Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

Kaufman County

Kaufman County Development Services

In short

Kaufman County Development Services issues 5 permits we publish for Kaufman County, last verified 2026-10-31. 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
On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) Permitonly if it applies to youKaufman County Development ServicesA $10 state fee for each OSSF permit, paid to the credit of the TCEQ Water Resources Management Account (OSSF order section 12). The county's own permit fee is not published in the order, on the On-Site Sewage Facilities page or in the Development Services FAQ; contact Development Services for the current amount.per system; aerobic system maintenance contracts must be submitted 30 days before the previous contract expires2026-10-31
Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Kaufman County)only if it applies to youKaufman County Development ServicesSingle Family (up to one single family residential home or building structure) $500; Minor ("Activities & Development Projects causing Minor impacts to the Floodplain, such as Clearing/Grading, Tree Removal, Adding up to 5 Buildings or Other Support Structures") $1,500; Major ("Activities & Development Projects causing Major impacts to the Floodplain, such as Clearing/Grading, Tree Removal, Infrastructure, or Adding more than 5 Buildings or Other Support Structures") $2,500. Drainage Study $300; Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Study $2,500 when required by the Certified Floodplain Manager/Engineer; Regulatory FEMA map modifications (CLOMR, LOMR, LOMR-F, etc.) $1,700. Applicants also cover 3rd party review fees if applicable, and additional reviews (3 or more) due to required corrections require an additional Permit/Review Fee submittal per review.per project2026-10-31
Stormwater Management Permit and Stormwater Maintenance Permit (commercial)only if it applies to youKaufman County Development ServicesStormwater Management Permit, Commercial & Industrial Developments less than 1 acre: application $500, additional reviews $150; Commercial, Industrial & Subdivision Developments greater than 1 acre: application $650, additional reviews $200. Noncompliance follow-up inspection $350 each; failed stabilization/reinspection $150 each. Post-construction Stormwater Maintenance Permit (Commercial / Industrial / Subdivision): initial $500; renewal $250 (active) or $500 (expired). The application fee includes the initial document review, 1 additional review and 1 final stabilization inspection.per project for the Stormwater Management Permit; the Stormwater Maintenance Permit is renewed2026-10-31
Culvert (Driveway) Permit — County Right-of-Wayonly if it applies to youKaufman County Development Services$75 per culvert permit ("Total Amount due: $75.00", Development Services Payments page)expires 12 months from the date of issuance2026-10-31
911 Address Applicationonly if it applies to youKaufman County Development Services$40 per address application ("Total Amount Due: $40.00", Development Services Payments page)one-time, per new address2026-10-31

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

On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) Permit

A business on a septic system in unincorporated Kaufman County needs an OSSF permit from Kaufman County Development Services. The On-Site Sewage Facilities page states: "Kaufman County requires Septic Systems to be permitted prior to be being put into operation." The Development Services FAQ says "Kaufman County is an Authorized Agent" of the TCEQ, that "Kaufman County requires 1 acre of usable space", that any work on an OSSF must be done by a licensed installer, and that maintenance contracts on aerobic systems "must be submitted to Development Services 30 days prior to the expiration of previous contract". The FAQ adds that the cities of Oak Ridge and Terrell are authorized agents for their own city limits, and that Development Services handles all other city limits. Section 12 of the county's OSSF order, passed December 23, 2019 and approved by TCEQ on February 11, 2022, states that fees are payable to Kaufman County and that "A fee of $10 will also be collected for each on-site sewage facility permit to be paid to the credit of the TCEQ Water Resources Management Account". The county's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations state: "Annual BOD/ TSS testing is required for any non-residential OSSF". Contact Development Services, (469) 376-4127.

Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Kaufman County)

A business developing land in a FEMA-mapped floodplain in unincorporated Kaufman County needs a Floodplain Development Permit from Kaufman County Development Services. The Engineering Department page states: "A Flood Plain Permit is required any time development occurs in any unincorporated area designated by the FEMA map to be in a flood plain." The county's Floodplain Order, effective January 2023, states that "A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required to ensure conformance with the provisions of this order" and provides for reasonable fees as set by the Commissioners Court. Per the minutes of the Commissioners Court regular meeting of April 8, 2025, the court approved fee changes adopting in-house floodplain permits and review fees. The Floodplain Management Program Fee Schedule (marked "Original 3/31/2025"), linked from the county's current Engineering Department page, sets a Single Family permit at $500, a Minor permit at $1,500 and a Major permit at $2,500, where Major covers "Activities & Development Projects causing Major impacts to the Floodplain, such as Clearing/Grading, Tree Removal, Infrastructure, or Adding more than 5 Buildings or Other Support Structures." A drainage study is $300, an H&H study $2,500 when required, and a FEMA map modification submittal $1,700. Contact Development Services, (469) 376-4127.

Stormwater Management Permit and Stormwater Maintenance Permit (commercial)

Commercial development in unincorporated Kaufman County goes through stormwater review by Kaufman County Development Services. The Stormwater Management page states: "Kaufman County requires a review of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)." Per the minutes of the Commissioners Court regular meeting of April 22, 2025, the court approved new fees associated with the Stormwater Management Program. The Stormwater Management Program Fee Schedule (marked "Original 4/9/2025"), linked from the county's current Stormwater Management page, prices a Stormwater Management Permit for commercial and industrial developments of less than 1 acre at $500 with additional reviews at $150, and for commercial, industrial and subdivision developments of greater than 1 acre at $650 with additional reviews at $200; a noncompliance follow-up inspection is $350 each and a failed stabilization or reinspection $150 each. After construction, a commercial Stormwater Maintenance Permit is $500 initially, and its renewal is $250 while active or $500 once expired. Ask Development Services at stormwater@kaufmancounty.net whether a project needs the permit. Contact Development Services, (469) 376-4127.

Culvert (Driveway) Permit — County Right-of-Way

A business that installs a driveway or culvert in a Kaufman County road right-of-way needs a culvert permit. The Culvert Permits page of Kaufman County Development Services states: "A culvert permit is required for the installation of driveways and culverts within the County Right-of-Way, as stated in the Kaufman County Subdivision and Land Regulations; Section 11.03." The applicant returns the application and fee to Development Services, which forwards it to the Commissioner of the precinct where the property is located; the Commissioner's office determines the culvert size and contacts the applicant, usually within 3 to 5 business days. Development Services does not install culverts. The page states that the permit "will expire 12 months from the date of issuance". The Development Services Payments page lists the culvert payment as "Total Amount due: $75.00". This applies to county roads, not to state highways or city streets. Contact Development Services, (469) 376-4127.

911 Address Application

A new business location in unincorporated Kaufman County that needs a street address applies to Kaufman County Development Services for a 911 address. The Development Services Payments page states: "An Address Application is required for a new address. Submit a completed application and required forms (deed and survey) or bring into our Development Services office." The same page lists the address payment as "Total Amount Due: $40.00". After the payment is posted, Development Services sends the address assignment letter. Development Services, 101 N. Houston Street, Kaufman, is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm, closed from noon to 1 pm. Contact Development Services, (469) 376-4127 or publicworks@kaufmancounty.net.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Kaufman County
Phone
(469) 376-4127

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. Commissioners Court Regular Meeting Minutes, April 22, 2025Kaufman County Commissioners Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  2. Commissioners Court Regular Meeting Minutes, April 8, 2025Kaufman County Commissioners Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  3. Culvert PermitsKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  4. Engineering DepartmentKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  5. FAQs: Development ServicesKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  6. Floodplain Management Program Fee Schedule (Floodplain Management Fees Original 3/31/2025)Kaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  7. Floodplain Order Effective Jan 2023Kaufman County Commissioners Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  8. Kaufman County Subdivision and Land Development RegulationsKaufman County Commissioners Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  9. On-Site Sewage FacilitiesKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  10. Order Adopting Rules for On-Site Sewage Facilities in Kaufman County (TCEQ Order approved February 11, 2022)Kaufman County Commissioners Court · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  11. PaymentsKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  12. Stormwater ManagementKaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
  13. Stormwater Management Program Fee Schedule (Original 4/9/2025)Kaufman County Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31

Other offices serving Kaufman County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Texas jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.