Bolthole Index

Parmer County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Friona, Texas

Friona, Texas zones its land by district and has adopted the 2012 International Residential Code for houses12. Septic tanks are unlawful inside Friona city limits, so every home must use the city sewer3. Parmer County's rules cover only land outside the city4. We could not confirm a general residential building-permit rule, so call City Hall before you start.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: the city is divided into districts with a zoning map15
Building code
2012 International Residential Code for houses2
Building permit
Not confirmed for houses; the city sells permits at City Hall6
Septic
Unlawful inside city limits; city sewer required3
RV living
Not confirmed; ask City Hall1
Wells
Not confirmed inside the city; High Plains water district permits large wells countywide7
Owner-builder
Texas lets owners do their own electrical and plumbing work on a homestead without a state license8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Friona City Hall (permits)

City permits for work inside Friona city limits; permits are bought in person at the City Office

(806) 250-2761

[email protected]

623 North Main Street, Friona, TX, 79035

Codes & inspections

City of Friona Public Works Director (inspections)

Inspections of work done inside the city, and water and sewer infrastructure

(806)250-2761

[email protected]

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

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Friona, Texas have zoning?

Yes. The City of Friona zones the entire area inside its limits into districts, and the zoning article is part of the city's code of ordinances1. The city is divided into six districts, shown on a zoning map that the city publishes on its website5. Land annexed into the city is held to the A District restrictions until the city amends them5.

In the A Single Family Dwelling District, a house needs a front yard of at least 25 feet, with an exception when half or more of the block's frontage is already built up9. Side yards must be at least 5 feet each9. Dwellings in the A District may reach 45 feet or three stories only when two side yards of at least 15 feet are provided10. A detached accessory building, including servants' quarters, has its own distance rules, and servants' quarters cannot be rented out to the general public11.

We could not confirm what Friona's zoning says about RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or minimum house size. Ask the City Office at (806) 250-2761 before you plan any of those6.

Do you need a building permit in Friona, and who issues it?

The City of Friona, not Parmer County, handles construction inside city limits. Friona has adopted the 2012 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses of up to three stories, and the 2012 International Building Code for other buildings2. The city sells its permits in person at City Hall, and the cost varies with the job and the amount of work6.

We could not confirm a general residential building-permit requirement, an inspection schedule or an owner-builder exemption in the city's code. Treat a permit as likely and ask the City Office before you pour a slab or hire a crew6. For inspections, the city directs people to City Hall or its Public Works Director12.

Permit fees are set under the city's municipal code, and starting work before the necessary permits are in hand brings fees13. We did not find a full fee schedule, so ask for the current one.

How do septic permits work inside Friona?

They do not. It is unlawful to build or use a septic tank or other sanitary sewer system within Friona city limits, and everyone inside the limits must use the sanitary sewer service the City of Friona operates314. A buyer who wants an off-grid septic system inside the city is out of luck15.

The Texas septic permit system still governs land outside the city. Septic systems in Texas need a permit to construct, alter or repair16. Parmer County's septic authority is a separate question from the city's, and a lot just beyond the city line follows the county and state process rather than the city sewer rule17.

For sewer connection questions, ask the City Office or the Public Works Director, who oversees the city's water and waste infrastructure12.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Friona?

We could not confirm it. Friona's zoning code defines trailer camps, but the provisions we reviewed do not establish which districts allow RVs or how long a stay may last, and we found no city rule on tiny homes, temporary camping or manufactured homes1. Because Friona zones all land inside the city, the answer depends on the district of the lot5.

Call the City Office at (806) 250-2761 with the street address and ask which district the lot is in and whether an RV, tiny home or manufactured home is allowed there6. Do not assume the county's silence on zoning applies; Parmer County has adopted no county zoning, but that covers only land outside the city4.

