Septic Systems in Tarrant County Require a Permit
A septic system is also called an on-site sewage facility, or OSSF. The permit office depends on the address. Tarrant County covers much of the land outside city limits and the cities that contract with it. Arlington, Burleson, Fort Worth, and some waterfront areas use other offices. The county map can point you to the right one.
When the county is in charge, permits cover new systems and listed repairs or changes. State rules have a few exceptions. Soil, slope, flood risk, and room for the system all matter. Land without a public sewer is not always ready for a septic system.
A November 2025 order sets a one-acre net lot size for new single-family subdivisions that will use OSSF. Drainage and floodplain easements do not count toward the acre. Older recorded lots are reviewed one at a time.
A city ETJ may also add a plat review for a new lot. The county OSSF office at 817-212-7082 can name the permit office and current fee for the site.
Content last revised 2026-07-11