Bolthole Index

Randall County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Lake Tanglewood, Texas

The Village of Lake Tanglewood, Texas (Randall County) requires a building permit for a new home, and the village has its own zoning districts12. Septic permits come from the Amarillo Area Public Health District, not the village3. New homes must be at least 1,750 square feet4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; permit in hand one day before construction1
Zoning
Village zoning districts (Chapter 14)2
Septic
Bi-city-county health department approval and permit3
RV living
Limited to 7 days at a time, 30 days a year5
Mobile homes
Unlawful as a residence6
Minimum home size
1,750 square feet4
Setbacks
25 ft front, 5 ft side7
Permit fee
$95 minimum, then $0.25 per square foot8

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Lake Tanglewood village office (part time)

Building permit plans and applications inside Lake Tanglewood village limits

806-622-8711

[email protected]

Septic permits

Amarillo Area Public Health District (City of Amarillo Environmental Health)

Septic (OSSF) permit applications, plan review and inspections

806-378-9472

[email protected]

Simms Municipal Building, Suite 275, 808 S Buchanan St, Amarillo, TX 79101

Roads & driveways

Randall County Road & Bridge

Floodplain Development Permits and county driveway permits for unincorporated Randall County

806-655-3861

301 W Highway 60, Canyon, TX 79015

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 Village of Lake Tanglewood means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Lake Tanglewood have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

The Village of Lake Tanglewood has its own zoning, codified in Chapter 14 of the village code, which creates several zoned districts2. Randall County does not zone, so the village code is the zoning that applies here9.

A residence in the village must have a front setback of at least 25 feet from the original roadway pavement edge, and at least 5 feet of side setback, with attached garages counted in the side setback7. Buildings may cover no more than 75% of the land an engineering firm certifies as buildable710.

New homes in Lake Tanglewood must be at least 1,750 square feet, not counting porches, garages and patios4. We could not confirm a minimum lot size, a general height limit or a tiny-home rule; ask the village office.

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

Yes. The Village of Lake Tanglewood requires a homeowner to obtain a building permit and have it in hand one day before construction begins1. The village office takes two sets of plans and scaled drawings at least seven days before groundbreaking11. The plat must show all setbacks and be certified by a registered public surveyor11.

The village applies the 2015 International Residential Code to one- and two-family homes, exempting its energy-efficiency and plumbing standards, and village regulations win any conflict12. The fee is a $95 minimum plus $0.25 per square foot of new construction, and card payments add 3%8.

The village office is part time; reach it at 806-622-871113. We could not confirm a general inspection rule or a certificate of occupancy requirement.

How do septic permits work inside Lake Tanglewood?

Septic plans for any building in Lake Tanglewood must first be approved in writing by the bi-city-county health department of Amarillo and Randall County, and a permit obtained before waste is discharged3. In practice the Amarillo Area Public Health District permits and inspects septic systems in Randall County14.

Randall County's lot-size rule is 1 acre with a private well and one-half acre with public water, with possible exceptions for lots platted before 198815. State law also has a 10-acre exemption that applies only if every listed condition is met16.

Portable or chemical toilets are allowed only temporarily, for work crews building approved construction17. We could not confirm village rules on private wells; ask the village office.

Can you live in an RV or mobile home in Lake Tanglewood?

Not for long. It is unlawful to use a mobile home, house trailer, motor home or other mobile residence as a temporary or permanent residence inside Lake Tanglewood village limits6.

The one exception is a lot owner or resident parking a vacation trailer or motor home on their own property with adequate sanitary conditions, off any public road, for no more than 7 days at a time and 30 days in one year5. Living in an RV on your lot while you build is therefore not an option in the village. We could not confirm a rule on tiny homes or short-term rentals.

Building a home in Lake Tanglewood: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot is inside village limits, and that an engineering firm deems it buildable10.
  2. Get septic plans approved and permitted by the Amarillo Area Public Health District314.
  3. Have a registered public surveyor certify a plat showing lot corners and setbacks11.
  4. Submit two sets of plans to the village office at least seven days before groundbreaking1113.
  5. Pay the permit fee and hold the permit one day before construction starts81.
  6. Build to at least 1,750 square feet with the required setbacks47.

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

The village decides building permits and zoning inside its limits; Randall County's own rules apply to land outside them. For unincorporated land, see the Randall County page.

Floodplain development permits are a county matter: Randall County requires a Class A or Class B Floodplain Development Permit for development, and residential development is prohibited in an identified floodway18. Randall County Road & Bridge handles that office19. Randall County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%20.

Watch-outs

  • Randall County's rules apply only to unincorporated land; inside Lake Tanglewood the village's building permit and zoning rules govern19.
  • The village office is part time, so call 806-622-8711 early in your planning13.
  • We could not confirm a minimum lot size, a building height limit or a driveway permit rule in the village; ask the village office before you buy13.

Sources

  1. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 14 Zoning (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  3. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  4. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  5. ecode360.com (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  6. ecode360.com (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  7. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  8. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  9. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  10. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  11. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  12. ARTICLE 3.03 Technical Codes and Standards (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Lake Tanglewood village office (part time) (laketanglewood.org)
  14. Amarillo Area Public Health District (City of Amarillo Environmental Health) (amarillo.gov)
  15. On-Site Sewage Facility, quoted and re-checked
  16. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. ARTICLE 3.02 Village Building Code (Village of Lake Tanglewood), quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  19. Randall County Road & Bridge (randallcounty.gov)
  20. Effective property tax rate: 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 Village of Lake Tanglewood

Village of Lake Tanglewood’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Homeowners intending to build inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The permit must be in hand one day before construction begins.
    • Plans and scaled drawings must be submitted at least seven days before groundbreaking or alteration.
    • The permit expires one year after issuance; no more than two years are allowed to complete construction.

    advance possession of permit: >= 1 day before construction

    “A homeowner intending to build must obtain a building permit and have it in-hand one day before construction begins.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories high inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The village exempts IRC energy-efficiency and plumbing standards.
    • For conflicts between the IRC and village building regulations, village regulations govern.

