Outside City Limits? You Need a Permitted Septic System

Most septic systems in Texas need a permit, and you have to get it before you build or install anything. Johnson County runs its own on-site sewage program, so the permit comes from Johnson County Development Services (Public Works) at the county annex, 2 N. Mill St., Suite 305, in Cleburne. You can reach that office at 817-556-6380 or email [email protected] to start an application or ask which forms a designer has to stamp.

There is one exception to the permit rule. If your property is 10 acres or more, you may not need a permit, but three things must all be true: every part of the system must sit at least 100 feet from the property line, the property can have only one single-family home on it, and the system must still meet state rules.

If you are buying rural land in Johnson County, ask the seller for proof the septic system was permitted and inspected, and call Development Services to confirm a permit is on file. An unpermitted or failing system can cost thousands to replace and can break state law. The statewide rules are at tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf.