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

Town of Bayside’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Bayside town

  • No permit for wallpapering, painting, replacing faucets or light fixtures or similar work
  • All buildings and manufactured homes must have permits prior to bringing them into the town
  • Separate building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits; homeowner permit if owner does the work
  • Permits expire six months after issue unless construction has started and continued

  “permits are required for new construction, structural additions or changes.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners building or repairing their own residence inside Bayside town

  • Exemption is from contractor licensing only, not from permits
  • Work must be to code and pass inspection
  • Homeowner permit required if work is done by the homeowner
  • Any subcontractors other than the owner must be licensed

  “a home owner who constructs or repairs his own residence or other property owned and operated by the owner is exempt from the licensing provision of this ordinance but it must be to code and pass inspection”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses inside Bayside town

  • Adopts the 2000 edition of the International Residential Code with appendix chapters A, B, C, E, G, H, I and J
  • An Ordinance 63-B amendment exists and was not reviewed
  • Commercial code is separate (Ordinance 68), not reviewed

  code edition: 2000 International Residential Code

  “an ordinance of town of bayside adopting the 2000 edition of the international residential code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Bayside town

  • Not required for storage buildings under 120 sq ft, porches, decks, re-roofing
  • Inspections made within 3 working days of request
  • Building that fails inspection when brought into town is declared substandard

  “each major phase of construction must be inspected by the inspector to make certain the work conforms to the code, the permit, and the approved plans.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and land inside Bayside town

  • Issued or refused in writing within five days of notice that building is ready
  • Rental certificate of occupancy required before occupying rental property
  • No permanent water, electric or garbage service before a certificate of occupancy; temporary service up to 90 days

  “no land or building shall be occupied or used and no building hereafter erected, altered, or extended shall be used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the city”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Bayside town limits

  • Town has a planning, zoning and sub-standard commission and an Ordinance 38 zoning PDF; that PDF exceeded the size limit and was not read, so the zoning text itself was not reviewed.

  “other phases may obtain building permits beyond the 18-month life span as long as each phase continues to conform to all zoning requirements in effect at the time of application for a building permit for each phase.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes brought into Bayside town

  • Permit required before the home is brought into town
  • Inspection required; a home that fails inspection is declared substandard
  • Zoning district placement rules (Ordinance 38, Ordinance 72-D) not reviewed

  “all buildings and manufactured homes must have permits prior to bringing them into the town.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  Small accessory structures inside Bayside town

  • Exemption is from inspection only; permits are listed as required for storage buildings, garages, carports, decks and porches
  • Inspections remain required for storage buildings over 120 sq ft, garages and carports

  storage building inspection threshold: < 120 square feet (porches, decks and re-roofing also exempt from inspection)

  “inspections are not required for storage buildings less than 120 square feet, porches, decks, and re-roofing.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways and culverts inside Bayside town

  • Permit required for concrete driveways and culverts under Ordinance 63
  • Separate driveway and culvert ordinance #25 and a driveway culvert application exist but were not read

  “concrete driveways, patios, and sidewalks storage buildings miscellaneous for residential (underground pools, porches, decks, fences, etc.) prefabricated structures commercial parking temporary buildings culverts”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits inside Bayside town

  • Fee amounts are in a linked PDF (revised building permit fees) that was not opened
  • Ordinance 63 says fees are set by the city council and may be adjusted annually
  • No permit fee for rebuilding an existing structure with unchanged square footage, but inspections and fees are required

  “the permit fee document is also attached for your convenience.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits inside Bayside town

  • Application needs site plan, floor plan and construction details
  • Forms may be emailed, mailed or delivered in person to the city office
  • City office open 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Monday to Friday

  “to obtain a permit for both residential and commercial uses, simply download the forms below (if available) or give us a call”

Still unanswered

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

• Zoning districts — Inside Bayside town
• Minimum dwelling size — Inside Bayside town
• Minimum lot size — Inside Bayside town
• Setbacks — Inside Bayside town
• Lot coverage — Inside Bayside town

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.