Bolthole Index

Tarrant County, Texas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in North Richland Hills, Texas

North Richland Hills, Texas requires a building permit from the city for work on any building or structure inside city limits1. The city also sets its own zoning under Chapter 118 of its code2. Septic permits inside the city come from Tarrant County Engineering, not the city3. Land outside city limits follows Tarrant County's different rules.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the city for buildings and structures inside city limits1
Zoning
Yes, city zoning under Chapter 118 of the city code2
Building code
2024 International Residential Code, as amended by the city4
Septic permits
Tarrant County Engineering regulates septic systems in North Richland Hills3
Manufactured homes
Limited to the MH-1 HUD Code Manufactured Home District5
Subdivision
Regulated by the city's plat process6

Who to call

Building permits

City of North Richland Hills Building Permits & Inspections

Building permits, plan review and inspections inside North Richland Hills city limits, through the city's online e-portal

817-427-6300

4301 City Point Drive

Zoning

City of North Richland Hills Development Services (Planning & Zoning)

Zoning, planning and development questions inside North Richland Hills; the page lists building inspections and permits, engineering, fire prevention and planning and zoning

817-427-6000

4301 City Point Drive

Septic permits

Tarrant County Engineering Services, OSSF Program

Septic (OSSF) regulation in unincorporated Tarrant County and the contract cities that include North Richland Hills

Septic permits

Tarrant County OSSF Program (Engineering Services)

Septic permit applications; call for questions about an OSSF permit

817-212-7082

100 E. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, Texas 76196

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 North Richland Hills means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in North Richland Hills, Texas?

Yes. Inside North Richland Hills city limits, no building or structure may be erected, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved or demolished until the building official has issued a separate permit for each building or structure, unless the city's building chapter exempts the work1. An applicant submits a written application and pays the permit fee before receiving the permit7. Permit holders must also request and pass the required inspections, and skipping them is a code violation8.

The city adopted the 2024 International Residential Code, with local amendments4. We could not confirm whether the city offers an owner-builder exemption; the permit provision mentions homeowners but does not create one, so ask the city's building office before you start.

Who issues building permits in North Richland Hills, and how do you reach them?

The City of North Richland Hills issues its own building permits through its Building Permits & Inspections office at 4301 City Point Drive, phone 817-427-63009. The city runs a paperless system for permits and inspections, so applications, plans, fees and inspection requests go through its online e-portal9. Tarrant County does not issue residential building permits, and it does not inspect homes, so the county is the wrong counter for a lot inside the city10. Fees for single-family permits are calculated from estimated construction cost under the city's fee schedule11.

Does North Richland Hills have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. North Richland Hills zones land under Chapter 118 of its code of ordinances2. The published districts include agricultural, single-family residential, residential estate, manufactured-home, multifamily, commercial, industrial, institutional, planned-development and overlay districts12. Which district a parcel sits in decides what you can build, so confirm it with city planning before you buy13.

Manufactured homes are limited to the city's MH-1 HUD Code Manufactured Home District, and each home must be skirted before occupancy is authorized5. We could not confirm the city's rules for RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size, setbacks or building height; ask city Development Services13. County statements that there is no zoning apply only to unincorporated Tarrant County, not here14.

How do septic permits work inside North Richland Hills?

Tarrant County Engineering regulates septic systems (OSSFs) in North Richland Hills, which is one of the contract cities the county serves alongside unincorporated land3. Texas requires a permit and approved plan to build, alter, repair or extend a septic system15. The county's septic office is at 100 E. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, phone 817-212-708216.

The city also ties sewer to city water: a new sewer connection is not made unless the location is served with city water, if available17. Most lots inside city limits therefore connect to city sewer. We could not confirm the city's rules on wells, so ask city Development Services before drilling13.

Building a home in North Richland Hills: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and any limits on your use with city Development Services13.
  2. If you are dividing land, expect the city's plat process: the subdivision chapter covers preliminary, final, minor, replat and amending plats6.
  3. Check whether city sewer is available; if not, contact Tarrant County's septic office3.
  4. Register on the city's e-portal and apply for the building permit9.
  5. Request each required inspection through the city as work proceeds8.
  6. We could not confirm the city's certificate of occupancy rules, so ask the building office what it needs before you move in9.

What stays with Tarrant County, and what should you check before you buy?

Septic permits inside the city come from Tarrant County Engineering3. For land outside city limits, different rules apply: unincorporated Tarrant County has no county zoning and does not issue residential building permits1410. See the Tarrant County page for those rules. Tarrant County's effective property tax rate is 1.8%18. We could not confirm the city's floodplain or driveway rules; ask city Development Services about floodplain mapping on any parcel13.

