Bolthole Index

Wise County, Texas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Chico, Texas

Chico, Texas, in Wise County, has adopted city building and residential codes, but we could not confirm the general building-permit trigger for every project; ask Chico City Hall before work begins.123 City sewer is required when an eligible structure is within 150 feet of a public sewer, while private septic is a narrow exception requiring distance and City Council approval.45

At a glance

Building permit
General trigger unconfirmed; ask Chico City Hall before starting work13
Building codes
City has adopted building and residential codes12
Zoning
City zoning status and district standards could not be confirmed; ask City Hall3
Sewer or septic
Sewer required within the stated service distance; septic needs City Council approval45
Owner-builder
License and bond exemption available for personal work, but the customary job permit remains required6
RV or tiny home
No city occupancy rule confirmed; ask City Hall about the parcel and proposed use3

Who to call

Building permits

Chico City Hall

First contact for Chico building-permit, land-use, City Council septic-exception and parcel-specific questions

940-644-2435

400 S. Hovey Chico, TX 76431

Septic permits

Wise County Environmental Services

County contact for septic inspection information; confirm jurisdiction for a Chico address after obtaining the required city approval

940-627-9332

[email protected]

2901 S FM 51 Building 100 Decatur, TX 76234

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

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Do you need a building permit in Chico, Texas?

Chico has adopted the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code for construction inside city limits.12 The available rules also say an owner personally doing construction or repairs is excused from the contractor license and bond, but must still obtain the customary permit for that job.6

We could not confirm a single rule defining which ordinary new construction, alterations or repairs require a Chico building permit. Call Chico City Hall at 940-644-2435 before ordering materials or beginning site work, and ask which application, plans, inspections and fees apply to the exact project.3 Wise County's no-general-building-permit rule is for areas outside incorporated cities and does not answer the permit question inside Chico.7

Who handles building permits and land-use questions in Chico?

Chico City Hall is the practical first stop for building-permit and parcel-specific land-use questions at 400 S. Hovey, Chico, TX 76431, or 940-644-2435.3 Ask the office to confirm whether the address is inside city limits, whether the proposed use is allowed, which permit applies, and what inspections must be scheduled.3

We could not confirm an adopted Chico zoning ordinance, zoning map or district schedule. Ask City Hall for a written answer on allowed use, setbacks, lot size, building height and accessory dwellings before relying on a site plan.3 The city's adopted construction codes do not, by themselves, answer those land-use questions.12

How do sewer and septic rules work inside Chico?

A Chico property with a structure that generates human waste must connect to city sanitary sewer when a public sewer is available within 150 feet of the structure.4 A private septic tank is allowed only when the structure is more than 150 feet from a public sewer main and the City Council specifically approves its use.5

Start with Chico City Hall for the required City Council approval, then ask Wise County Environmental Services whether it administers the OSSF application and inspection for the Chico address.839 Texas generally requires an OSSF permit and approved plan, while local programs may be stricter.10 Only 24% of Wise County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so make wastewater feasibility an early purchase condition.11

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

We could not confirm a Chico rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on an ordinary private parcel. Ask Chico City Hall about the specific address, proposed duration, utility connections and whether the unit will be treated as a dwelling.3

A tiny home proposed as a permanent residence may still be subject to Chico's adopted residential code, but the available material does not establish a separate tiny-home category, minimum dwelling size or zoning district standard.2 A plan that depends on private sanitation also faces Chico's sewer-first rule and City Council approval requirement for the limited septic exception.45

Can an owner build or repair a home in Chico?

An owner who personally erects, constructs or repairs the owner's structure in Chico is exempt from the contractor license and bond, but the customary permit for that particular job remains required.6 The exemption does not waive the city's adopted construction codes.12

For a house, building or structure moved into Chico under the city's moving provisions, occupancy is prohibited until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy and all permit conditions and applicable ordinances are satisfied.12 That moved-structure rule should not be treated as proof of the certificate requirement for every kind of new construction.12

Building a home in Chico: what should you do first?

