State guide
Texas
Texas regulates on-site sewage facilities through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but most homeowners deal first with a county or local government that has been delegated authority as an authorized agent. Texas also licenses OSSF professionals statewide, including Site Evaluators, Designated Representatives, and Installers.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Texas regulates onsite wastewater through TCEQ, but local governments often run the program as TCEQ authorized agents and serve as the direct permitting authority.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- TCEQ says the property must receive a site evaluation conducted by a TCEQ licensed Site Evaluator or a Professional Engineer; Designated Representatives may also perform site evaluations when that is part of their authorized-agent duties.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- State rule says a $10 fee shall be collected for each OSSF permit for the commission; where TCEQ is the permitting authority, the application fee is $200 for a single-family dwelling OSSF or $400 for other OSSFs.
Official resources in Texas
State overview page for septic rules, permitting, authorized agents, and homeowner information.
Explains when a permit is required and who can perform the site evaluation.
Describes statewide license types including Site Evaluator and Designated Representative.
Official TCEQ search portal for individual licensing information.
Official county-by-county search for the local OSSF permitting authority or authorized agent.
Key facts for Texas
- A permit and approved plan are required to construct, alter, repair, extend, and operate an OSSF.
- TCEQ says the site evaluation must be done by a licensed Site Evaluator or a Professional Engineer.
- Designated Representatives work for authorized agents and may perform site evaluations as part of their job duties.
- TCEQ licenses Site Evaluators, Designated Representatives, Installer I and II, and maintenance professionals.
- Texas rules say a $10 fee shall be collected for each OSSF permit for the commission.
- Where TCEQ itself is the permitting authority, the application fee is $200 for a single-family dwelling OSSF.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Texas
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hays County Development Services - Septic Permits Hays | San Marcos | 512-393-2150 | County page for OSSF applications, required documents, complaint options, and county septic rules. |
| Burnet County Development Services - On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) & Development Permits Burnet | Burnet | 512-756-5420 | Explains the county septic process and says the site evaluation is performed by a licensed site evaluator chosen by the owner or installer. |
| Rockwall County Environmental Health Coordinator Rockwall | Rockwall | 972-204-7600 | County office page with OSSF permit applications and environmental health contact information. |
| Brazoria County Environmental Health Department Brazoria | Angleton | Not published* | County environmental health office for OSSF submissions, maintenance, and septic-system complaints. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- First identify your county’s permitting authority in the TCEQ local-contact search before hiring anyone.
- Verify the Site Evaluator, installer, or maintenance provider in TCEQ’s license search before paying for plans or tests.
- Ask the local authorized agent for its county fee schedule because local permit fees can be stricter or higher than TCEQ’s base fees.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Texas's population center, for comparison only):
- Pontotoc County Health Department Services, Oklahoma · about 265 miles
- McCurtain County Health Department County Services, Oklahoma · about 266 miles
- Rapides Parish Health Unit, Louisiana · about 287 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.TCEQ OSSF main page
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Texas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.