is required on unincorporated land outside the subdivision rule, so ask your precinct commissioner before relying on an exemption¹. If your land is part of a subdivision outside city limits, you cannot start construction or development activity until Commissioners Court approves a Final Plat Application and the County Clerk files it for record². That requirement is a subdivision plat prerequisite, not proof of a general countywide building-permit program². Once the plat is approved, the Medina County Clerk records it at the office on 1100 16th Street in Hondo¹². Septic, floodplain, driveway and utility approvals remain separate from the unresolved general building-permit question³⁴⁹.

Who handles septic, floodplain, and driveway permits in Medina County, and how do you reach them?

Medina County's published materials do not identify a general building department for unincorporated homes, so ask your precinct commissioner about any building approval or inspection that may apply to your parcel¹. The Environmental Health Department doubles as the Floodplain Administrator at 1502 Avenue K, 2nd Floor, Hondo, Texas, phone (830) 741-6195⁷¹³. That office issues countywide septic permits and permits for development in the floodplain³⁴. Driveway and utility permits come from the commissioner or designee for the relevant precinct; the listed Precinct 1 office is at 275 County Road 341, Hondo, phone (830) 741-6016¹⁴⁹. The Ground Water Conservation District handles well registration when public or community water is unavailable, and the county's 911 Addressing Department assigns the physical address needed for the permit process¹⁵¹⁶.

Does Medina County have zoning?

No. Texas counties have no zoning authority in unincorporated areas, and Medina County regulates land through subdivision rules rather than zoning⁵. Because the county has no zoning ordinance, unincorporated Medina County sets no minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, lot-coverage percentage, or building-height limit outside what its subdivision rules separately specify⁶. Those subdivision rules do set real setback numbers for platted lots: 50 feet from the edge of the right-of-way on state and federal roads, and 25 feet on all other roads, though a municipality's extraterritorial-jurisdiction setbacks apply instead if they differ¹⁰. A subdivided lot in a mapped flood zone also has to meet manufactured-home elevation rules: for most new or substantially damaged sites, the lowest floor must sit at least 18 inches above base flood elevation on a securely anchored permanent foundation¹⁷.

How do septic permits work in Medina County?

Every on-site sewage facility installed in Medina County must be permitted, designed and installed by licensed individuals; a homeowner may not self-install without an OSSF installer license³. Either the owner or designer/installer can obtain the permit from the Environmental Health Department¹⁸. A conventional permit costs $200 and an aerobic permit costs $400⁷. Authorization to construct requires a qualified design, a physical address from 911 addressing, a tank locator map, a legal property description and a marked copy of the FEMA floodplain map; aerobic applications also require a maintenance agreement and a recorded affidavit³. Inspections occur Monday, Wednesday and Friday and must be booked at least one day ahead¹⁹. Additional visits after the first cost $50, and permit fees are non-refundable and valid for one year³. Only about 15.7% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so arrange the site evaluation before committing to a system type¹¹.

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

Unincorporated Medina County has no zoning rule against RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy or temporary camping⁶. That does not remove separate sanitation, subdivision or floodplain requirements: every installed OSSF needs a county permit, and development in the floodplain needs a permit before work begins³⁴. Manufactured homes in mapped flood zones face elevation and anchoring requirements; for most new placements, the lowest floor must be at least 18 inches above base flood elevation on a permanent anchored foundation¹⁷. On a subdivision lot outside city limits, construction or development cannot start until Commissioners Court approves the Final Plat and the County Clerk records it². Ask the Environmental Health Department how those permit rules apply before preparing an unusual RV or tiny-home site⁷.

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

Call the 911 Addressing Department to get a physical address assigned to your property; you'll need it for septic and other permits¹⁶.
Ask your precinct commissioner whether any general building permit or inspection applies, and if the land is in an unincorporated subdivision, confirm the Final Plat is approved and recorded before construction or development begins¹².
If you're not on public or community water, call the Medina County Ground Water Conservation District at 830 741 3162 to register your well¹⁵.
Apply for the countywide septic permit at Environmental Health; budget $200 for a conventional system or $400 for aerobic, plus a qualified design and site evaluation⁷³.
If development is planned in the floodplain, obtain the $45 floodplain development permit before grading, filling, paving, excavating, drilling, storing materials or building⁴. The office cannot issue that permit unless the parcel complies with county subdivision and OSSF rules²⁰.
Schedule the septic inspection at least a day ahead, and call between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on inspection day for the assigned time¹⁹.
Before crossing a public right-of-way with a driveway or utility, get the relevant precinct commissioner's permit⁹.

