--- title: "Texas county septic permits: Houston-area and Dallas-Fort Worth" canonical_url: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits markdown_url: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits.md summary: "A side-by-side table of septic permit offices, published house fees and local rules for Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant and Dallas counties, each linked to the county source." jurisdiction: "Texas, United States. Eight counties in the Houston area and Dallas-Fort Worth; cities inside a county may be their own permitting authority." audience: "Texas homeowners and buyers who need the right septic permit office and fee for these counties." content_last_changed: 2026-10-14 last_verified: 2026-10-14 language: en-US site: "Texas Septic Help" --- # Texas county septic permits: Houston-area and Dallas-Fort Worth In these eight counties the local authorized agent—usually the county environmental health or engineering office—issues septic permits; fees and lot rules differ by county, and a city may be the authority inside its limits. TCEQ's OARS lookup names the office for your address. _(Sources: [1] Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); [2] Texas Administrative Code, via Cornell Legal Information Institute.)_ Last checked 2026-10-14. Sources are listed at the end. Web page: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits > **Note:** Not legal advice. Fees and local orders change. Confirm with the office that covers your address before you apply. > **Note:** This page summarizes eight counties. Deeper checklists live on the Houston-area and Dallas-Fort Worth permit guides. ## How to use this table Anchor: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#how-to-use - **Check who covers your address:** Inside city limits a city may be the permitting authority instead of the county. TCEQ's OARS lookup lists the authorized agents for each county. - _Sources: [1] Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); [2] Texas Administrative Code, via Cornell Legal Information Institute. Link: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#check-who-covers_ - **State rules still apply:** TCEQ's Chapter 285 rules are the statewide minimums. Local programs can be stricter—for example, Montgomery County issues no floodway permits, and Fort Bend limits homeowner maintenance of aerobic systems. - _Sources: [3] Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); [11] Montgomery County Environmental Health Services; [9] Fort Bend County Environmental Health. Link: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#state-still-applies_ ## Eight-county permit snapshot Anchor: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#county-table Fort Bend County lists $575 for a single-family septic permit, including the $10 TCEQ fee, on a fee page dated May 2023. Published house fees and standout local rules, from each county's pages. Blank cells mean the county page reviewed for this guide did not list a single residential fee. **Septic permitting snapshot for eight Texas counties** (anchor: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#eight-county-table) | County | Who issues permits | Published fee for a house | Local rules to know | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harris (unincorporated) | Office of the County Engineer, Wastewater Permitting, through ePermits | See the county fee schedule; design amendment $150 | Design by a Texas PE or licensed registered sanitarian; maintenance contract required | [4], [5] | | Fort Bend | Fort Bend County Environmental Health, online | $575 (includes $10 TCEQ fee; fee page dated May 2023) | No grandfathering; 10-acre exemption does not apply; no homeowner aerobic maintenance | [6], [7], [8] | | Montgomery | Montgomery County Environmental Health Services, Conroe | $295 ($285 plus $10 TCEQ fee) | No permits in the regulatory floodway; minimum lot sizes | [10], [11] | | Collin | Collin County Development Services, unless your city is its own agent | No fee listed on the county page | 1 usable acre (1.5 with a well) for newer lots; aerobic ownership forms on sale | [12] | | Denton (unincorporated) | Denton County Public Health, Environmental Health Division | $310 to build; $100 for repairs or modifications | Final inspection by the county; aerobic contract or approved homeowner training | [13], [14] | | Rockwall | Rockwall County Environmental Health Coordinator | No single house fee listed on the county pages reviewed | Maintenance contracts for aerobic systems; 1.5 acres per dwelling | [15], [16] | | Tarrant | Tarrant County Environmental Division for 23 contract cities and unincorporated areas | No single house fee listed on the county pages reviewed | One-acre lot order (Nov 2025) in single-family subdivisions; other agents near some lakes | [17], [18] | | Dallas | Dallas County Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Division | $260 residence; $310 commercial | Allow at least 30 working days for review | [19], [20] | _Sources: [4] Harris County Office of the County Engineer; [5] Harris County