Ellis County
Ellis County Department of Development
In short
Ellis County Department of Development issues 3 permits we publish for Ellis County, last verified 2026-10-26. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.
What this agency issues
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Permit, Class II (Commercial) (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to you | Ellis County Department of Development | $200 per Class II (commercial) development permit; no valid permit: double the fee; re-inspection: half the fee | per project | 2026-10-26 |
| On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to you | Ellis County Department of Development | $175–$600 any septic system $600; alteration, hook-to, re-inspection or repair $175 (County Clerk filing fees extra) | per system | 2026-10-26 |
| Culvert Permit (unincorporated Ellis County)only if it applies to you | Ellis County Department of Development | $50 per culvert permit; no valid permit: double the fee; re-inspection: half the fee | per permit | 2026-10-26 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
About each permit
Development Permit, Class II (Commercial) (unincorporated Ellis County)
Commercial development in unincorporated Ellis County needs a Class II development permit from the Ellis County Department of Development. The county's Department of Development page directs visitors to ellispermits.com as the department's new page. Its FAQ answers "Do I need a permit if I live outside the city limits?" with "Yes, permits are required and have been since the late 1970s." Its Regulations page states that, prior to construction, all commercial developments require review and approval from Development, Engineering and the Fire Marshal's Office, and that plat requirements must be met before the development application process begins; its Permits page tells commercial applicants to contact the DoD office before applying to the Fire Marshal's office. As published in the county's master fee schedule dated 10/13/2026 (Exhibit A, Development Permit Fees, citing Texas Water Code sections 16.315 and 16.324), the Class II permit, "(commercial, etc.)", is $200 and is marked "***Requires Fire Marshall approval"; work without a valid permit costs double the fee and a re-inspection costs half the fee. The schedule notes that its amounts do not include any associated County Clerk fees if a document requires filing. The Regulations page adds that credit card charges carry a 2.25% convenience fee and asks applicants to contact staff for an accurate amount. The schedule's URL and the link label on ellispermits.com still say September 1, 2023; the document itself is the 10/13/2026 version. Contact the Department of Development, 302 N. Monroe St., Suite 214, Waxahachie, 972-825-5200.
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (unincorporated Ellis County)
A business premises in unincorporated Ellis County that uses a septic system needs an on-site sewage facility permit from the Ellis County Department of Development for a new system and for most alterations and repairs. As published in the county's master fee schedule dated 10/13/2026 (Exhibit A, Septic Fees, citing 30 Texas Administrative Code section 285.11), the fee is $600 for any septic system and $175 for an alteration, hook-to, re-inspection or repair. The schedule notes that its amounts do not include any associated County Clerk fees if a document requires filing. The department's Permits page lists the documents required: for an aerobic system, "design, tech form, soil evaluation, a filed affidavit, and an initial maintenance contract"; for an alteration, a design with alteration details; for a repair, a design of the existing system highlighting the repairs; and septic affidavits are filed with the Ellis County Clerk's Office. Applications are made through the county's MGO Connect online portal. The department's FAQ says new systems are designed by a Registered Sanitarian or a licensed Professional Engineer, that repairs must be performed by a TCEQ-licensed installer or maintenance provider, and that most repairs may require a permit and an inspection by the Department of Development. Contact the Department of Development, 972-825-5200.
Culvert Permit (unincorporated Ellis County)
A business site in unincorporated Ellis County that puts in a driveway culvert needs a culvert permit from the Ellis County Department of Development. The department's FAQ answers "Do I need a permit for a driveway or culvert?" with "Yes, permits are required for accurate sizing and placement to help minimize drainage issues." As published in the county's master fee schedule dated 10/13/2026 (Exhibit A, Development Permit Fees, citing Texas Water Code section 16.324), the culvert permit is $50; work without a valid permit costs double the fee and a re-inspection costs half the fee. The department's Permits page provides a Culvert Sizing application: for a culvert-only application, email the application and site plan to dod@elliscountytx.gov; otherwise attach it to the permit in the MGO Connect portal. Contact the Department of Development, 302 N. Monroe St., Suite 214, Waxahachie, 972-825-5200.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Ellis County
- Phone
- 972-825-5200
- Website
- ellispermits.com/permits
Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.
Sources
Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Department of DevelopmentEllis County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Ellis County Master Fee Schedule - Development (Exhibit A) and Engineering (Exhibit B), Effective Date 10/13/2026Ellis County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- Links & FAQsEllis County Department of Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- PermitsEllis County Department of Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
- RegulationsEllis County Department of Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
Other offices serving Ellis County
The full permit list for this jurisdiction
Industry permit lists that include this agency
Texas jurisdictions
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