What to check before you buy land in Medina County

Confirm whether the parcel is part of a platted subdivision, because the Final Plat must be approved and recorded before construction or development begins there². Get a septic site evaluation before closing: only about 15.7% of Medina County soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field¹¹. Check the floodplain map and parcel compliance early, because any development in the floodplain needs a permit and the county will not issue it unless the parcel complies with subdivision and OSSF rules⁴²⁰. About 90.1% of county land is at a slope of 15% or less, but parcel-level drainage and access still need review²¹. A driveway onto a state highway requires the TxDOT access process, while encroachment into a county public right-of-way requires the relevant precinct's permit²²²³⁹. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.3%, with a median annual bill near $2,881²⁴²⁵.

Watch-outs

Driveway and utility permits are issued precinct by precinct, not by one countywide office; confirm which of Medina County's four precincts your land is in before you call¹⁴⁹.
A general residential building permit, building inspection and certificate of occupancy remain unconfirmed outside the subdivision-specific rule; ask your precinct commissioner before construction¹².
RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, and short-term rental use were not addressed by any specific Medina County ordinance found in this research beyond the general absence of zoning authority; call the Environmental Health Department or your precinct commissioner if your plan is unusual⁷.

Sources

Written September 29, 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.

How Medina County scores

Seclusion59100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency4296% ev.

Admin Boringness7490% ev.

Durability42100% ev.

Property Autonomy71100% ev.

Carry Cost73100% 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 →

$325kTypical home

1.3%Property tax

$3,805Land / acre

28.5"Annual rain

43.7% of yrsSevere drought

46.2 / yr (+30.5)Mid-century 100°F days

28.6 daysMid-century dry spell

2.22" (+6.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.37×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$2,029Home insurance / yr

0.8% / yrInsurance growth

0%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

7,923People within 30 min

3,143,084People within 2 hr

20,616Radius comparison (15 mi)

