Who is the permitting authority for my property?

It depends on location. Most unincorporated property starts with Kaufman County, but Terrell, Forney, Crandall, Oak Ridge, and lake-area authorities may matter.

How current are these fees?

This page is marked last verified Jul 2026. Always confirm current fee amounts with the permitting authority before budgeting.

Septic Permits in Kaufman County, TX: The Actual Process

Who issues your permit depends on where you build. This page walks the full OSSF process, fees, and county-vs-city jurisdiction split, with links to official sources.

The process, step by step

Soil and site evaluation

Submit OSSF application

County review

Installation

Final inspection

License to operate

Who permits your property

Match your location to the right authority before you file:

Where you are	Permitting authority	Notes
Unincorporated county	Kaufman County Development Services	The authorized agent for most county parcels.
Terrell city limits	City of Terrell	Permits its own OSSF inside city limits.
Forney city limits	City or county	Much of Forney is on city sewer; septic on the outskirts is usually county.
Crandall city limits	City or county	Rapid growth blurs boundaries; confirm which office permits.
Oak Ridge city limits	City or county	Small town; confirm which office permits this address.
Near Cedar Creek Lake	TRWD involvement	Lake-area systems can have additional review context.

Last verified Jul 2026. Jurisdiction lines change, so confirm before filing.

Fees

Line item	Typical local range
New OSSF permit	$400-$550
Repair / replacement permit	$200-$400
Re-inspection, if needed	$75-$150

These are planning estimates, not the county's published fee schedule. Confirm current amounts with Kaufman County Development Services.

Official forms and links

Kaufman County OSSF application
Official county form / office page County fee schedule
Verify current Development Services fees TCEQ OSSF rules
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TCEQ license lookup
Installer and maintenance-provider lookup

What triggers a permit

A permit is required for a new install, replacement, and most major repairs that change the system. Minor part swaps usually do not, but your provider should document them.

Last verified, Jul 2026

FAQ

Most homeowners never touch this paperwork. Installers handle most of it for you.

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