What do these permits involve in Tarrant County?

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Non-Residential On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit

Engineering Services' fee page states the Commissioners Court approved its current fees on 14 July 2026 by Court Order 147297, effective 1 October 2026. That Engineering Services Fee Schedule 2026, and the county's OSSF permit page, price a non-residential system at $277 for a conventional system and $285 for an aerobic system; repair or remodel is $117 and a re-inspection $92. The February 2026 application says it is valid for one year from the date the fees are received, and an older undated information sheet still linked from the page shows lower figures that the 2026 schedule replaces. The county's OSSF page says it regulates septic permits for 23 cities and the unincorporated county.

Floodplain Permit (unincorporated county)

The county's Guidelines for Development in the Unincorporated Areas (April 2025) state that all development and new construction within a FEMA-designated floodplain requires a floodplain permit before any work begins, and that a flood study may be required depending on the site. The Engineering Services Fee Schedule 2026, approved by Court Order 147297 and effective 1 October 2026, prices the floodplain permit application at $34, adding that if a floodplain study is required a flood study review fee may also apply. A site outside the floodplain has no floodplain permit. Inside a city, the city administers its own floodplain rules.

Alarm Permit (unincorporated county)

The Sheriff's alarm permit page states that the Sheriff's Office serves only unincorporated areas outside any city, that a Commissioners Court order sets the alarm permit fees there, and that new applicants mail a $30 check or money order with the application. The Sheriff's application form S-265A (dated 07/07/2026), which has a Commercial box, shows an application fee of $30 and says alarm permits are in effect for one year, must be renewed annually and are not transferable. The permit holder must be an individual, with the company name entered as the business name. Inside a city, the local police department handles alarm permits.

Fire Code Building/Construction Permit (unincorporated county)

Under Tarrant County Fire Code §3.001, no person may begin construction of, or make a substantial improvement to, a commercial building, public building or multifamily building of four or more units in the unincorporated county until the Fire Marshal issues a Building/Construction permit; a substantial improvement includes work costing more than half the building's appraised value and a change in occupancy classification (§1.003). Figures are from the Fire Marshal's Fire Code Permit Fee Schedule effective 1 October 2026, linked from the Fire Marshal's Fire Code page: $133 per 1,000 square feet for single-use commercial projects, tenant finish-outs and changes of occupancy, $266 per 1,000 for mixed-use projects, plus plan review at $33 per 1,000 and $100 for a site plan. The Fire Code page states the county requires third-party plan reviews for all new construction. The permit lapses if work does not start within 180 days (§3.003). Inside a city, the city permits instead.

Fire Code Certificate of Compliance (final fire inspection)

Tarrant County Fire Code §3.004(i) states that a building may not be occupied until the Fire Code Official issues a Certificate of Compliance or a Conditional Certificate of Compliance, and §3.004(b) puts the onus on the owner to request the inspection on or before completion. The Fire Marshal's Fire Code Permit Fee Schedule effective 1 October 2026 prices the Certificate of Compliance final fire inspection at $50, and a final for completion of a shell building only at $33. A conditional certificate lets the building be occupied while listed violations are fixed within a set time. This applies to buildings covered by the county Fire Code in the unincorporated county.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Non-Residential On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to you	Tarrant County Engineering Services	$277–$285 per permit, by system type	application valid for one year from the date the fees are received	2026-10-09
Floodplain Permit (unincorporated county)only if it applies to you	Tarrant County Engineering Services	$34 per application, plus any flood study review	per project	2026-10-09
Alarm Permit (unincorporated county)only if it applies to you	Tarrant County Sheriff's Office — Communications Division (Alarm Permits)	$30 per year	1 year; renewed annually	2026-10-09
Fire Code Building/Construction Permit (unincorporated county)	Tarrant County Fire Marshal's Office	$133 per 1,000 sq ft for a single-use commercial project, building tenant finish-out or change of occupancy/use; $266 per 1,000 sq ft for a mixed-use commercial project; plus a plan review fee of $33 per 1,000 sq ft and $100 for a site plan	construction must start within 180 days of issue or the permit is void	2026-10-09
Fire Code Certificate of Compliance (final fire inspection)	Tarrant County Fire Marshal's Office	$50 per final fire inspection	one-time, on completion of the permitted work	2026-10-09

Business licenses and permits in Tarrant County, Texas

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Tarrant County