Real County, TX Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Unincorporated Real County, Texas has no general building-permit requirement and no county zoning office, and Texas law gives Real County no zoning authority over unincorporated land¹²³. There is one countywide catch: every new structure, addition, manufactured home or travel trailer needs a floodplain Exemption Certificate (outside the mapped floodplain) or Elevation Certificate (inside it) before you build, and skipping it is a Class C misdemeanor⁴⁵. Septic runs through Real County itself, TCEQ's own listed local agent for the entire county (with the Nueces River Authority also serving a 4-mile radius around the courthouse), administered through the County Judge's office; soils here are a serious hurdle, with fewer than 1% of the county's soils free of severe limits for a conventional drain field⁶⁷⁸.

At a glance

Building permit: No general building permit, but a floodplain Exemption or Elevation Certificate is required for every new structure countywide¹⁴
Zoning: No countywide zoning ordinance or office²
RV, tiny home & manufactured home living: Unrestricted on ordinary parcels; approved undersized subdivision lots are commercial-use only and bar overnight lodging³⁹
Septic permit: Required countywide; Real County itself is TCEQ's listed local agent, administered through the County Judge's office⁶⁷
Septic soil suitability: Only 0.8% of county soils have no severe limitation for a conventional drain field⁸
Subdivision minimum lot size: 10 acres with an individual well and septic system; smaller with public water or sewer¹⁰
Floodplain permit fee: $50 Exemption Certificate outside the floodplain; $100 Elevation Certificate inside it¹¹

Who to call

Also useful

Real County Courthouse (Office of the County Judge)

County Judge and general county administration; the office to start with for any land-use question, since Real County has no building, planning or zoning department

(830) 232-5304

146 Highway 83 South, Leakey, TX 78873

Floodplain permits

Real County Flood Plain Coordinator

Reviews, approves or denies development permit applications (Exemption or Elevation Certificate) for all new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers and subdivision proposals in Real County

(830) 279-5822

P.O. Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873

Septic permits

Real County Judge's Office

OSSF (septic) permitting for Real County; TCEQ's own authorized-agent lookup lists Real County (entire county) as a local agent, alongside the Nueces River Authority for a 4-mile radius around the courthouse, and the County Judge's office is the county's land-use office

830-232-5304

[email protected]

Real County Courthouse, PO Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873

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

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

Real County has no general building-permit or inspection department, and Texas counties generally lack the authority to require one in unincorporated areas¹. There's an important exception that catches nearly everyone: county orders require a development permit, in the form of an Exemption Certificate for a site outside the mapped floodplain or an Elevation Certificate for a site inside it, before you build new construction, an addition, a manufactured home or a travel trailer anywhere in the county⁴. Skipping that step is treated as skipping a building permit outright; the county's own order calls the requirement a "Building Permit (Exemption or Elevation Certificate)" and makes failing to apply for it a Class C misdemeanor with possible monetary penalties⁴. Budget accordingly: the Exemption Certificate costs $50 and the Elevation Certificate costs $100¹¹.

Who handles building and floodplain permits in Real County?

The Real County Flood Plain Coordinator reviews, approves or denies every development-permit application in the county, covering new construction, additions, manufactured homes, travel trailers and subdivision proposals⁵. That office operates out of the Real County Courthouse in Leakey, the same building that houses the County Judge and the rest of county government, which is the right first call for any other land-use question since there's no separate building or planning department¹².

Does Real County have zoning?

Real County has no zoning ordinance or planning office; the county's official site shows subdivision and development rules, not zoning, and Texas law grants county zoning authority only to a handful of specific, narrowly defined areas elsewhere in the state, none of which include Real County². Because the county has no zoning authority, there's no county minimum dwelling size, no setback rule, no lot-coverage limit and no building-height limit, and Real County has not published zoning districts³. Accessory dwellings, RVs, tiny homes and manufactured homes are unrestricted by county rule on an ordinary parcel³. The one carve-out is inside Real County's own platted subdivisions: an approved "under-sized" lot there may be used only for commercial purposes, and the county's subdivision rules specifically bar anyone from lodging, sleeping or living on one for even a single night⁹. That same under-sized-lot restriction also bars short-term or transient rentals, listing everything from a mobile-home park to a bed and breakfast as prohibited uses¹³.