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Chico and ask City Hall for the allowed use, dimensional rules and building-permit path for the proposed home.3
  1. Ask which adopted building and residential code provisions apply to the design.12
  1. Resolve wastewater before fixing the house location: connect to sewer when it is available within 150 feet, or pursue the limited septic exception and City Council approval when the structure is farther away.45
  1. If septic may be possible, confirm the OSSF permitting and inspection path with Chico City Hall and Wise County Environmental Services before excavation.839
  1. Obtain the customary permit that applies to the job before owner-performed work; the owner-builder rule waives only the contractor license and bond.6

What should you check before buying land in Chico?

Get written confirmation from Chico City Hall on city-limit status, allowed residential use, setbacks, minimum lot or dwelling size, building height, RV or tiny-home occupancy, floodplain review and the building-permit process.3 None of those parcel-specific answers should be borrowed from Wise County's rules for unincorporated land.7

Map the distance to the nearest public sewer before choosing a building pad because Chico requires connection when a qualifying structure is within 150 feet.4 If the structure is farther away, private septic still requires specific City Council approval and compliance with applicable standards.5 For access onto a Texas state highway, a new or revised driveway requires the state process and Form 1058.13

Watch-outs

  • Wise County's no-general-building-permit rule applies outside incorporated cities and does not establish Chico's city permit requirements.7
  • Private septic is not an automatic alternative to sewer in Chico; the structure must be more than 150 feet from a public sewer main and the City Council must specifically approve septic use.5
  • Chico's owner-builder exemption removes the contractor license and bond requirement, not the customary permit for the job.6
  • RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, zoning districts, dimensional standards, general permit triggers and current fees remain unconfirmed; ask Chico City Hall before buying or building.3

Sources

  1. § 150.01 Standard Building Code Adopted (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  2. § 150.110 International Residential Code Adopted (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chico City Hall (chico.texas.gov)
  4. § 51.91 Sewer Service Required; Exceptions (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  5. § 51.91 Sewer Service Required; Exceptions (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 150.03 Contractor's License And Bond Required (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  7. FAQs - Who issues Building Permits in Wise County?, quoted and re-checked
  8. § 51.91 Sewer Service Required; Exceptions (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  9. Wise County Environmental Services (co.wise.tx.us)
  10. Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System (Texas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. 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
  12. § 150.81 Issuance Of Certificate Of Occupancy (Chico), quoted and re-checked
  13. 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 Chico

Chico’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner personally erecting, constructing, or repairing that owner's structure in Chico city limits.

    • The owner must personally perform the work.
    • The exemption removes the contractor license and bond requirement only.
    • The customary permit for the particular job remains required.

    surety bond otherwise required: 1000 USD (Owner personally performing the work is exempt from the license and bond requirement.)

    “Any person desiring to erect, construct, or repair a structure owned by that person and who personally performs such work shall not be required to obtain the required license or post the required bond but shall be required to obtain the customary permit for the particular job under this chapter.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An owner personally erecting, constructing, or repairing the owner's structure inside Chico city limits.
      “Any person desiring to erect, construct, or repair a structure owned by that person and who personally performs such work shall not be required to obtain the required license or post the required bond but shall be required to obtain the customary permit for the particular job under this chapter.”
    • Available (with conditions) — A person erecting, constructing, or repairing a structure owned by that person and personally performing the work inside Chico city limits.
      “Any person desiring to erect, construct, or repair a structure owned by that person and who personally performs such work shall not be required to obtain the required license or post the required bond but shall be required to obtain the customary permit for the particular job under this chapter.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Chico city limits.

    • The adopted code is the 2018 Edition of the International Building Code.
    • The code is incorporated by reference and maintained as a public record in the City Secretary's office.
    • Amended by Ordinance 04-2022-1, passed 2022-04-26.

    building code edition: 2018 International Building Code

    “The 2018 Edition of the International Building Code is hereby adopted as the official building code of the City of Chico, Texas. This building code is fully incorporated by reference as though copied into this section in its entirety.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Buildings inside Chico city limits; the 2018 International Building Code is the official city building code.
      “The 2018 Edition of the International Building Code is hereby adopted as the official building code of the City of Chico, Texas. This building code is fully incorporated by reference as though copied into this section in its entirety.”
    • Adopted — Building construction inside Chico city limits.
      “The 2018 Edition of the International Building Code is hereby adopted as the official building code of the City of Chico, Texas.”
    • Adopted — Residential construction inside Chico city limits.
      “The 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code is hereby adopted as the official residential code of the City of Chico, Texas.”
    • Adopted — Building construction inside Chico city limits.
      “The 2018 Edition of the International Building Code is hereby adopted as the official building code of the City of Chico, Texas. This building code is fully incorporated by reference as though copied into this section in its entirety.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    A house, building, or structure permitted to be moved inside Chico city limits.

