Bolthole Index

Shelby County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Center, Texas

Center, Texas requires a city building permit before any permanent structure goes up inside city limits, and the city has its own zoning ordinance with districts that set lot size, setbacks and height12. The city's Inspection Services office issues the permits3. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside Center, so ask the city and the TCEQ septic program before you buy4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before any permanent structure inside Center city limits1
Zoning
Yes, the City of Center adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance2
Plan review time
Up to 3 days for a new structure, longer for unusual or incomplete plans5
Building code
International Building, Plumbing and Fire Codes plus the National Electrical Code6
Single-family lot in SF-1
7,500 square feet minimum; 30 ft front, 15 ft side, 25 ft rear yards78
Septic
Permitting authority inside city limits not confirmed; state permit rules apply9
RV or tiny home
Governed by city zoning districts; RV camping parks only in MH-2 by specific-use approval10

Who to call

Building permits

City of Center Inspection Services (permit office)

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Center city limits; the phone and email listed are the City of Center's general contacts

(936) 598-2941

[email protected]

301 Nacogdoches Street, Center, TX

Septic permits

TCEQ On-Site Sewage Facility Program

State technical contact for septic (OSSF) questions; ask here who the permitting authority is for a Center address

512-239-3799

[email protected]

12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, TX 78753

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Center, Texas?

Yes. Center requires a building permit before any permanent structure is built or placed inside city limits: "No permanent structure may be constructed or otherwise located within the city limits prior to issuance of a Building Permit by the Building Inspector"1. Center also requires that all construction follow the International Building, Plumbing and Fire Codes, the National Electrical Code and the local zoning ordinance6.

A permit is not the last step. After the permit and before anyone moves in, the Building Inspector conducts foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections, and a Certificate of Occupancy is required before the structure is occupied1112. Center's published materials did not state an owner-builder exemption, so plan on a permit even for a home you build yourself3.

Texas lets an owner skip state electrician licensing on a dwelling the owner lives in, but that exemption does not waive a locally issued building permit or inspection13.

Who issues building permits in Center, and how do you apply?

The City of Center issues building permits through its Inspection Services permit office at 301 Nacogdoches Street3. Applicants submit two complete sets of construction drawings showing all proposed work5. The city's page lists the plot plan, foundation plan, floor plan and cross-section details a complete application needs3.

The city's page says review and approval of a new structure may take up to 3 days depending on the time of year, and unusual designs or incomplete plans take longer5. The City Council sets the fee schedule, and no permit issues until applicable fees are paid14. We did not find a published fee amount, so ask the permit office for the current schedule.

Building sites must also be on a recorded plat: no building permit issues for a tract that is not part of a plat approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and filed in the county plat records15.

Does Center have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and RVs?

Yes. The City of Center has adopted zoning regulations that govern land use inside city limits, and land and structures must conform to the district they sit in2. The city is divided into zoning districts shown on a zoning map16. Rules differ by district, so look up the district for your parcel before you buy.

In the SF-1 Single Family Residential District-1, the minimum residential building site is 7,500 square feet and density may not exceed four units per gross acre7. SF-1 yards are 30 feet in front, 15 feet on the side and 25 feet in the rear8. Maximum lot coverage in SF-1 is 35 percent17, and maximum height is 35 feet18.

In the Agricultural District, a single-family dwelling needs a building lot of 2 acres or more, served by city utilities or by septic tanks on the lot19.

Manufactured and modular homes go in the MH-1 district, which is meant for subdivisions where most homes are owner-occupied20. A travel trailer or commercial overnight camping park is a permitted specific use in MH-2 only when granted under Section 25 of the ordinance10. We did not find a tiny-home or accessory-dwelling rule, so ask the permit office3.

How do septic permits work inside Center, Texas?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits for a lot inside Center city limits, or whether the city adds its own septic rules. The city's zoning ordinance recognizes septic tanks in the Agricultural District, where a dwelling must be served by city utilities or by septic tanks on its building lot21.

Texas requires a permit and approved plan to construct, alter, repair, extend or operate an on-site sewage facility, and local programs can be stricter than state minimums9. In most of the state a local government acts as the TCEQ-authorized agent, and the TCEQ regional office handles areas without one22. Because the permitting authority for a Center address is not confirmed, call the TCEQ On-Site Sewage Facility Program at 512-239-37994, and ask the city permit office whether sewer service reaches the lot3.

A very large tract can change the answer: a single-family dwelling on at least 10 acres may be exempt from permitting if every state condition is met, including a site evaluation and 100 feet between every part of the system and the property line23. Lots inside a city are rarely that large.

