Austin County, TX Permit Fees (2026)
Building permit fees for unincorporated Austin County, with a free permit fee calculator. Inside city limits? Pick your city below; incorporated cities have their own fee schedules.
Unincorporated Austin County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county issues a development permit: $100 for a new home outside the flood zone, $200 plus a charge per square foot of enclosed area in a flood zone, and fees banded by project value for commercial, multifamily and hotel projects. Septic, culvert, plat and engineering review fees are separate. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
In Unincorporated Austin County, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs $100.00 in permit fees, and a $20,000 re-roof $100.00. Totals include the documented surcharges and minimum fees. Each figure is that single permit only: a job that combines trades, like a kitchen remodel with electrical and plumbing work, pays each applicable permit. Pick a project to load it in the calculator below.
Jump to Permit Fee CalculatorAustin County Permitting and Engineering Fee Schedule (adopted by Commissioners Court December 22, 2025)
Covers building and roofing permits.
Call the building department at 979-865-5911.
How Unincorporated Austin County values a job: Commercial, multifamily and hotel development permit and inspection fees are banded by the project's value; residential permits are flat outside the flood zone and add a charge per square foot of enclosed area inside it.
Schedule effective December 22, 2025. Last verified: November 3, 2026
Jurisdictions in Austin County
Jobs inside city limits are permitted by the city, not the county. Across Austin County's 4 covered jurisdictions, a building permit for a $50,000 remodel runs from $100.00 (Unincorporated Austin County) to $310.00 (Sealy).
Unincorporated Austin County Permit Fee Schedule
Every documented rule for each permit type, straight from the official schedule.
Plumbing Permit Fees in Unincorporated Austin County
Unincorporated Austin County issues no plumbing permit. Austin County issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit in its unincorporated area. A county development permit covers new homes, buildings and other development, and septic systems need a separate county On-Site Sewage Facility permit. Inside a city's limits, the city permits the work.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Austin County plumbing permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageUnincorporated Austin County Permit Fee Calculator
Pick a permit type and adjust the job value. Total updates instantly, itemized below.
Unincorporated Austin County does not have a documented plumbing fee for this project type in our sourced data yet. Check the official fee schedule linked above, or ask the building department.
Unincorporated Austin County has no county building-code, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The county issues a development permit: $100 for a new home outside the flood zone, $200 plus a charge per square foot of enclosed area in a flood zone, and fees banded by project value for commercial, multifamily and hotel projects. Septic, culvert, plat and engineering review fees are separate. Work inside a city's limits is permitted by that city.
Estimate only. Confirm with the Unincorporated Austin County building department before applying. Phone: 979-865-5911. Permit fees only; excludes impact fees, utility connection charges, and other non-permit charges.
Homeowners and contractors planning a project check Unincorporated Austin County plumbing permit fees here first. One sponsor per trade, flat monthly rate.
Advertise on This PageHow to Apply for a Permit in Unincorporated Austin County
Email a Development Permit Application to the Austin County Planning and Development Department before anything is built or moved onto the property: planning1@austincounty.com for homes, other single-family development and septic permits, DebR@austincounty.com for commercial development. Attach a recorded copy of the deed and the 911 address letter from the Austin County Emergency Communication District. In a flood hazard area, an elevation certificate from a surveyor is required before the permit is issued. Commercial, multifamily and other non-single-family projects also need County Engineer approval through the Engineering Review Application. Septic systems need a separate On-Site Sewage Facility permit. A driveway culvert on a county road needs a Culvert/Driveway Permit signed by the precinct commissioner before it goes to Planning and Development. Permits must be posted where visible from the road. Call 979-865-5911 to pay.
Source: Unincorporated Austin County application instructions
- Phone
- 979-865-5911 ext. 5110 or 5111
- Commercial development
- DebR@austincounty.com
- Engineer
- Engineer@austincounty.com
- Address
- One East Main Street, Bellville, TX 77418
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Source
- Official contact page
- Source
- Official contact page