Bolthole Index

San Patricio County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mathis, Texas

Mathis is a city in San Patricio County, Texas. Mathis adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Mathis’s rules apply, not the county’s. 3 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 12, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the San Patricio County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Mathis

Mathis’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Mathis city limits

    • The city page lists 2009 ICC editions and NEC 2008; may be outdated relative to the code actually adopted by ordinance.

    building code: IBC 2009 · plumbing code: IPC 2009 · electrical code: NEC 2008 NFPA 70

    “current codes to follow are as followed: building – ibc 2009 mechanical – imc 2009 plumbing - ipc 2009 electrical - nec 2008 nfpa 70.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Mathis city limits

    • Evidence is the city's ordinance listing of amendments to its zoning ordinance and zoning map; the full zoning ordinance text was not opened.
    “ordinance no. o-21-12-03 amending zoning ordinance of b-1 exhibit a ordinance no. o-21-01-04 amending zoning map”
  • Permit processPartial

    Permit applications inside Mathis city

    • Applications are listed for building/demolition, electrical, fence, mechanical, plumbing, signs, moving and others; submit by email, in person or mail to city hall.
    “please email pwadmin@cityofmathis.com for applications items listed below.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Mathis or San Patricio County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Mathis city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Mathis city
  • Inspections — Inspections inside Mathis city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Mathis city
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Mathis city
22 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Mathis publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. San Patricio County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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