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

Inside Center, where an RV or tiny home can sit depends on the zoning district, because the city zones its land2. The only camping rule we confirmed is that a travel trailer or commercial overnight camping park is allowed in the MH-2 Manufactured Home Park District when granted under Section 25 of the ordinance10. That rule covers commercial camping parks, not living in an RV on your own lot.

We could not confirm a tiny-home rule inside city limits, so ask the permit office before you buy a lot for one3.

The answer changes outside city limits. Unincorporated Shelby County has adopted no county zoning ordinance, so no county rule sets RV or tiny-home occupancy on land outside Center24. Check the Shelby County page for the county-level answers.

Building a home in Center: the steps, in order

  1. Find the zoning district for your parcel on the city's zoning map and confirm the lot meets that district's size and setback rules16.
  2. Confirm the lot is part of a recorded plat, because no building permit issues otherwise15.
  3. Ask the City of Center permit office about sewer service, and call the TCEQ septic program if the lot needs a septic system34.
  4. Submit two complete sets of construction drawings to the Inspection Services permit office5.
  5. Pay the fees the City Council has set14.
  6. Request the required foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections11.
  7. Get the Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in12.

What stays with Shelby County, and what to check before you buy in Center

Center is the county seat of Shelby County, but the city's rules stop at the city limits. Shelby County's own roads, driveways and land outside Center follow different rules, so use the Shelby County page for unincorporated land.

A driveway that connects to a state highway needs a TxDOT driveway permit on Form 1058, and nothing may be built on the right of way until the permit is issued and TxDOT is notified 24 hours ahead25. Private wells: Texas requires no state site permit, but local ordinances or groundwater conservation districts may require a permit or registration26. We could not confirm a well rule inside Center.

For context, Shelby County's effective property tax rate is 1% and its median property tax bill is $1,143 a year2728. Only 3.7% of county soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so a lot outside sewer service often needs a site evaluation or an engineered system29.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether the city or TCEQ issues septic permits for an address inside Center, so confirm with the City of Center permit office and the TCEQ septic program before buying a lot that needs a septic system4.
  • Center's published materials did not state an owner-builder exemption, an accessory-dwelling rule, a minimum dwelling size or a floodplain development rule; ask the permit office before relying on any of them3.
  • Setbacks, lot size and height differ by district; the SF-1 figures here do not apply to the Agricultural, multifamily or manufactured home districts8.
  • A city building permit is not a Certificate of Occupancy; the inspections and the certificate must be finished before anyone moves in12.

Sources

  1. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Center Inspection Services (permit office) (centertexas.org)
  4. TCEQ On-Site Sewage Facility Program (tceq.texas.gov)
  5. Building Permits | City of Center - Texas (Center), quoted and re-checked
  6. Building Permits | City of Center - Texas (Center), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  9. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  13. Exemptions to Electrician Licensing (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  18. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  19. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  20. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  21. City of Center Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2006-22 (Revised Copy) (Center), quoted and re-checked
  22. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Texas law on county zoning and building authority
  25. Access Management Manual: Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials, quoted and re-checked
  26. Water Well Drillers & Pump Installers At A Glance, quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Center

Center’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Permanent structures constructed or located inside Center city limits.

    • Plans must be approved by the Building Inspector; a complete application contains foundation and structural details sufficient to determine Building Code compliance.
    “No permanent structure may be constructed or otherwise located within the city limits prior to issuance of a Building Permit by the Building Inspector.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction within Center city limits.

    • Existing-structure remodel or repair requires similar information to new construction; only the remodeled portion must conform to present codes when the addition or remodeled portion is less than 50 percent of the entire structure.
    “All construction in Center must conform to the standards adopted by the City (The International Building, Plumbing and Fire Codes, the National Electrical Cade, and Local Zoning Ordinance, etc.)”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New or altered permanent structures inside Center city limits that receive a building permit.

    • The Building Inspector conducts foundation, plumbing, electrical, and framing inspections before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy; issuance depends on plans and inspection results complying with applicable ordinances and regulations.
    “After issuance of a Building Permit and prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the Building Inspector shall conduct a foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspection.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupation of permanent structures inside Center city limits, and changes to specified uses of permanent structures or land.

    • For new or altered structures, issuance follows required inspections and demonstrated compliance. A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during completion of alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.

    temporary certificate maximum period: <= 6 months (During completion of alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.)

    “No permanent structure constructed or otherwise located within the city limits may be occupied prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the Building Inspector.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within Center city limits.

