Bolthole Index

Wise County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Alvord, Texas

The Town of Alvord, Texas requires a building permit before a permanent structure is built or placed inside town limits.1 Alvord also applies its own zoning, inspections and certificate-of-occupancy process, while septic permits are required but the responsible office for an address inside Alvord should be confirmed with Town Hall and Wise County Public Works.2345

At a glance

Building permit
Required before a permanent structure is built or placed inside Alvord1
Zoning
Town zoning districts and the official zoning map apply inside Alvord26
Building inspections
Foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections occur before occupancy approval3
Septic permit
Required, but confirm whether Town Hall or Wise County Public Works administers the parcel75
RV living
No general private-lot right confirmed; an overnight camping park is a specific use in MH-28
Tiny home
No separate rule confirmed; zoning, dwelling-size rules and building review still apply91011
Owner-builder
No Alvord exemption confirmed; ask the Building Official before planning self-performed work1112

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Alvord Building Official

Building-permit applications, zoning materials, inspection information and the municipal fee schedule

(940) 427-5916

Septic permits

Wise County Environmental Services (Public Works)

Wise County's published contact for required septic permits; confirm jurisdiction for property inside Alvord

940-627-9332

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Alvord, Texas?

Yes. The Town of Alvord requires a building permit before a permanent structure is constructed or placed inside town limits.1 Plans must go to the Building Inspector, and a complete application must include enough foundation and structural detail to show compliance with the applicable building code.13 The town's current permit page also directs regulated construction, alteration, repair, demolition, occupancy changes and listed trade-system work to the Building Official before work begins.14

After permit issuance, the Building Inspector conducts foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections before issuing a certificate of occupancy.3 A permanent structure cannot be occupied before that certificate is issued.4 Wise County's rule that general building permits are not required outside incorporated cities does not replace Alvord's municipal process.15

Who issues building permits in the Town of Alvord?

The Town of Alvord Building Official is the first stop for building-permit applications, inspection information, zoning documents and the municipal fee schedule.14 Town Hall can be reached at (940) 427-5916.14 The ordinance assigns plan approval, building-permit issuance, required inspections and certificates of occupancy to the Building Inspector.16

Ask the Building Official for the current application, adopted building-code editions, permit fee and inspection scheduling before pricing construction. The reviewed ordinance refers to an applicable building code but does not identify the current adopted edition.17 We also could not confirm an Alvord owner-builder exemption; Texas has limited state trade-license exemptions for qualifying work on an owner's own residence or homestead, but those do not establish an exemption from Alvord's building permit or inspections.12

Does the Town of Alvord have zoning?

Yes. Land and structures inside Alvord must conform to the rules for the parcel's zoning district, and the official zoning map determines which district applies.26 Dimensional rules vary by district, so do not transfer a figure from one parcel to another.

In the A Agricultural District, the minimum lot area is 87,120 square feet, the minimum dwelling size is 2,000 square feet, and maximum lot coverage is 10%.181920 In SF-1, the minimum lot area is 9,000 square feet, the minimum dwelling size is 1,000 square feet, and maximum lot coverage is 40%.211022 SF-1 setbacks are 30 feet in front, 7.5 feet at the side and 25 feet at the rear for a permanent structure.23 Ask the Building Official to confirm the mapped district and any lot-of-record exception.

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Alvord?

A septic system serving property in Alvord needs a permit and approved plan unless a specific state or local exception applies.7 Texas generally relies on a local authorized agent, with TCEQ acting where no local jurisdiction is authorized, but the reviewed Alvord material does not identify the office with jurisdiction inside town limits.5

Wise County publishes Public Works at 940-627-9332 as its contact for required septic permits.2425 Before ordering a site design, ask Alvord Town Hall and Wise County Public Works which office accepts the application for the exact address. Do not assume the state acreage exception applies: it has multiple conditions, including a single-family home on at least 10 acres, a site evaluation and at least 100 feet between every system component and the property line.7 Only 24% of Wise County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early purchase condition.26

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Alvord?