Building a home in Friona: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the City Office which zoning district the lot is in, and read the setbacks and height limits for that district56.
  2. Confirm the sewer connection. Septic is not an option inside the city3.
  3. Ask the City Office what permits your plans need and what they cost; permits are bought at City Hall6.
  4. Design to the 2012 International Residential Code as Friona has adopted it2.
  5. If your lot sits on a state highway, apply to TxDOT for a driveway permit before any right-of-way work18.
  6. Request inspections through City Hall or the Public Works Director12.
  7. If you subdivide, the city's plat procedure applies19.

What stays with Parmer County, and what to check before you buy

Inside Friona, the city decides zoning and construction codes. Parmer County's answers apply to land outside the city; see the Parmer County page for unincorporated land4.

Water: Parmer County lies entirely within the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, which requires a permit before drilling any well expected to produce 17.5 gallons per minute or more7. We could not confirm a city rule on private wells inside Friona.

Costs and climate, at the county level: Parmer County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%20, and the county averages 18.6 inches of precipitation a year21. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 72 miles from the county center22.

Watch-outs

  • Septic tanks are unlawful inside Friona city limits, so budget for the sewer connection rather than a septic system3.
  • We could not confirm whether Friona requires a building permit for a house or what the fees are; call the City Office at (806) 250-2761 before work starts6.
  • Friona adopted the 2012 International Residential Code, an older edition, and the electrical chapters of that code are excluded2.
  • Parmer County's lack of county zoning does not carry into Friona city limits; the city's own zoning applies there1.

Sources

  1. Chapter 14: Zoning - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article 3.200: Codes Adopted - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  3. Article 13.200: Sewer System - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  4. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  5. Chapter 14: Zoning - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Friona City Hall (permits) (cityoffriona.com)
  7. Elections - High Plains Underground Water Conservation District #1, quoted and re-checked
  8. Exemptions to Electrician Licensing (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 14: Zoning - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 14: Zoning - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  11. ecode360.com (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Friona Public Works Director (inspections) (cityoffriona.com)
  13. Article 3.200: Codes Adopted - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article 13.200: Sewer System - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  15. Article 13.200: Sewer System - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  16. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System, quoted and re-checked
  18. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 10: Subdivision Regulation - City of Friona, TX (Friona), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Friona

Friona’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in Friona city.

    • The adopted 2012 International Residential Code excludes Part VIII electrical Chapters 34–43 and includes Appendix J.
    • Other buildings and structures under city jurisdiction are governed by the adopted 2012 International Building Code, subject to stated amendments.

    International Residential Code edition: 2012 (Excludes Part VIII electrical Chapters 34–43; includes Appendix J)

    “There is hereby adopted the International Residential Code, 2012 edition (as published by the International Code Council), excluding part VIII electrical (chapters 34–43), and including appendix J, copies of which shall be maintained by the building official, with the following amendments in subsection (c) below.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Friona city limits.

    • Zoning regulates land use by district.
    “The purpose of this article is to zone the entire area of the City of Friona into districts as made and provided by Articles 1011-a to and including 1011-j of Chapter 4, Title 28 of Vernon’s Annotated Texas Statutes, 1925 as amended, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, for the purpose of promoting health safety, morals, and the welfare of the general public.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Friona city limits.

    • District boundaries are shown on the zoning map, which is made part of the zoning article.
    • Annexed territory is subject to A District restrictions until changed by amendment.

    number of zoning districts: 6

    “In order to restrict and regulate the different land use, the City of Friona, Texas, is hereby divided into different classes of districts, of which there shall be six (6), known and designated as:”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Servants’ quarters and other accessory buildings in the A Single Family Dwelling District.

    • A detached accessory building must meet the stated 80-foot front, five-foot other-street, and three-foot inside-lot-line distances.
    • Servants’ quarters may not be leased or rented except to the family of a bona fide servant giving more than 50 percent of time to the occupying family.
    “Accessory buildings, including servants’ quarters and private garages are permitted, provided such building, if detached from the main building, shall not be located nearer than 80 feet from the front lot line nor less than 5 feet from any other street line no less than 3 feet from either inside lot line. The servants’ quarters shall not be leased or rented to anyone other than the family of a bona fide servant giving more than 50 percent of his or her time to the family occupying the premises.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Sanitary sewage disposal inside Friona city limits.

