Why are building rules stricter inside Texas city limits than in the county?
TexasReviewed October 2026
Texas cities generally adopt full building codes and run permit and inspection departments, while counties have only the narrower powers state law gives them. Inside city limits you can expect building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, inspections and often a certificate of occupancy, plus zoning. In unincorporated areas, counties may apply only a limited residential code, and some, such as Bastrop County, issue no building permits or certificates of occupancy. A city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) adds another layer, and Collin County has described the law on extending city building codes into the ETJ as unsettled. Check whether your land is inside a city, its ETJ, or neither.
Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.