Alvord's ordinance does not establish a general right to occupy an RV as a dwelling on a private lot. A travel-trailer and commercial overnight camping park is listed only as a specific use in the MH-2 district when granted under the ordinance's specific-use process.8 That district rule should not be read as permission for residential RV occupancy elsewhere in town.

We could not confirm a separate Alvord rule for tiny-home occupancy. A tiny home built or placed as a permanent structure still enters Alvord's building-permit process, and its zoning district can impose dwelling-size, lot-size and setback rules.119 For example, SF-1 has a 1,000-square-foot minimum dwelling size, while the A Agricultural District has a 2,000-square-foot minimum.1019 Ask the Building Official about the exact structure type, foundation, proposed occupancy and zoning district before buying or moving a unit.

Building a home in the Town of Alvord: the steps in order

  1. Confirm that the parcel is inside Alvord and ask the Building Official for its mapped zoning district.6
  2. Verify that a home is allowed and check the district's lot area, dwelling size, setbacks, height and lot coverage.2
  3. Confirm that the tract is part of an approved recorded plat, because Alvord conditions a building permit on that status.27
  4. Resolve water and wastewater early; septic permits are required, but Town Hall and Wise County Public Works should confirm which office serves the address.75
  5. Submit foundation and structural details to the Building Inspector and obtain the building permit before construction or placement.13
  6. Schedule foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspections.28
  7. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before occupying the permanent structure.29

What should you check before buying land in the Town of Alvord?

Start with written confirmation of the parcel's town-limit status and zoning district because Alvord's rules differ from unincorporated Wise County.3031 Confirm that the tract is an approved recorded lot before assuming a building permit can issue.27 Ask the Building Official for the current code editions and fee schedule because the reviewed ordinance does not supply a current code edition, and we could not confirm current municipal building-permit fees.17

Resolve septic jurisdiction and site feasibility before fixing the house location; only 24% of Wise County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field.526 Ask Town Hall who administers floodplain development inside Alvord because the zoning ordinance makes development in its FP district conditional on engineering findings and City Council approval.32 For access onto a Texas state highway, obtain a fully executed TxDOT driveway permit before right-of-way construction.33

Watch-outs

  • Do not apply Wise County's no-general-building-permit answer inside Alvord; the town requires its own building permit for permanent structures.151
  • An MH-2 provision for an approved travel-trailer or commercial overnight camping park does not establish a town-wide right to live in an RV on a private lot.8
  • The responsible septic office for property inside Alvord is not identified in the reviewed town material; confirm jurisdiction with Town Hall and Wise County Public Works before submitting a design.525

Sources

  1. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  5. Basics for Septic Systems (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  7. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  12. Exemptions to Electrician Licensing (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Alvord Building Official (alvordtx.gov)
  15. FAQs - Who issues Building Permits in Wise County?, quoted and re-checked
  16. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  18. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  19. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  20. storage.googleapis.com (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  21. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  22. storage.googleapis.com (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  23. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  24. Frequently Asked Questions - Who issues Building Permits in Wise County?, quoted and re-checked
  25. Wise County Environmental Services (Public Works) (co.wise.tx.us)
  26. 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
  27. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  28. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  29. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  30. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  31. Frequently Asked Questions — Who issues Building Permits in Wise County?, quoted and re-checked
  32. City of Alvord Zoning Ordinance (Town of Alvord), quoted and re-checked
  33. Section 4: Driveway Permits, Design, and Materials (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 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 Town of Alvord

Town of Alvord’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Permanent structures constructed or otherwise located within Alvord town limits.

    • Plans must be approved by the Building Inspector.
    • A complete application must contain sufficient foundation and structural details to determine compliance with the Building Code.
    • No permit for construction or placement of a building may issue unless the tract is part of an approved recorded plat, subject to the ordinance's exclusion for buildings already under construction when the ordinance passed.
    “Plans for any permanent structure to be constructed or otherwise located within the city limits must be approved by the Building Inspector who, upon approval, shall issue a Building Permit.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Permanent structures constructed or located within Alvord town 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.”
    • Required — Permanent structures constructed or located inside Alvord town 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. [...] Plans for any permanent structure to be constructed or otherwise located within the city limits must be approved by the Building Inspector who, upon approval, shall issue a Building Permit.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Permanent structures constructed or located inside Alvord town limits.

    • The ordinance requires plans to demonstrate compliance with applicable Building Code provisions, but the reviewed official document does not identify the adopted code edition or a separate current code-adoption ordinance.
    • A current municipal code portal or replacement ordinance was not located in the reviewed official material.
    “A complete application for a Building Permit shall contain details of foundation and structure sufficient to determine compliance with applicable provisions of the Building Code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permanent structures inside Alvord town limits after building-permit issuance and before certificate of occupancy.

    • The Building Inspector conducts foundation, plumbing, electrical, and framing inspections.
    • A certificate of occupancy is issued only if plans and inspection results comply with applicable ordinances and regulations.
    “shall conduct a foundation, plumbing, electrical and framing inspection”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Permanent structures constructed or located within Alvord town limits.
      “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.”
    • Required — Permanent structures requiring a building permit in Alvord town.
      “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

    Permanent structures and changes of use inside Alvord town limits.

    • A permanent structure may not be occupied before issuance by the Building Inspector.
    • A Certificate of Occupancy is required before a change in conforming use or a change to a different use classification.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during alterations or partial occupancy.
    • Applications for conforming vacant-land or change-of-use certificates are to be issued within ten days.

    temporary certificate maximum duration: 6 months (during completion of alterations or partial occupancy)

    “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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Permanent structures and changes in use inside Alvord town limits.
      “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.”
    • Required — Permanent structures, changes of conforming use, and changes to a different-use classification inside Alvord town limits.
      “prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy”
    • Required — Permanent structures, changes of use, and changes in legally conforming use inside Alvord town limits.
      “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

    Land, buildings, structures, and appurtenances located within the City of Alvord, Texas.

    • The ordinance was passed and approved by the City Council on October 11, 2007.
    • The ordinance states it is effective upon posting and/or publication of its caption as required by law.
    • Uses and structures must conform to the zoning district regulations.
    • A building permit or certificate of occupancy may be required.
    “BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALVORD, TEXAS, THAT A COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP ARE HEREBY PASSED AND APPROVED WHICH SHALL PROVIDE AS FOLLOWS:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present — All land, buildings, structures, and appurtenances within the City of Alvord limits.
      “All land, buildings, structures, or appurtenances thereon located within the City of Alvord which are hereafter occupied, used, erected, altered, removed, placed, demolished, or converted shall be occupied, used, erected, altered, removed, placed, demolished, or converted in conformance with the zoning regulations prescribed for the zoning district in which such land or building is located as hereinafter provided.”
    • Present — Land inside Alvord town limits.
      “Zoning Regulations and Districts are herein established in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Alvord town limits.

    • The official zoning map determines the district applicable to a parcel.
    • The ordinance lists A, SF-E, SF-1, SF-2, TF, TH, MH-1, MH-2, MF, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, PD, FP, and THOR districts.
    “The City of Alvord, Texas, is hereby divided into zoning districts as listed in the section.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Land inside the municipal limits of Alvord town, Texas; the ordinance establishes districts and a zoning map for the City of Alvord.
      “The City of Alvord, Texas, is hereby divided into zoning districts as listed in the section.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the A Agricultural District.

    • The value is from Appendix 1's district-regulations chart.
    • The ordinance contains masonry-content notes and lot-of-record exceptions in the same appendix.

    minimum dwelling size: 2000 sq ft

    “DISTRICT REGULATIONS A SF-E SF-1 SF-2 TF TH MF MH-1 MH-2 C-1 C-2 C-3 I-1 I-2 [...] DWELLING SIZE (SQ. FT.) 2,000 1,400 1,000 1,000 1,000”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential SF-1 district inside Alvord town limits.
      “DWELLING SIZE (SQ. FT.) 2,000 1,400 1,000 1,000 1,000”
    • Specified — Agricultural A district inside Alvord town limits.
      “DWELLING SIZE (SQ. FT.) 2,000 1,400 1,000 1,000 1,000”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the A Agricultural District.

