The six counties covered here, and who signs off on a house in each
Out past the city limits, Texas hands most of the rules for a new house to the county, and these six counties each took them a different way. Carry one barndominium plan across all six and it lands on six different desks. Every row below repeats that county's own site as of the date printed. Where a row says to confirm with the county, that is all it means; nothing here has been stretched into a promise.
Office of the Texas Governor, Business Permit Office, Texas Business Licenses and Permits Guide, as read September 13, 2026.
| County | Seat | The county's answer on a house outside town | Who writes the septic permit | Town pages here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llano County | Llano | A county permit is required before you build outside city limits, and the county does not inspect the structure outside a flood hazard area. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Llano County Development Services, or the Lower Colorado River Authority inside its water quality zone | Llano |
| Burnet County | Burnet | A county permit is required before you build outside city limits, and the county does not inspect the structure outside a flood hazard area. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Burnet County Development Services, or the Lower Colorado River Authority inside its water quality zone | Burnet, Marble Falls |
| Williamson County | Georgetown | The county states it issues no building permits for the unincorporated county. Other county permits still apply. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Williamson County Engineer’s Office, the on-site sewage facility program | Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Leander |
| Travis County | Austin | A county permit is required before any development outside city limits, and inspections are required during the build. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Travis County TNR, the state’s authorized agent for the unincorporated county, or the Lower Colorado River Authority near Lake Travis | Lakeway |
| Bastrop County | Bastrop | A county permit is required before any development outside city limits, and inspections are required during the build. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Bastrop County Environmental and Sanitation, the state’s authorized agent | Bastrop |
| Caldwell County | Lockhart | A county permit is required before you build outside city limits, and the county does not inspect the structure outside a flood hazard area. As read at the county’s own pages, September 13, 2026. | Caldwell County Sanitation Department, the state’s authorized agent | Lockhart |
On land within a city's limits, that city's building department is the one that applies. Austin, Georgetown, Leander, Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Burnet, Marble Falls, Llano, Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville, Lockhart and Luling each run a department of their own.
Own acreage in one of these six?
Asking is free and commits you to nothing. One independent builder receives your request. It is not sold to a lead list or sent to any other contractor.
Facts on this page last read September 13, 2026.