How do septic permits work in Real County?

A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend or repair an on-site sewage facility (OSSF) anywhere in Texas, and TCEQ's own authorized-agent lookup lists Real County itself as the local agent countywide, with the Nueces River Authority also serving as an agent within 4 miles of the courthouse; the county's program is administered through the County Judge's office⁶⁷. Soils are the central challenge here: USDA data rates only about 0.8% of Real County's soils as free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so plan on an engineered or alternative system and a site evaluation for nearly any parcel⁸. A single-family home on a tract of 10 acres or more can qualify for Texas's 10-acre OSSF exemption if it also meets every other condition: a licensed site evaluator's or engineer's evaluation, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, every part of the system at least 100 feet from the property line, effluent kept on the property, and no other dwelling on the tract¹⁴. If you're buying inside one of the county's platted subdivisions, lot size itself tracks water and sewer service: 10 acres with an individual well and OSSF, 1 acre with public water and an individual OSSF, or half an acre with both public water and public sewer¹⁰.

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

Yes, on an ordinary parcel: because Real County has no zoning authority, RV, tiny-home and manufactured-home occupancy on your own private land is unrestricted by any county rule³. That freedom narrows inside the county's platted subdivisions if your lot was approved as an "under-sized" lot: those lots are restricted to commercial use only, and the subdivision rules explicitly prohibit lodging, sleeping or living there, whether or not money changes hands, for even one night⁹. Whatever you place on an ordinary parcel, once it's plumbed it still needs an OSSF permit through the County Judge's office, Real County's own listed TCEQ agent, and given how limited local soils are, get a site evaluation before you commit⁷⁸.

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

Confirm the parcel is outside Leakey, Camp Wood or any other incorporated town, and check whether it sits in an approved subdivision with its own under-sized-lot restrictions⁹.
Contact the Real County Flood Plain Coordinator before you build; every new structure needs an Exemption Certificate ($50, outside the mapped floodplain) or an Elevation Certificate ($100, inside it)⁵¹¹.
Before you buy, get a septic site evaluation; only about 0.8% of the county's soils carry no severe limitation for a conventional system⁸⁷.
Apply for your OSSF permit through the Real County Judge's office, the county's listed TCEQ agent, before installing any septic system, or confirm you qualify for the 10-acre exemption⁷¹⁴.
If you'll drill a well, register it with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District; a well capable of more than 25,000 gallons a day on a tract of 10 acres or less generally needs an Operating Permit before it can be used¹⁵.
For anything else, including confirming subdivision rules on your specific lot, start with the Real County Courthouse¹².

What to check before you buy land in Real County

Water is the headline issue twice over: septic soils are severely limited (only 0.8% of the county carries no severe limitation for a conventional drain field), and any well needs to be registered, and possibly permitted, with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District⁸¹⁵. Real County is drought-prone, with severe drought in roughly 40.7% of years, even though the terrain is mostly workable, with about 71.3% of land at 15% slope or less and 62.7% wooded¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸. There's no federal land in the county to navigate around, but if your parcel is in a platted subdivision, check whether it's an approved under-sized lot before assuming you can live on it¹⁹⁹. It's rural and remote: about 4.1 people per square mile and roughly 81 miles from the nearest metro area, and a typical home insurance premium here runs about $1,991 a year²⁰²¹²². Before you close, ask the Real County Flood Plain Coordinator whether the parcel needs an Exemption or Elevation Certificate, since that determines both your permit cost and whether you'll need an elevation survey⁵.

Watch-outs

Real County's floodplain order uses the phrase "Building Permit (Exemption or Elevation Certificate)" for its development-permit requirement; don't confuse this countywide floodplain paperwork with a general building-code permit, which Real County does not have⁴.
We could not confirm whether Real County has adopted a building code, requires building inspections, or offers an owner-builder exemption; no official county source addresses these directly, so confirm with the Real County Courthouse before you build¹.