    International Residential Code edition: 2015 (One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories high.) · International Building Code edition: 2015 (Structures not described within the IRC.)

    “International Residential Code, 2015 edition”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Village zoning is codified in Chapter 14.
    “There are and shall be hereby created and ordained several zoned districts of the village which are hereinafter described in alphabetical order.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    All new residential buildings inside Lake Tanglewood village limits, including District A single-family residences.

    • Open porches, garages, patios, and other attached or detached structures are excluded from the measurement.
    • Existing undersized residences may be altered if they remain below 1,750 square feet before and after the work.

    minimum residential building area: >= 1750 square feet (Excludes open porches, garages, patios, and other attached or detached structures.)

    “All new residential buildings shall consist of a minimum of 1,750 square feet, exclusive of open porches, garages, patios and other attached or detached structures, and such measurement shall be determined from outer walls to outer walls.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential structures inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The front setback is measured from the original roadway pavement edge.
    • Attached garages and other attached buildings are included in the side setback.

    front setback: >= 25 feet (Any building used for residential purposes.) · side setback: >= 5 feet (Residential structures, attached garages, and other attached buildings.)

    “Any building used for residential purposes shall have and maintain a front lot setback of a minimum of 25 feet from any part of the structure to the original roadway pavement edge.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residential structures inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The property must be deemed buildable by an acceptable certified engineering firm.
    • All setbacks must be respected.

    maximum buildable-property coverage: <= 75 percent (Property deemed buildable by an acceptable certified engineering firm.)

    “A homeowner may construct buildings on only 75% of his property that is deemed buildable by an acceptable, certified engineering firm, and shall respect all setbacks.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Vacation trailers and motor homes parked on private property inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Parking must have adequate sanitary conditions.
    • The vehicle may not be parked on a public road or right-of-way.
    • Occupancy is capped at seven days at one time and 30 days in one year.

    maximum consecutive occupancy: <= 7 days · maximum annual occupancy: <= 30 days per year

    “Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the owner of a lot from parking his vacation house trailer or motor home on his property; further, nothing herein shall prohibit the owner or occupant of a residence from parking his own or his guests’ vacation trailer or motor home upon his own property as long as adequate sanitary conditions are provided and as long as such parking is not upon any public road or right-of-way and shall not be occupied by the member of [or] his guest in excess of seven (7) days at any one time or thirty (30) days in one year.”
  • Manufactured homesProhibited

    Mobile homes, house trailers, motor homes, and other mobile or transportable residences inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Private-property parking of vacation trailers and motor homes remains subject to the separate limited exception in § 14.02.003(b).
    “It shall be unlawful to use any mobile home, house trailer, motor home or any other type of mobile or transportable residence as a place of either temporary or permanent abode or residence inside the boundaries and limits of the village.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage systems serving any building or structure inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Plans, location and elevation information must first be approved in writing by the bi-city-county health department of Amarillo and Randall County.
    • A department permit is required before discharge of waste.
    “It is required that septic tanks and all drainfield planning therefor, as well as the location and elevation plans and specifications, shall be presented, in every instance, to the bi-city-county health department of the City of Amarillo and Randall County, and first approved in writing by the department and a permit obtained for any building or structure of any nature from which any waste of any kind may be discharged.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Any building or structure from which waste may be discharged inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The bi-city-county health department of Amarillo and Randall County must first approve the submitted septic and drainfield plans in writing.
    “It is required that septic tanks and all drainfield planning therefor, as well as the location and elevation plans and specifications, shall be presented, in every instance, to the bi-city-county health department of the City of Amarillo and Randall County, and first approved in writing by the department and a permit obtained for any building or structure of any nature from which any waste of any kind may be discharged.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Portable or chemical sanitation facilities inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • The facility must be approved by the bi-city-county health department.
    • It may be used only temporarily for work personnel erecting building-committee-approved construction.
    • It must be removed intact when the project is complete.
    “No such facility for waste disposal herein described shall be used anywhere within the village except temporarily, and only for the purpose of meeting the sanitary needs of work personnel while erecting buildings the construction of which has been approved by the building committee.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Village building permits inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Fees are approved by the governing body.
    • Credit- or debit-card payments add a 3% processing fee.
    • A variance fee is $50 nonrefundable and must be paid at least 24 hours before submission.

    minimum building-permit fee: >= 95 USD (Nonrefundable.) · new-construction fee after minimum: per 0.25 USD per square foot (Includes boathouses.) · card processing fee: 3 percent (Credit or debit card payment.)

    “Permits for construction of buildings shall be charged the fee currently in effect and approved by the governing body. This fee shall be calculated based on the square footage of building coverage, including patios, garages, and outbuildings.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.

    • Two sets of plans and complete scaled drawings must be presented to the village office at least seven days before groundbreaking or alteration.
    • Plans must include a plat showing structures and all setbacks.
    • The plat must clearly identify lot corners and be certified by a registered public surveyor as a condition of approval.

    plan-submission lead time: >= 7 days before groundbreaking (Also applies before commencement of an alteration.)

    “At least seven (7) days before groundbreaking of any structure or the commencement of any alteration of or to any structure, the owner shall present two sets of plans and a complete set of scaled drawings of such structure or alteration to the village office.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Lake Tanglewood or Randall County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.
  • Inspections — General residential construction inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.
  • Building height — Principal residential buildings inside Lake Tanglewood village limits.
9 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Village of Lake Tanglewood publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Randall County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Randall County: county rules, score and offices