    • Occupancy is prohibited until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy.
    • The permit conditions and all applicable city ordinances must be satisfied first.
    “No person shall occupy such house, building, or structure permitted to be moved until the building official issues the permittee a certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the house, building, or structure complies with all conditions of the permit and all requirements of all applicable ordinances of the city.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — A house, building, or structure permitted to be moved inside Chico city limits.
      “No person shall occupy such house, building, or structure permitted to be moved until the building official issues the permittee a certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the house, building, or structure complies with all conditions of the permit and all requirements of all applicable ordinances of the city.”
    • Limited — A house, building, or structure moved within Chico city limits under Chapter 150.
      “No person shall occupy such house, building, or structure permitted to be moved until the building official issues the permittee a certificate of occupancy.”
    • Required — A house, building, or structure permitted to be moved into Chico city limits.
      “No person shall occupy such house, building, or structure permitted to be moved until the building official issues the permittee a certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the house, building, or structure complies with all conditions of the permit and all requirements of all applicable ordinances of the city.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Private septic use inside Chico city limits.

    • A septic tank may be used only when the structure is more than 150 feet from a public sewer main line.
    • City Council approval must be specifically granted.
    • The septic tank must comply with the applicable Texas on-site sewage facility construction standards.

    distance from public sewer main line: > 150 feet (Septic use is allowed only when the structure is more than 150 feet from a public sewer main line.)

    “It shall be unlawful for any person to install or use a septic tank for private waste disposal within the city limits, except when the structure to be served is more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a public sewer main line and approval to use a septic tank is specifically granted by the City Council.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A septic system inside Chico city limits.

    • Chico allows private septic only when the structure is more than 150 feet from a public sewer main and the City Council specifically grants approval.
    • Wise County identifies septic permits as required.
    • TCEQ states that a permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.
    • TCEQ lists limited exemptions, including qualifying 10-acre single-family tracts and specified emergency repairs.

    distance from public sewer main: > 150 feet (Septic use also requires specific City Council approval.)

    “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.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sanitation systems inside Chico city limits.

    • A septic tank is generally unlawful inside the city limits.
    • The structure must be more than 150 feet from a public sewer main.
    • Specific City Council approval is required.
    • The septic tank must comply with the applicable OSSF construction standards.

    distance from sewer main: > 150 feet (City Council approval required.)

    “It shall be unlawful for any person to install or use a septic tank for private waste disposal within the city limits, except when the structure to be served is more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a public sewer main line and approval to use a septic tank is specifically granted by the City Council.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Private wastewater sanitation inside Chico city limits.
      “It shall be unlawful for any person to install or use a septic tank for private waste disposal within the city limits, except when the structure to be served is more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a public sewer main line and approval to use a septic tank is specifically granted by the City Council.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Structures inside Chico city limits that generate human waste.

    • Connection to the city sanitary sewer is required when a public sewer is available within 150 feet of the structure.
    • If the structure is more than 150 feet from a public sewer main, private septic use may be allowed only with specific City Council approval and compliance with city and state requirements.

    public sewer availability distance: <= 150 feet (If more than 150 feet, septic may be approved by the City Council.)

    “The owner of any property containing a structure used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose in which human waste is generated shall be required to connect to the city sanitary sewer system if a public sewer is available within one hundred fifty (150) feet of such structure.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Structures inside Chico city limits that generate human waste.
      “The owner of any property containing a structure used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose in which human waste is generated shall be required to connect to the city sanitary sewer system if a public sewer is available within one hundred fifty (150) feet of such structure.”
    • Sewer (with conditions) — A structure inside Chico city limits in which human waste is generated.
      “The owner of any property containing a structure used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose in which human waste is generated shall be required to connect to the city sanitary sewer system if a public sewer is available within one hundred fifty (150) feet of such structure.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — New residential construction and other building work inside Chico city limits.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Chico city limits.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Chico city limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Chico city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Chico city limits.
18 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Chico 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