Rural Properties Need a Permitted Septic System

Texas calls septic systems On-Site Sewage Facilities, or OSSFs. TCEQ sets the rules under 30 TAC Chapter 285. You must get a permit before installing or repairing one. The installer must be licensed. The system must be set back at least 50 to 100 feet from a water well, depending on the system type.

In unincorporated Red River County, the county administers the OSSF permit program under TCEQ authorization. If you are buying rural land, ask whether the existing system has a permit and has been maintained. An unpermitted or failing system can be costly to fix. Check the TCEQ OSSF page for current rules, or contact the county environmental health office.