    • Land and structures must conform to the regulations prescribed for the zoning district in which they are located.
    “The City of Center Zoning Regulations, attached hereto and considered included as a part of this ordinance as if incorporated fully herein, are approved and adopted as the regulations governing land use and zoning within the City of Center.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Center city limits.

    • The zoning map applies to all properties within the City of Center.
    “The City of Center, Texas, is hereby divided into zoning districts as listed in the section.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Single-family dwellings in Center's Agricultural District.

    • The dwelling lot must be at least two acres; the dwelling must be adequately served by city utilities or by septic tanks located on the building lot.

    minimum building lot: >= 2 acres (Agricultural District single-family dwellings.)

    “Single-family dwellings on building lots of two (2) acres or more in areas where said dwellings can be adequately served by city utilities or septic tanks located on the building lot.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Construction or placement of buildings on tracts or plots inside Center city limits.

    • The plot or tract must be part of a plat of record, properly approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and filed in the county plat records.
    “No permit for the construction or placement of a building or buildings upon any tract or plot shall be issued unless the plot or tract is part of a plat of record, properly approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and filed in the Plat Records of county or counties in which the plot or tract is located.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits, zoning-compliance certificates, appeals, and other zoning-ordinance matters in Center.

    • The City Council establishes and may amend the schedule; no permit, certificate, special exception, or variance issues until applicable costs, charges, fees, or expenses are fully paid.
    “The City Council shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses, and a collection procedure for building permits, certificates of zoning compliance, appeals, and other matters pertaining to this ordinance.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications in Center city limits.

    • Applicants submit two complete sets of construction drawings; complete plans must comply with City building codes; unusual designs or incomplete plans require additional review time.

    stated review and approval time for a new structure: <= 3 days (Depends on time of year; unusual designs or incomplete plans require additional review time.)

    “You need to submit two complete sets of construction drawings, showing all proposed work. [...] It may take up to 3 days to review and approve your permit for a new structure, depending on the time of the year. Unusual designs or incomplete plans will require additional review time.”

Rules another office applies inside Center

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

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in Center's Agricultural District.

    • The dwelling must be adequately served by city utilities or septic tanks located on the building lot.

    minimum building lot: >= 2 acres (Agricultural District single-family dwelling.)

    “Single-family dwellings on building lots of two (2) acres or more in areas where said dwellings can be adequately served by city utilities or septic tanks located on the building lot.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Residential building sites in Center's SF-1 Single Family Residential District-1.
      “The SF-1 district provides for a minimum residential building site of 7,500 square feet. Density in this district will be no greater than four (4) units per gross acre.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Development in Center's SF-1 Single Family Residential District-1.

    • Appendix 1 applies district regulations; site-specific restrictions or approvals may also apply under the zoning ordinance.

    side yard width: 15 feet (SF-1 District.) · rear yard: 25 feet (SF-1 District.) · front yard: 30 feet (SF-1 District.)

    “A SF-E SF-1 SF-2 TF MF MH -1 MH -2 [...] SIDE YARD WIDTH (feet) 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 [...] REAR YARD (feet) 30 30 25 20 15 15 15 15 [...] FRONT YARD (feet) 35 35 30 25 20 20 20 20”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Development in Center's SF-1 Single Family Residential District-1.

    • Appendix 1 district regulations apply.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent (SF-1 District.)

    “A SF-E SF-1 SF-2 TF MF MH -1 MH -2 [...] MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 35% 40% 60% 60% 40%”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Development in Center's SF-1 Single Family Residential District-1.

    • Appendix 1 district regulations apply.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet (SF-1 District.)

    “A SF-E SF-1 SF-2 TF MF MH -1 MH -2 C-1 C-2 M-1 M-2 MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 45 25 25 45 50 50 50”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Commercial overnight camping parks in Center's MH-2 Manufactured Home Park District.

    • The use is a permitted specific use only when granted in accordance with Section 25 of the zoning ordinance.
    “The following specific uses shall be permitted in the MH-2 District when granted in accordance with Section 25: [...] Travel trailer and commercial overnight camping park.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and modular home units in Center's MH-1 Manufactured Home District.

    • The district is for placement in subdivisions where most lots and housing units are owner-occupied; the ordinance directs users to MH-1 district regulations.
    “The MH-1 district provides an area for the placement of manufactured home and modular home units in subdivisions in which most lots and housing units are owner-occupied.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Center city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Center city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Center city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Center city limits.
  • Who permits septic — On-site sewage facilities inside Center city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Center publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Shelby County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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