Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sabinal, Texas

Sabinal’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Plumbing systems in Sabinal city

  • The adopted code is the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition, including appendix chapters.
  • The code section states that its regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions, and terms are adopted.

  adopted code: International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition (including appendix chapters)

  “A certain document, one copy of which is on file in the office of the city secretary, being marked and designated as the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition, including appendix chapters, published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the plumbing code for the city for regulating and governing the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems as therein provided, and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of such International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc., on file in the office of the city secretary, are hereby referred to, adopted and made part of this section as if fully set out in this section.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Installation or repair of plumbing fixtures, septic tanks, and sewer connections inside Sabinal city limits

  • Installation or repair must be inspected and approved by the City plumbing inspector before use.
  • The provision is limited to plumbing fixtures, septic tanks, and sewer connections.

  inspection fee: 2 USD (For inspecting any installation or repairs of plumbing fixtures and septic tanks, and sewer connections.)

  “An inspection fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be charged for inspecting any installation or repairs of plumbing fixtures and septic tanks, and sewer connections. All such installations and repairs must be inspected and approved by the city plumbing inspector before using same.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic-tank installation and repair inside Sabinal city limits

  • The City plumbing inspector must inspect and approve septic-tank installation or repair before use.

  “An inspection fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be charged for inspecting any installation or repairs of plumbing fixtures and septic tanks, and sewer connections. All such installations and repairs must be inspected and approved by the city plumbing inspector before using same.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation or repair of septic tanks inside Sabinal city limits

  • The work must be inspected and approved by the City plumbing inspector before use.

  inspection fee: 2 USD (For inspecting any installation or repairs of plumbing fixtures and septic tanks, and sewer connections.)

  “An inspection fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be charged for inspecting any installation or repairs of plumbing fixtures and septic tanks, and sewer connections. All such installations and repairs must be inspected and approved by the city plumbing inspector before using same.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site septic sanitation inside Sabinal city limits

  • A septic tank is allowed only if City sewer is unavailable.
  • Cesspools are not allowed in the City.

  “No septic tanks will be allowed within the confines of the city unless the city sewer is not available. (Ordinance 2019-08, sec. 2, adopted 8/26/2019)”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  City-water and public-sewer service connections inside Sabinal city limits

  • A City permit is required before installing a connection to City water or sewer lines.
  • Human-occupancy and other listed properties must convey sewage to the proper public sewer unless exempted or waived under the sewer-service section.
  • Septic tanks are not allowed within the City unless City sewer is unavailable.

  “The city requires that all potential users of the city’s water services obtain a permit from the city prior to the installation of any utility connection to the city’s water lines.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Sabinal city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Sabinal city limits
• Local zoning — Land inside Sabinal city limits
• Zoning districts — Land inside Sabinal city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sabinal city limits

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.