    • A lot that was an official lot of record when the ordinance was adopted may be used for one family dwelling even if smaller than the district minimum.
    • No lot existing at passage may be reduced below the district minimum.

    minimum lot area: 87120 sq ft (official lot of record exception)

    “LOT AREA (square feet) 87,120 43,560 9,000 7,200 6,000 3,000 I I I II II II II II”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential SF-1 district inside Alvord town limits.
      “SF-1 -- Single Family Residential District - 1: The SF-1 district provides for a minimum residential building site of 9,000 square feet.”
    • Specified — Agricultural A district inside Alvord town limits.
      “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.”
    • Specified — Lots in the A Agricultural District.
      “LOT AREA (square feet) 87,120 43,560 9,000 7,200 6,000 3,000 [...] The minimum residential lot area for the various districts shall be in accordance with the regulations for each district, except that a lot having less area than required which was an official "lot of record" at the time of the adoption of this ordinance may be used for a one family dwelling.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A Agricultural District.

    • Appendix 1 lists 35 feet front, 15 feet side, and 30 feet rear setbacks.
    • The rear-yard footnote distinguishes permanent and accessory structures where applicable.

    front setback: 35 feet · side setback: 15 feet · rear setback: 30 feet (See Appendix 1 notes for accessory-structure treatment.)

    “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50 SIDE YARD WIDTH (feet) 15 7.5 7.5 7.5”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential SF-1 district inside Alvord town limits.
      “REAR YARD (feet)* 30 30/10* 25/10* 20/10* 15 15 15 20/10* 20/10* 5 5 10 5 5 FRONT YARD (feet) 35 35 30 25 20 20 20 25 25 20”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the A Agricultural District.

    • Lot coverage is the percentage of lot area occupied by the building base or maximum cross-sectional area.

    maximum lot coverage: 10 percent

    “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 40% 45% 60% 60% 50% II II II II II II II”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential SF-1 district inside Alvord town limits.
      “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 40% 45% 60% 60% 50% II II II II II II II”
    • Specified — Agricultural A district inside Alvord town limits.
      “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 40% 45% 60% 60% 50% II II II II II II II”
    • Specified — Lots in the A Agricultural District.
      “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 40% 45% 60% 60% 50%”
    • Specified — Lots in the SF-1 Single Family Residential District.
      “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE 10% 10% 40% 45% 60% 60% 50%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the A Agricultural District.

    • Height is measured under the ordinance's definition, with specified rooftop and appurtenant-structure exclusions.

    maximum building height: 35 ft

    “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential SF-1 district inside Alvord town limits.
      “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50”
    • Specified — Agricultural A district inside Alvord town limits.
      “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50”
    • Specified — Buildings in the A Agricultural District.
      “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50”
    • Specified — Buildings in the SF-1 Single Family Residential District.
      “MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet) 35 35 35 35 30 30 45 35 45 45 50 30 50 50”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles and travel trailers in Alvord town.

    • The ordinance identifies a travel-trailer and commercial overnight-camping park as a permitted specific use in the MH-2 Manufactured Home Park District when granted under the specific-use-permit section.
    • The provision does not establish unrestricted private-lot RV residence.
    “The following specific uses shall be permitted in the MH-2 District when granted in accordance with Section 28: 15.3.1. Boat and recreational vehicle and travel trailer storage yard. 15.3.2. Travel trailer and commercial overnight camping park.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Travel-trailer and recreational-vehicle uses in the Alvord MH-2 Manufactured Home Park District.
      “The following specific uses shall be permitted in the MH-2 District when granted in accordance with Section 28: 15.3.1. Boat and recreational vehicle and travel trailer storage yard. 15.3.2. Travel trailer and commercial overnight camping park.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Commercial overnight camping and travel-trailer camping in Alvord town.

    • Allowed as a specific use in MH-2 only when granted under Section 28.
    • The ordinance does not establish a general private-property temporary-camping permission.
    “15.3.2. Travel trailer and commercial overnight camping park.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Commercial overnight camping parks in the Alvord MH-2 Manufactured Home Park District.
      “The following specific uses shall be permitted in the MH-2 District when granted in accordance with Section 28: [...] Travel trailer and commercial overnight camping park.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in Alvord MH-1 and MH-2 districts.