    • Use of septic tanks or other sanitary sewer systems within city limits is unlawful.
    • Users must use the City of Friona sanitary sewer service and comply with the article and Texas law.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity to construct or cause to be constructed and/or to use any septic tank or other sanitary sewer system with the city limits of the City of Friona.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Use of septic tanks or other sanitary sewer systems inside Friona city limits.

    • This prohibition applies within city limits; city sanitary sewer service must be used.
    “All persons, firms, corporations or other legal entities located within or operating within the city limits of the City of Friona are hereby required to use only the sanitary sewer service operated by the City of Friona, and to comply with all provisions regarding such use as set out in this article and the laws of the State of Texas.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Persons and entities located or operating within Friona city limits.

    • The requirement is to use only the sanitary sewer service operated by the City of Friona.
    • The ordinance also requires compliance with the article and Texas law.
    “All persons, firms, corporations or other legal entities located within or operating within the city limits of the City of Friona are hereby required to use only the sanitary sewer service operated by the City of Friona, and to comply with all provisions regarding such use as set out in this article and the laws of the State of Texas.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside Friona city limits.

    • The adopted code provides for plat submission, plat-approval procedure, preliminary review, final approval, and improvement requirements.
    “Chapter 10 Subdivision Regulation [...] § 10.101 Submission of Plats. [...] § 10.103 Procedure for Plat Approval. [...] § 10.105 Final Plat Approval.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Fuel-gas and mechanical permit work inside Friona city limits.

    • The adopted code directs that fees are as provided in the municipal code; an exact fee schedule was not located in the opened material.
    • Beginning work before obtaining necessary permits is subject to fees under the municipal code.
    “106.6.1 Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on an installation before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to fees as provided in chapter 4-1 of the municipal code of ordinances. 106.6.2 Fee schedule. Fees as provided in the municipal code of ordinances.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Fuel-gas and mechanical installation work inside Friona city limits.

    • The opened code establishes that necessary permits must be obtained before work commences but does not provide a complete application process in the opened material.
    “106.5.1 Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on a mechanical system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to fees as provided in the municipal code of ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside Friona

Friona does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    A Single Family Dwelling District inside Friona city limits.

    • If 50 percent or more of property on one side of the street within the block is improved with buildings, the front-yard depth need not exceed the average front-yard depth of the existing buildings.
    • For dwelling purposes, the rear yard must be at least 20 percent of lot depth but need not exceed 30 feet.
    • Two side yards are required; combined width is at least 20 percent of lot width, need not exceed 12 feet, and neither may be under five feet.

    front setback: >= 25 ft (Average-existing-front-yard exception stated in § 14.213(a)) · minimum side setback: >= 5 ft (Each side yard)

    “In the “A” Districts, there shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet, measured from the front property line of the lot to the front line of the building, covered porch or terrace or attached accessory building; however, if fifty percent (50%) or more of the property on one side of a street within the block is improved with building, the required front yard depth need not exceed the average front yard depth of the existing building.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    A Single Family Dwelling District inside Friona city limits.

    • A dwelling may reach 45 feet or three stories only when two side yards of at least 15 feet each are provided.

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft (Or two and one-half stories; stated dwelling exception applies) · maximum stories: <= 2½ stories (May increase to three stories under stated side-yard condition)

    “The height of a building in “A” and “B” Districts shall not exceed thirty-five feet (35') or two and one half (2½) stories and the heights of building in the “C” or “D” Districts shall not exceed forty-five feet (45') or three (3) stories. In the “A” and “B” Districts the heights of dwellings may be increased to forty-five feet (45') or three (3) stories when two (2) side yards of not less than fifteen (15) feet each are provided.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside Friona city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Friona city limits.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside Friona city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Friona city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Friona city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Friona publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Parmer County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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