Office of the County Engineer; [6] Fort Bend County Environmental Health; [7] Fort Bend County Environmental Health; [8] Fort Bend County Environmental Health; [10] Montgomery County Environmental Health Services; [11] Montgomery County Environmental Health Services; [12] Collin County Development Services; [13] Denton County Public Health; [14] Denton County Public Health; [15] Rockwall County; [16] Rockwall County; [17] Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division; [18] Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division; [19] Dallas County Health and Human Services; [20] Dallas County Health and Human Services, Environmental Division._ Note: For application checklists, phones and aerobic contract details, use the Houston-area or Dallas-Fort Worth guide linked below. ## Deeper county guides Anchor: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#deeper-guides - **Houston area:** Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery: application steps, aerobic contract rules, floodway and lot-size details. - _Sources: [5] Harris County Office of the County Engineer; [6] Fort Bend County Environmental Health; [11] Montgomery County Environmental Health Services. Link: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#houston-guide_ - See also: [The three counties side by side](https://texasseptichelp.com/houston-area-septic-permits-harris-fort-bend-montgomery#at-a-glance) - **Dallas-Fort Worth:** Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant and Dallas: lot sizes, aerobic transfer forms and which cities run their own programs. - _Sources: [12] Collin County Development Services; [14] Denton County Public Health; [16] Rockwall County; [17] Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division; [20] Dallas County Health and Human Services, Environmental Division. Link: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#dfw-guide_ - See also: [The five counties side by side](https://texasseptichelp.com/dfw-septic-permits-collin-denton-rockwall-tarrant-dallas#at-a-glance) ## About this page A side-by-side table of septic permit offices, published house fees and local rules for Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant and Dallas counties, each linked to the county source. - **Key facts:** [Check who covers your address](https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#check-who-covers); [State rules still apply](https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#state-still-applies); [Houston area](https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits#houston-guide) - **Covers:** Who issues septic permits in eight metro counties; Published application fees for a house where the county lists one; Local rules that are stricter than the state minimums; How to check whether a city, not the county, covers your address - **Not covered:** Every Texas county (use TCEQ's OARS lookup for others); Commercial fees and every add-on fee; Permit forms themselves - **Jurisdiction:** Texas, United States. Eight counties in the Houston area and Dallas-Fort Worth; cities inside a county may be their own permitting authority. - **Audience:** Texas homeowners and buyers who need the right septic permit office and fee for these counties. - **Provides:** One comparison table for eight counties; Links to the deeper Houston-area and Dallas-Fort Worth guides - **Content last changed:** 2026-10-14 - **Last verified:** 2026-10-14 - **Primary sources:** - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): [OARS: Find a Local Contact (septic permitting authority by county)](https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/aa_search.html) [1]; [Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System](https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/ossfpermits.html) [3] - Texas Administrative Code, via Cornell Legal Information Institute: [30 Tex. Admin. Code § 285.2, Definitions](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/30-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-285-2) [2] - Harris County Office of the County Engineer: [Wastewater Quality Permitting](https://oce.harriscountytx.gov/Divisions/Watershed-Protection/Wastewater/Wastewater-Quality-Permitting) [4]; [Residential Construction & On-site Sewage System (Septic)](https://oce.harriscountytx.gov/Services/Permits/Permits-A-to-Z/Residential-Construction-On-site-Sewage-System-Septic) [5] - Fort Bend County Environmental Health: [On-Site Sewage Facility Permits / Packets](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/on-site-sewage-facility-permits-packets) [6]; [Permit Fees](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/permitting/permit-fees) [7]; [Annual Maintenance Contract Renewal Fee](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/annual-maintenance-contract-renewal-fee) [8]; [Aerobic Maintenance Information](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/aerobic-maintenance-information) [9] - Montgomery County Environmental Health Services: [On-Site Sewage Facility](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/environmental_health/on-site_sewer_facility.php) [10]; [How