41.3People / sq mi

0.2%Federal land

90.1%Land at 15% slope or less

15.7%Septic soil without severe limits

123,211 acWorkable land screen

29.2%Wooded land

14.1 tonsBiomass / forest ac

69.4°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Medina County

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

Medina County rules

Building permitLimited
Construction or development activities in a subdivision outside the corporate limits of a municipality in Medina County.
- The rule applies to a subdivision as defined for land situated outside the corporate limits of a municipality and divided into two or more parts.
- The Owner or Developer may not commence construction or Development activities until the Commissioners Court has approved a Final Plat Application and the Plat has been filed for record with the County Clerk.
- The rule states an exception for activities permitted under the regulations or for common infrastructure facilities.
- This is a subdivision plat-approval prerequisite and does not itself establish a general county residential building-permit requirement.
“An Owner or Developer may not commence any construction or Development activities, except as permitted, or for common infrastructure facilities, until the Commissioners Court has approved a Final Plat Application, and the Plat has been filed for record with the County Clerk.”
Medina County Subdivision Rules & Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Minimum lot size · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
SetbacksSpecified
Building and setback lines shown on preliminary and final subdivision plats in unincorporated Medina County.
- Fifty feet from the edge of the right-of-way applies on all state and federal roads.
- Twenty-five feet from the edge of the right-of-way applies on all other roads.
- If the setback lines differ from those adopted by a municipality with extraterritorial jurisdiction, the municipality's setbacks apply.
- The rules also contain separate setback standards for specified high-density subdivision types and environmental features.
setback from right-of-way on state and federal roads: 50 feet · setback from right-of-way on all other roads: 25 feet (Municipal extraterritorial-jurisdiction setbacks apply if different.)
“fifty feet (50’) [...] twenty-five feet (25’)”
Medina County Subdivision Rules & Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Building height · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Living in an RV · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Camping on your land · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Manufactured homesLimited
Placement or substantial improvement of manufactured homes in Zones A1-30, AH, and AE on Medina County's community Flood Insurance Rate Map.
- For sites outside a manufactured home park or subdivision, in a new manufactured home park or subdivision, in an expansion to an existing manufactured home park or subdivision, or in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision where the manufactured home has incurred substantial flood damage, the home must be elevated on a permanent foundation so that its lowest floor is at least 18 inches above base flood elevation and securely anchored to a permanent foundation anchoring system.
- For sites in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision not subject to the preceding paragraph, the home must either have its lowest floor at least 18 inches above base flood elevation or have its chassis supported by reinforced piers or equivalent foundation elements at least 36 inches above grade and be securely anchored to a permanent foundation anchoring system.
- The requirements address flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.
minimum lowest-floor elevation above base flood elevation: >= 18 inches (The existing manufactured-home-park alternative may use reinforced piers or equivalent foundation elements at least 36 inches above grade instead.) · minimum foundation-element height in existing manufactured-home-park alternative: >= 36 inches above grade (Applies to the alternative involving reinforced piers or equivalent foundation elements.)
“lowest floor of the manufactured home is at least 18 inches above the base flood elevation”
Medina County Flood Damage Prevention Court Order ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov.
- 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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Who permits septicCounty
On-site sewage facility permitting and inspection administration in Medina County.
- The county source identifies the Environmental Health Department as the office from which an OSSF permit is obtained.
“Either you or the designer/installer can obtain an OSSF permit from the Environmental Health Department.”
What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic permitRequired
All on-site sewage facilities installed in Medina County, Texas.
- Authorization to construct requires the listed application prerequisites.
- Homeowners may not install their own septic system unless they are an OSSF licensed installer.
- All OSSFs require a design by a licensed Site Evaluator, a Registered Sanitarian with a site evaluators license, or a licensed Professional Engineer.
- An approved physical site address issued by 911 addressing is required.
- A septic tank locator map is necessary.
- A color copy of the 2020 FEMA Floodplain Map, including the Community-panel number or Firmette Number and the marked septic site, is required.
- For an aerobic system, a signed Maintenance Agreement and an Affidavit to the Public notarized and filed at the Medina County Clerk Office are required.
- A legal description of the property with the owner's name and property address, such as a deed or tax ID card, is required.
- Cash, money order, or individual check per application is required; payment is payable to Medina County and fees are listed on the application.
- Failure to complete required paperwork delays review.
- Inspections are conducted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and must be scheduled at least one day in advance.
- The applicant must call between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on the inspection day to learn the assigned inspection time; the applicant may not request a time.
- A $50.00 reinspection fee applies after the first inspection if additional visits are required.
- All permit fees are non-refundable and valid for only one year.
- The document states Revision June 30, 2021; this is a revision date, not an effective date.
reinspection fee: 50 USD (Applies if additional visits are required after the first inspection.) · permit validity: 1 year (All permit fees are non-refundable and only good for 1 year.)
“All on- site sewage systems in Medina County must be permitted. They must be designed and installed by licensed individuals.”
Septic Tank Applications Permit ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — All on-site sewage systems installed in Medina County.
  “All on- site sewage systems in Medina County must be permitted.”
  What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic inspectionRequired
Inspections associated with on-site sewage facility construction in Medina County.
- Inspections are conducted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Inspection must be scheduled at least one day in advance.
- The applicant must call between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on the inspection day to receive the assigned inspection time.
- The applicant may not request a specific inspection time.
- Additional visits after the first inspection incur a $50 re-inspection fee.
reinspection fee: 50 USD per additional visit
“Inspections are conducted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You are required to schedule your inspection at least one day in advance.”
Septic Tank Applications Permit ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Well permitRequired
A property in Medina County that will not use public or community water.
- The county guide states that the well must be registered.
- The guide directs applicants to the Medina County Ground Water Conservation District.
- The rule applies when the property is not on public or community water.
“If you are not going to be on public or community water, you will need a registered well. Please call the Medina County Ground Water Conservation District at 830 741 3162.”
What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Driveway accessRequired
Driveway construction or other encroachment into public rights-of-way or easements in unincorporated Medina County.
- The permit is from the County Commissioner or the commissioner's designee.
- The rule addresses driveway or utility construction and other encroachment into public right-of-way or easements; it does not establish a permit requirement for every driveway on private property.
- Access location and design are evaluated based on safety and traffic-operation considerations.
“No driveway or utility construction, or any other encroachment into public right-of-way or easements shall be allowed without first obtaining a permit from the County Commissioner or his or her designee.”
What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Building in a floodplainRequired
Any development in the Medina County floodplain, including man-made changes to improved or unimproved real estate such as buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling, or storage of equipment or materials.
- A floodplain development permit is required before the described development proceeds.
- The Medina County Environmental Health Department is the contact for the permit at (830) 741-6195.
- The listed floodplain development permit fee is $45.00.
- Medina County has authorized and adopted the 2020 FEMA maps; the county page states that the maps became effective May 15, 2020 and that old maps will no longer be accepted.
floodplain development permit fee: 45 USD · permit contact telephone: (830) 741-6195 · FEMA map effective date: 2020-05-15 (The county states that old maps will no longer be accepted.)
“If you are doing any type of development in the floodplain [...] you need to have a permit.”
What Type of Permits Are Required In Medina County? ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Floodplain Development Permit applications for parcels in the unincorporated areas governed by Medina County subdivision regulations.
  “shall not issue an [...] Floodplain Development Permit on any parcel of land unless that property complies with these Subdivision Regulations”
  Medina County Subdivision Rules & Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
County-wide zoningAbsent
Texas counties have no zoning authority in unincorporated areas; Medina County regulates land via subdivision rules, not zoning.
Medina County - What Type of Permits Are Required ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Texas rules that apply here

