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Jefferson County

Jefferson County Environmental Control

In short

Jefferson County Environmental Control issues 3 permits we publish for Jefferson 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

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control)Jefferson County Environmental ControlNo amount is published on the county's Food Permits page or on the Food Permit Application. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount before applying. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable."Permit is good for one year from date of issue" (Food Permit Application); renewed annually (Order §4)2026-10-26
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Jefferson County)only if it applies to youJefferson County Environmental ControlNo amount is published on the county's Septic Permits page, the Septic System Permit Application or the On-Site Sewage Facilities order, which makes fees payable to the county without setting an amount. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable."Permit is good for one year from date of issue" (Septic System Permit Application)2026-10-26
Development Permit (unincorporated Jefferson County)only if it applies to youJefferson County Environmental ControlNo amount is published on the county's Development Permits page, the Application for Development Permit or the Flood Damage Prevention Order. Contact Jefferson County Environmental Control at (409) 719-5910 for the current amount. The application states that all permit fees are non-refundable.The Development Permits page states "Permits are active for one year from their purchase date"; the application states "The permit will expire if no work is commenced within 1 year of the date of issue"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

Food Establishment Permit (Jefferson County Environmental Control)

A restaurant, coffee shop, grocery or convenience store, day care or other food establishment in the county's food jurisdiction needs a current county food permit. The Environmental Control Food Permits page states: "Jefferson County requires that all food establishments in our jurisdiction have a current Food Permit. Our jurisdiction includes all of unincorporated Jefferson County as well as: Bevil Oaks China Groves Nederland Port Neches." Beaumont and Port Arthur are not on that list and run their own food programs. The permit rests on the Commissioners Court's Amended Order adopted November 30, 2015 under Health and Safety Code chapter 437, which adopts the Texas Food Establishment Rules; under §5 the County Health Authority delegates inspection and permitting to the Environmental Control Department, and §4 states that "Renewals of permits are required on an annual basis" after a pre-permit inspection. The order states that "A food establishment operated solely by a nonprofit organization is exempt from the permitting requirements of this order, but is not exempt from compliance with state laws and rules." The county's Food Permit Application lists restaurant, bakery, convenience store, caterer, grocery, meat/fish market, daycare/nursery and other classifications, and states: "All permit fees are non-refundable. Permit is good for one year from date of issue." No fee amount is published on the page or the application; contact Environmental Control, 7933 Viterbo Road, Ste 4, Beaumont, (409) 719-5910. The page also requires a Certified Food Manager and food handler certification for food employees under the Texas Food Establishment Rules.

On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Jefferson County)

A business premises that will use a septic system needs a county on-site sewage facility permit before the system is built. The Environmental Control Septic Permits page states: "All new septic systems must be permitted through Environmental Control before construction." Under §6 of the county's On-Site Sewage Facilities order, adopted October 8, 2007, the rules apply to all of Jefferson County except areas regulated under an existing rule and areas within incorporated cities, and also to incorporated cities or towns that have executed intergovernmental contracts with the county; §10(A) applies them regardless of the size of the tract. The application needs a site plan, site evaluation and soil analysis from a Professional Engineer or Sanitarian, a legal description, the type of development (residential or commercial), a signed two-year maintenance contract and an Affidavit to the Public recorded at the County Clerk's office. A final inspection is required, after which the owner receives a New Installation Certificate. Systems with secondary treatment, drip irrigation or surface application need an ongoing service contract with a maintenance visit every four months. The county's application states: "All permit fees are non-refundable. Permit is good for one year from date of issue." No fee amount is published on the page, the application or the order; contact Environmental Control, 7933 Viterbo Road, Ste 4, Beaumont, (409) 719-5910.

Development Permit (unincorporated Jefferson County)

A business that builds, adds to, paves, fills or otherwise develops land in unincorporated Jefferson County needs a county Development Permit first. The Environmental Control Development Permits page states: "Environmental Control requires that you contact our office before beginning any development to land in unincorporated Jefferson County." It defines development as any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling, or storage of equipment or materials, and says permits "are generally issued in 5-10 business days." The county's Flood Damage Prevention Order, §4.1, requires a development permit before any construction or development begins within an area of special flood hazard, and §4.2 appoints the Jefferson County Engineer to administer the order. Once an application is in, the county determines the flood zone, which sets the required building height; a site in an A zone also needs a finished Elevation Certificate. The application has a "Non-Residential – Business" type and states "No work of any kind may start until the permit is issued". The two county documents state the term differently: the page says "Permits are active for one year from their purchase date", while the application says "The permit will expire if no work is commenced within 1 year of the date of issue." No fee amount is published on the page, the application or the order; contact Environmental Control, 7933 Viterbo Road, Ste 4, Beaumont, (409) 719-5910.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Jefferson County
Phone
(409) 719-5910

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.

  1. Application for Development PermitJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  2. Development Permits - Environmental Control - Jefferson County TXJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  3. Food Permit ApplicationJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  4. Food Permits - Environmental Control - Jefferson County TXJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  5. Jefferson County Rules, Regulations and Requirements for Subdivision and Flood Plain (compiled 03-27-2026), including the Flood Damage Prevention OrderJefferson County, Texas, Engineering Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  6. Order Adopting Rules of Jefferson County, Texas for On-Site Sewage Facilities (adopted October 8, 2007)Commissioners Court of Jefferson County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  7. Retail Food Services Order (Amended Order of the Commissioners Court of Jefferson County, Texas, adopted November 30, 2015)Commissioners Court of Jefferson County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  8. Septic Permits - Environmental Control - Jefferson County TXJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  9. Septic System Permit ApplicationJefferson County, Texas, Environmental Control · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-26
  10. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, Regulation of Food Service Establishments, Retail Food Stores, Mobile Food Units, and Roadside Food VendorsTexas Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-28

Other offices serving Jefferson County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Texas jurisdictions

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