Sources

Written September 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.

How Real County scores

Seclusion90100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency3996% ev.

Admin Boringness8790% ev.

Durability23100% ev.

Property Autonomy71100% ev.

Carry Cost78100% 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 →

$289kTypical home

$1,994Land / acre

27.4"Annual rain

40.7% of yrsSevere drought

21.6 / yr (+17.5)Mid-century 100°F days

29.1 daysMid-century dry spell

2.24" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.37×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,991Home insurance / yr

0.8% / yrInsurance growth

0%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

183,082People within 2 hr

2,217Radius comparison (15 mi)

4.1People / sq mi

0%Federal land

71.3%Land at 15% slope or less

0.8%Septic soil without severe limits

3,080 acWorkable land screen

62.7%Wooded land

13.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac

66.2°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Real County

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

Real County rules

Zoning districts · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 sizeSpecified
Subdivision lots in Real County, including lots in the county's unincorporated areas, subject to the applicable water and sewage service configuration.
- The minimum acreage requirements do not apply to combining two or more lots that are part of an existing platted subdivision approved by Commissioners Court and recorded with the County Clerk.
- A lot served by both an individual water-supply well and an individual OSSF requires 10 acres and 200 feet of road/street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
- A lot served by public water and an individual OSSF requires 1 acre and 150 feet of main-lot street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
- A lot served by public water and public sewage disposal requires one-half acre and 100 feet of main-lot access-road/street frontage, except that cul-de-sac and cul-de-sac-corner frontage follows Section 8.1.4.
- Any lot on the turn-around of a cul-de-sac or cul-de-sac corner requires 50 feet chord length.
- An undersized lot may be approved case by case only for exclusive commercial use, with recorded and plat-face commercial-use restrictions; it may not be used for residential purposes.
minimum lot size: 10 acres (Individual water-supply well and individual OSSF) · minimum road/street frontage: 200 feet (Individual water-supply well and individual OSSF; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum lot size: 1 acre (Public water supply and individual OSSF) · minimum main lot street frontage: 150 feet (Public water supply and individual OSSF; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum lot size: 0.5 acre (Public water supply and public sewage disposal system) · minimum main lot access road/street frontage: 100 feet (Public water supply and public sewage disposal system; cul-de-sac exceptions apply) · minimum cul-de-sac or cul-de-sac-corner frontage: 50 feet chord length
“Any Subdivision Lot which is served by both an individual water supply well and an individual on-site sewage system (OSSF) shall have a minimum Lot size of ten acres.”
Real County, Texas, Subdivision and Land Development Rules and Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Setbacks · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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
Lot coverage · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 landProhibited
Temporary camping or overnight lodging in a trailer, tent, or other structure on an approved under-sized lot in unincorporated Real County.
- Applies only to an under-sized lot approved under section 8.1.5.
- The prohibition covers lodging, sleeping, living, abiding, or dwelling for a single night or more, whether or not a charge is made.
- The rules govern unincorporated areas and do not apply inside corporate city limits except where an interlocal agreement exists.
- Any variance requires Commissioners' Court action on a formal agenda item.
“Any approved Under-sized lot, and any and all structures located thereon, shall be used exclusively for commercial purposes and activities, and in no event shall the Under-sized Lot and/or any Structure on an Under-sized Lot be used for residential purposes as defined herein. As used herein "residential purposes" is to be given the broadest definition possible and includes without limitation the act by one or more persons of lodging, sleeping, living, abiding or dwelling for a single night or more”
REAL County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Tiny homes · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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 homes · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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
Accessory dwellings · by state lawNo county rule
Unincorporated Real County: no county rule sets this, because Texas law gives zoning power only to certain counties, and Real County has no zoning ordinance. The county legal census found no county zoning ordinance, citing co.real.tx.us.
- 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
Well permitLimited
Water wells in Real County within the jurisdiction of the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District.
- All new wells must be registered with the District and approved before drilling.
- District staff determine whether a proposed well is exempt.
- If the proposed well is nonexempt, an Operating Permit must be obtained before drilling or producing.
- The District's rules state that nonexempt wells must be permitted before drilling or operation.