    • MH-1 and MH-2 are separate zoning districts with district-specific standards.
    • Homes are subject to Building Official inspection.
    • HUD and State of Texas construction and safety standards apply.
    • MH-1 homes require solid slab or 18-to-20-inch runners, tie-downs, underpinning/skirting, and compliant accessory buildings.
    • MH-2 parks must be between one-half and ten acres.

    MH-2 park minimum area: >= 0.5 acre (maximum ten acres) · MH-2 park maximum area: <= 10 acres

    “subject to inspection by the Building Official”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Manufactured homes inside Alvord town limits.
      “Manufactured housing design and construction will comply with construction and safety standards published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the requirements of the National Mobile Home and Safety Standards Act of 1974 and all manufactured homes will be subject to inspection by the Building Official.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Creation of building lots or tracts inside Alvord town limits.

    • A building permit for a tract requires an approved recorded plat.
    • The plat must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and filed in the applicable county plat records.
    “No permit for the construction of 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.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in areas designated FP Flood Plain District inside Alvord town limits.

    • FP areas may be used only for uses listed in Section 23.
    • City Council approval is required after engineering studies determine suitability, drainage and life/property-hazard conditions, and consistency with the public interest.
    “Approval shall only be given after engineering studies determine that the area, or any portion thereof, is suitable for uses in the district, and building construction or development would not create an obstruction to drainage nor a hazard to life or property, and that such construction is not contrary to the public interest.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permanent structures and changes of use inside Alvord town limits.

    • Plans must be approved by the Building Inspector.
    • A complete application must contain foundation and structural details sufficient to determine Building Code compliance.
    • After permitting, foundation, plumbing, electrical, and framing inspections occur before the Certificate of Occupancy.
    • A conforming certificate for vacant land or a change in use is issued within ten days after application.

    certificate issuance period for conforming vacant-land or change-of-use application: 10 days (only when the proposed use conforms to the ordinance)

    “Plans for any permanent structure to be constructed or otherwise located within the city limits must be approved by the Building Inspector who, upon approval, shall issue a Building Permit. A complete application for a Building Permit shall contain details of foundation and structure sufficient to determine compliance with applicable provisions of the Building Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Building-permit and certificate-of-occupancy process for permanent structures inside Alvord town limits.
      “Upon submission of a complete application, the Building Inspector shall issue a Building Permit. 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.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Alvord

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

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage facilities serving property inside Alvord town, under Texas OSSF rules and the applicable local permitting program.

    • TCEQ states that local authorities administer OSSF requirements in most areas, while TCEQ is the permitting authority where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.
    • The specific authorized agent for Alvord was not established from the reviewed official pages.
    “The TCEQ regional office will be the permitting authority in locations where a local jurisdiction has not been authorized.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    OSSFs, septic systems, and holding tanks serving property inside Alvord town, subject to the state and local-permitting exceptions stated by TCEQ.

    • A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, or operate an OSSF.
    • A 10-acre single-family dwelling exemption may apply if all listed TCEQ conditions are met, including site evaluation, no nuisance or groundwater pollution, all system parts at least 100 feet from the property line, on-site effluent disposal, and only one dwelling on the tract.
    • Emergency repairs listed by TCEQ do not require a permit but must be reported in writing within 72 hours after repairs begin.
    • Always check the local permitting authority, which may impose more stringent requirements.

    minimum tract size for 10-acre exemption: >= 10 acres (Single-family dwelling and all TCEQ conditions must be satisfied.) · minimum OSSF distance from property line for 10-acre exemption: >= 100 feet (All parts of the OSSF.) · emergency-repair reporting deadline: <= 72 hours (After repairs have begun.)

    “A permit is required to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF. Always check with your local permitting authority. Local permitting programs can be more stringent than State minimums.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Alvord building-permit or inspection requirements.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Alvord town limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Alvord town limits.
  • Septic inspection — On-site sewage facilities inside Alvord town limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Alvord town limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Town of Alvord publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wise County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Wise County: county rules, score and offices