4 permits · verified 2026-10-31
What permits do you need to open an auto repair shop in Ector County?
In short
An auto repair shop in Ector County, TX has 1 permit that applies to every business of this type, plus 3 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Texas Secretary of State charges $300 one-time filing for the certificate of formation. 1 of the 4 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-31 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to an auto repair shop in Ector County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department)only if it applies to you | Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section) | The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount. | per system | 2026-10-31 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
TX registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formationonly if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $300 one-time filing | no expiry | 2026-08-20 |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)only if it applies to you | Texas Secretary of State | $25 one-time filing | up to ten years, renewable | 2026-08-21 |
| Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | No fee — there is no fee for this permit | no expiry while actively engaged in business | 2026-08-21 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit an auto repair shop in Ector County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 4 records listed for an auto repair shop in Ector County, TX, 1 apply to every business of this type and 3 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 1 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $0.00. That is a floor, not a total. 1 of the 4 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 0 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department): The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department, 432-498-4141, extension 2161, for the current amount.
Which offices issue these permits in Ector County?
Permits for an auto repair shop in Ector County, TX come from 3 separate offices: Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section), Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Ector County Health Department (Environmental Section)Issues 1 permit on this page: On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department)221 N. Texas Ave, Odessa, TX 79761 · 432-498-4141www.ectorcountytx.gov/277/Environmental-Section
- Texas Secretary of StateIssues 2 permits on this page: Certificate of Formation, Assumed Name Certificate (DBA)www.sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsIssues 1 permit on this page: Texas Sales and Use Tax Permitcomptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit
What does an auto repair shop need in Ector County that other businesses do not?
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit (Ector County Health Department)
A business premises in Ector County that uses a septic system rather than a public sewer needs an on-site sewage facility permit before a system is installed or modified. TCEQ's OARS listing names the "ECTOR COUNTY AUTHORIZED AGENT" with an area served of the entire county, and the county's Environmental Section page lists septic systems in its mission and cites Health and Safety Code chapter 366 and TAC chapter 285. Questions on septic go to 432-498-4141, extension 2161. The septic permit fee is not published on the Environmental Section page or in the October 6, 2025 fee notice; contact the Ector County Health Department for the current amount.
The 3 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across TX and are covered on the TX state page.
How does an auto repair shop compare with other businesses in Ector County?
The closest match is a contractor or trade, which shares 1 of these permits. A contractor or trade needs Electrical Contractor License, which an auto repair shop does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with an auto repair shop | Only an auto repair shop needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Restaurants | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Retail stores | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Childcare centres | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Coffee shops | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Ector County permits page and the TX state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- On-Site Sewage Facility Authorized Agents (OARS) search by county: NuecesTexas Commission on Environmental Quality · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
- Environmental SectionEctor County, Texas · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-31
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.