to obtain a permit to construct a septic system and obtain a notice of approval (with OSSF fee list)](https://cms1files.revize.com/montgomerycountytx/document_center/1%20Environmental%20Health/How%20to%20Obtain%20a%20Septic.pdf) [11] - Collin County Development Services: [On-Site Sewage Facilities](https://www.collincountytx.gov/services/engineering/development-services/on-site-sewage-facilities) [12] - Denton County Public Health: [Environmental Health Division](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/657/Environmental-Health-Division) [13]; [What You Must Know: On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF)](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1441/What-You-Must-Know-PDF) [14] - Rockwall County: [Environmental Health Coordinator](https://rockwallcountytexas.com/245/Environmental-Health-Coordinator) [15]; [Frequently Asked Questions (Environmental Health Coordinator)](https://www.rockwallcountytexas.com/FAQ.aspx) [16] - Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division: [On-Site Sewage Facilities](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/engineering-services/environmental/ossf.html) [17]; [On-Site Sewage Facilities: Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/engineering-services/environmental/ossf/frequently-asked-questions.html) [18] - Dallas County Health and Human Services: [Environmental Health Division](https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/public-health/environmental-health/) [19] - Dallas County Health and Human Services, Environmental Division: [Application: On-Site Sewage Facility Permit (OSSF)](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/hhs/environmental-health/OSSF-APPLICATION-July-2025.pdf) [20] - **Web page:** https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-county-septic-permits ## Contacts - **TCEQ OARS — find your permitting authority**. Search by county for the authorized agent that covers your address. Website: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/aa_search.html. Source: [1] Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). ## Related pages - [Septic permits near Houston: Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties](https://texasseptichelp.com/houston-area-septic-permits-harris-fort-bend-montgomery) (Markdown: https://texasseptichelp.com/houston-area-septic-permits-harris-fort-bend-montgomery.md). Full Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery permit details. - [Septic permits near Dallas-Fort Worth: Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant, Dallas](https://texasseptichelp.com/dfw-septic-permits-collin-denton-rockwall-tarrant-dallas) (Markdown: https://texasseptichelp.com/dfw-septic-permits-collin-denton-rockwall-tarrant-dallas.md). Full Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant and Dallas details. - [Texas septic permits and rules: who regulates what](https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-septic-permit-rules-tceq) (Markdown: https://texasseptichelp.com/texas-septic-permit-rules-tceq.md). When a permit is required statewide and who may do the work. - [Home: Texas Septic Help](https://texasseptichelp.com/) (Markdown: https://texasseptichelp.com/index.md). All guides on this site. ## Sources - [1] [OARS: Find a Local Contact (septic permitting authority by county)](https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/aa_search.html). Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Primary source. Supports: Finding the authorized agent by county. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [2] [30 Tex. Admin. Code § 285.2, Definitions](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/30-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-285-2). Texas Administrative Code, via Cornell Legal Information Institute. Primary source. Supports: Definition of authorized agent and permitting authority. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [3] [Getting a Permit for an OSSF - Such as a Septic System](https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/ossfpermits.html). Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Primary source. Supports: Local programs can be stricter than state minimums. Publisher's date: Page last modified 2026-08-10. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [4] [Wastewater Quality Permitting](https://oce.harriscountytx.gov/Divisions/Watershed-Protection/Wastewater/Wastewater-Quality-Permitting). Harris County Office of the County Engineer. Primary source. Supports: Harris Wastewater Permitting office and amendment fee. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [5] [Residential Construction & On-site Sewage System (Septic)](https://oce.harriscountytx.gov/Services/Permits/Permits-A-to-Z/Residential-Construction-On-site-Sewage-System-Septic). Harris County Office of the County Engineer. Primary source. Supports: Harris ePermits residential OSSF path and design/maintenance notes. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [6] [On-Site Sewage Facility Permits / Packets](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/on-site-sewage-facility-permits-packets). Fort Bend County Environmental Health. Primary source. Supports: Fort Bend online permits, no grandfathering, lot and designer rules. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [7] [Permit Fees](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/permitting/permit-fees). Fort Bend County Environmental Health. Primary source. Supports: Fort Bend $575 house fee. Publisher's date: Page says all fees are current as of 2023-05-26. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [8] [Annual Maintenance Contract Renewal Fee](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/annual-maintenance-contract-renewal-fee). Fort Bend County Environmental Health. Primary source. Supports: Fort Bend aerobic contract renewal; no homeowner maintenance. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [9] [Aerobic Maintenance Information](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/health-and-human-services/environmental-health/aerobic-maintenance-information). Fort Bend County Environmental Health. Primary source. Supports: Fort Bend bans homeowner maintenance of aerobic systems. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [10] [On-Site Sewage Facility](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/environmental_health/on-site_sewer_facility.php). Montgomery County Environmental Health Services. Primary source. Supports: Montgomery septic office. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [11] [How to obtain a permit to construct a septic system and obtain a notice of approval (with OSSF fee list)](https://cms1files.revize.com/montgomerycountytx/document_center/1%20Environmental%20Health/How%20to%20Obtain%20a%20Septic.pdf). Montgomery County Environmental Health Services. Primary source. Supports: Montgomery fees, floodway ban and lot sizes. Publisher's date: Handout revised 2023-03-22. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [12] [On-Site Sewage Facilities](https://www.collincountytx.gov/services/engineering/development-services/on-site-sewage-facilities). Collin County Development Services. Primary source. Supports: Collin portal, lot sizes and aerobic sale forms. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [13] [Environmental Health Division](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/657/Environmental-Health-Division). Denton County Public Health. Primary source. Supports: Denton Environmental Health Division. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [14] [What You Must Know: On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF)](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1441/What-You-Must-Know-PDF). Denton County Public Health. Primary source. Supports: Denton fees and aerobic contract rules. Publisher's date: Handout revised 2020-09-14. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [15] [Environmental Health Coordinator](https://rockwallcountytexas.com/245/Environmental-Health-Coordinator). Rockwall County. Primary source. Supports: Rockwall Environmental Health Coordinator. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [16] [Frequently Asked Questions (Environmental Health Coordinator)](https://www.rockwallcountytexas.com/FAQ.aspx). Rockwall County. Primary source. Supports: Rockwall aerobic contracts and 1.5-acre rule. Accessed: 2026-10-18. - [17] [On-Site Sewage Facilities](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/engineering-services/environmental/ossf.html). Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division. Primary source. Supports: Tarrant coverage and one-acre lot order. Publisher's date: Page last modified 2026-04-06. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [18] [On-Site Sewage Facilities: Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/engineering-services/environmental/ossf/frequently-asked-questions.html). Tarrant County Engineering Services, Environmental Division. Primary source. Supports: Other agents in Tarrant County. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [19] [Environmental Health Division](https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/public-health/environmental-health/). Dallas County Health and Human Services. Primary source. Supports: Dallas County Environmental Health Division. Accessed: 2026-10-15. - [20] [Application: On-Site Sewage Facility Permit (OSSF)](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/hhs/environmental-health/OSSF-APPLICATION-July-2025.pdf). Dallas County Health and Human Services, Environmental Division. Primary source. Supports: Dallas residential fee and review time. Publisher's date: Form marked revised 2020-12-01 (file name says Jul 2025). Accessed: 2026-10-14. ## Page history - 2026-10-14: First version of this page. --- Texas Septic Help. No ads, paid listings or affiliate links, and no company recommendations. Not legal advice. Texas Septic Help is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), any government agency, or any septic company. Questions or corrections: [info@texasseptichelp.com](mailto:info@texasseptichelp.com)