Watch-outs

  • Search results often mix up city and county rules: Tarrant County's statements that it has no zoning and issues no residential building permits apply only outside city limits14.
  • We could not confirm the city's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, lot size, setbacks, floodplain or driveways; call city Development Services before you buy13.
  • Septic permits are handled by Tarrant County Engineering, not the city building office3.

Sources

  1. Division 2: Permits (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of North Richland Hills, TX Code of Ordinances (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  3. Tarrant County Engineering Services, OSSF Program (tarrantcountytx.gov)
  4. Division 2: Residential and Building Codes (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article IV: Districts (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of North Richland Hills, TX Code of Ordinances (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  7. Division 2: Permits (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  8. Division 2: Permits (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of North Richland Hills Building Permits & Inspections (nrhtx.com)
  10. Guidelines for Development in the Unincorporated Areas of Tarrant County, quoted and re-checked
  11. Division 2: Permits (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV: Districts (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of North Richland Hills Development Services (Planning & Zoning) (nrhtx.com)
  14. Guidelines for Development in the Unincorporated Areas of Tarrant County, quoted and re-checked
  15. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Tarrant County OSSF Program (Engineering Services) (tarrantcountytx.gov)
  17. Article V: Connections and Extensions (North Richland Hills), quoted and re-checked
  18. 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 North Richland Hills

North Richland Hills’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings and structures inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • A separate permit is required for each building or structure before listed work, unless exempted by Chapter 98.
    “No building or structure shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the building official unless exempted by this chapter.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and structures within North Richland Hills city limits.

    • The city adopted model codes with amendments.
    • State or federal provisions in direct conflict are governed by the most stringent provision.

    International Residential Code edition: 2024 (As amended by city code.) · International Building Code edition: 2024 (As amended by city code.)

    “The 2024 edition of the International Residential Code, as published by the International Code Council, except as it may be in conflict with the provisions of another ordinance of the city and as amended by sections 98-141 and 98-142.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work performed under a North Richland Hills building permit.

    • Permittee must request and obtain necessary inspections.
    • The building official supplies procedures identifying stages at which inspections are required.
    “It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to request and obtain the necessary inspections from the department of permits and inspections. Failure to obtain the necessary inspections shall constitute a violation of this chapter.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • Chapter 118 is the city's zoning chapter.
    “Chapter 118 Zoning (§ 118-1 – § 118-911)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • The published zoning districts include agricultural, single-family residential, residential estate, manufactured-home, multifamily, commercial, industrial, institutional, planned-development, and overlay districts.
    “DIVISION 3 R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, R-2 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, R-3 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, RE-1 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, AND RE-2 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE DISTRICTS (§ 118-311 – § 118-315)”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured-home occupancy inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • The zoning ordinance establishes an MH-1 HUD Code Manufactured Home District; further permitted-use and dimensional conditions require district-section review.
    “Each HUD Code manufactured home shall be skirted before occupancy is authorized by the building official.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New sewer connections inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • A new sewer connection will not be made unless city water is available at the location.
    • Water and sewer applications may be denied where existing lines do not meet standards and the concentration of use would adversely affect existing users.
    “No new sewer connections will be made unless the location is served with city water, if available.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • The municipal subdivision chapter contains preliminary-plat, final-plat, minor-plat, replat, and amending-plat articles.
    “ARTICLE IV PRELIMINARY PLAT (§ 110-101 – § 110-106)”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • Written application and permit fee are due before the permit is received.
    • Single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential structure fees are calculated from estimated construction cost under Appendix A.
    • Commercial and multifamily permits have a nonrefundable plan-review fee equal to 65 percent of the building-permit fee.

    commercial and multifamily plan review fee: 65 percent of building permit fee (Due before issuance of the permit.)

    “Every commercial building permit and multi-family building permit shall pay a nonrefundable plan review fee which shall be 65 percent of the building permit fee. This fee is due prior to issuance of the permit.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits inside North Richland Hills city limits.

    • A separate permit must first be obtained from the building official for each covered building or structure.
    • Applicant must submit a written application and pay the fee before receiving the permit.
    • Permittee must request and obtain necessary inspections.
    “Every applicant for a building permit shall submit a written application to the building official and pay a permit fee prior to receiving said permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask North Richland Hills or Tarrant County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside North Richland Hills city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside North Richland Hills city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family and agricultural zoning districts inside North Richland Hills city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Single-family and agricultural zoning districts inside North Richland Hills city limits.
  • Setbacks — Single-family and agricultural zoning districts inside North Richland Hills city limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • 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 North Richland Hills publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Tarrant County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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