- Exemptions include, among others, certain domestic or livestock wells on tracts larger than 10 acres incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day, and specified excluded wells on lots of 10 acres or less.
domestic/livestock exempt-tract threshold: > 10 acres (well must be incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day and used solely for domestic use or livestock/poultry) · domestic/livestock exempt production capacity: <= 25000 gallons/day (applies to the stated exemption) · small-lot excluded-well production capacity: <= 25000 gallons/day (one well per lot, five or fewer qualifying households, domestic use only) · alluvial well on tract of 10 acres or less production limit: <= 10 gallons/minute (as required by District Rule 13.4.2)
“All new wells and wells existing in the District on or before the effective date of these rules must be registered with the District.”
Real Edwards Groundwater Rules ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Building in a floodplainRequired
New construction, additions to existing structures, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals subject to Real County floodplain orders.
- Development outside the flood plain requires an Exemption Certificate.
- Development within the flood plain requires an Elevation Certificate.
- Failure to apply for a Building Permit, Exemption or Elevation Certificate constitutes a violation of the Court Order.
- The source states that failure may result in a Class C Misdemeanor, monetary penalties, and potentially a civil lawsuit seeking to enjoin further noncompliance.
outside-floodplain permit document: Exemption Certificate · within-floodplain permit document: Elevation Certificate
“failure to apply for a Building Permit (Exemption or Elevation Certificate) constitutes a violation”
Real County Flood Plain Ordinance Changes ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Short-term rentalsProhibited
Transient lodging and rental of structures for residential purposes on an approved under-sized lot governed by Real County subdivision rules.
- The restriction applies to an approved under-sized lot subject to the commercial-use-only restriction.
- The rule defines residential purposes broadly to include lodging, sleeping, living, abiding, or dwelling for a single night or more, whether or not there is a charge.
- The listed prohibited uses include an apartment, tourist court, mobile home park, trailer park, inn, lodging house, rooming house, bed and breakfast, motel, and hotel.
- Violations are subject to enforcement under the Real County Subdivision Land Development Rules and Regulations.
“Such use of an Under-sized lot and any Structure located thereon is not allowed but specifically prohibited.”
Real County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Real County floodplain-related development permits for new construction, additions to existing structures, manufactured homes, travel trailers, and subdivision proposals.
- An Exemption Certificate applies to development outside the flood plain.
- An Elevation Certificate applies to development within the flood plain.
- The cited source states these fees in the context of the Orders described there.
Exemption Certificate fee for development outside the flood plain: 50 USD · Elevation Certificate fee for development within the flood plain: 100 USD
“Exemption Certificate for development outside the flood plain: $50.00”
Real County Flood Plain Ordinance Changes ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Subdivision and development applications in the unincorporated areas of Real County.
- The rules have no force inside corporate city limits except where an interlocal agreement is in place.
- For land in an unincorporated area and also within a city's ETJ, applicants are subject to County regulation and should consult the County Engineer to determine which rules apply.
- Variances may be sought in specific hardship cases, but may only be granted by the Commissioners' Court on a formal agenda item.
“govern the unincorporated areas of Real County”
Real County, Texas, Subdivision Rules and Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
Building permitNot required
Texas counties have no general statutory authority to require residential building permits in unincorporated areas; Real County's official site lists no building/permit department (only subdivision regulations).
Real County, Texas official website ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked
County-wide zoningAbsent
Texas counties lack zoning authority in unincorporated areas; Real County's official site shows no planning/zoning department (it has subdivision rules only, not zoning).
Real County, Texas official website ↗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
Who permits septicMixed
On-site sewage facilities, including septic systems, throughout Texas
- In most areas, local governments act as TCEQ-authorized agents and administer the OSSF program.
- The TCEQ regional office is the permitting authority where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.
- Local permitting programs may be more stringent than state minimums.
“TCEQ is not often the OSSF permitting authority. [...] The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Septic permitLimited
Construction, installation, alteration, extension, repair, and operation of OSSFs in Texas, including Real County, subject to local permitting authority rules.
- A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.
- Local permitting programs can be more stringent than State minimums.
- The 10-acre exemption requires a site evaluation by a TCEQ-licensed Site Evaluator or Professional Engineer; a single-family dwelling on a tract of 10 acres or larger; no nuisance or groundwater pollution; all OSSF parts at least 100 feet from the property line; on-property effluent disposal; and the single-family dwelling must be the only dwelling on the tract.
- Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours after repairs begin.
- Grandfathered OSSFs may also be exempt under the conditions stated by TCEQ.
minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (single-family dwelling and all other listed conditions must be met) · minimum OSSF distance from property line for 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet · emergency repair reporting deadline: <= 72 hours (after repairs have begun)
“A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF.”
Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Construction, installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an OSSF in Texas
  “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. [...] An OSSF may be exempt from permitting if it complies with all other requirements, including planning, construction, and installation standards of 30 TAC 285 AND meets the “10 acre rule”:”
  Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Septic inspectionLimited
OSSF installation and, where applicable, maintenance inspections in Texas
- Authorized agents or their designated representatives inspect system installation.
- Some permitting authorities impose more stringent requirements.
- Maintenance-provider inspection and reporting requirements apply to systems and circumstances governed by 30 TAC §285.91(4).
- Electronic monitoring may reduce reporting to every six months where the stated monitoring conditions apply.
reduced maintenance reporting interval with qualifying electronic monitoring: 6 months (only where the system uses the specified electronic monitoring, automatic notification, and disinfection monitoring)
“Many times, the AA has a "designated representative" (DR) to assist them with their responsibilities, which include reviewing plans for constructing, altering, extending or repairing each OSSF; issuing permits; and inspecting system installation. [...] If the system uses an electronic monitor, automatic radio or telephone to notify the maintenance provider of system or component failure and to monitor the amount of disinfection in the system, reporting may be reduced to every six months.”
Basics for Septic Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Driveway accessRequired
New or modified access driveways connecting property to a Texas state highway right of way.
- A local public agency may receive access driveway permitting authority for state highways, but TxDOT approval remains required for drainage impacts on the state highway system before local approval.
- No access driveway is permitted within a flared or widened right-of-way section at an intersection of a state highway with another highway, road, or street.
- All entrances and exits, including radii, must be confined within the permittee's property frontage.
- One-way 45-to-90-degree driveways are permitted for connections to one-way frontage roads or lane-divided highways; otherwise the driveway angle must be 75 to 90 degrees.
- ADAAG and Texas Accessibility Standards apply.
private residential driveway maximum width: <= 24 feet (Except as increased by permissible radii.) · driveway-to-pavement radius: >= 15 feet
“A driveway must be constructed in accordance with a fully executed driveway permit”
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 — Owner-builder exemptions from Real County building-permit or building-inspection requirements.
Inspections — Building inspections in Real County.
Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Real County.
Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning within Real County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemptions from Real County minimum lot, subdivision, setback, lot-coverage, dwelling-size, or building-height rules.

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 Real County, Texas

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

Real County scores 59/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 2,217 people within 15 miles and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (27.4″/yr rainfall).

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

Real County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Real County (TCEQ authorized agent for on-site sewage). 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 Real County?

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

Land in Real County runs about $1,994 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Real County?

Real County gets about 27.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 40.7% of years.

How remote is Real County?

A typical private-land location has about 2,217 people within 15 miles and 3,187,429 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

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

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles building and floodplain permits in Real County?

Does Real County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Real County?

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

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

What to check before you buy land in Real County

Watch-outs

Sources

Real County in Texas

How Real County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Real County

Real County rules

Texas rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Real County, Texas

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

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

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

How much does land cost in Real County, Texas?

What is the water situation in Real County?

How remote is Real County?

How Real compares in Texas