Building code adoptedPartial
Industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components governed by the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program.
- The mandatory state code adoption applies to industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components, not all construction statewide.
- The effective date is July 1, 2024.
- The International Existing Building Code applies to alterations of portable industrialized buildings.
- Manufacturers already certified for Texas must have design-package documents reviewed and approved to the new editions with an approval date on or after July 1, 2024, unless the manufacturer elected to transition before the effective date under Department rule 70.70(a)(5)(B).
- Construction begun on or after July 1, 2024 must comply with the new code editions and approved design packages.
- Construction begun before July 1, 2024, or before a manufacturer's effective transition date, must meet the stated completion, inspection, and labeling deadline to remain eligible for a Texas decal.
effective date: 2024-07-01 · International Building Code: 2021 Edition (including appendices C, F, and K) · International Residential Code: 2021 Edition (including appendices AG, AH, AK, AP, AQ, and AT) · International Fuel Gas Code: 2021 Edition · International Mechanical Code: 2021 Edition · International Plumbing Code: 2021 Edition · International Energy Conservation Code: 2015 Edition · National Electrical Code: 2020 Edition · International Existing Building Code: 2021 Edition (for alterations of portable industrialized buildings)
“July 1, 2024, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components shall comply with the following codes, as amended in §70.101 of the IHB Rules:”
Industrialized Housing and Buildings – Adoption of New Code Editions ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
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”
Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 231, County Zoning Authority ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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.”
Local Government Code Chapter 233, County Regulation of Housing and Other Structures ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026

Still unanswered

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

Owner-builder exemption — An owner-builder exemption from county building-permit or inspection requirements in unincorporated Medina County.
Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction in unincorporated Medina County.
Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for residential structures in unincorporated Medina County.
Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-public sanitation systems in Medina County.
Mandatory utility hookup — Water and sewer utility connections in Medina County.

1 more unanswered

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.

Living off-grid in Medina County, Texas

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

Medina County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (28.5″/yr rainfall).

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

Medina 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 Medina County Environmental Health Department (TCEQ 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 Medina County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Medina County is allowed: Unincorporated Medina County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Medina County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing medinatx.gov. 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 Medina County, Texas?

Land in Medina County runs about $3,805 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Medina County?

Medina County gets about 28.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 43.7% of years.

How remote is Medina County?

A representative private-land location has about 7,923 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,143,084 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

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

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles septic, floodplain, and driveway permits in Medina County, and how do you reach them?

Does Medina County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Medina County?

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

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

What to check before you buy land in Medina County

Watch-outs

Sources

Medina County in Texas

How Medina County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Medina County

Medina County rules

Texas rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Medina County, Texas

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

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

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

How much does land cost in Medina County, Texas?

What is the water situation in Medina County?

How remote is Medina County?

How Medina compares in Texas