Inside San Antonio city limits? Outside the city but still in Bexar County? In the San Antonio ETJ? Or building on rural Hill Country land? The permit path depends on exactly where your property is located and what you plan to build.
- City limits vs. unincorporated county
- ETJ status
- Building use and occupancy
- Floodplain and drainage
- Septic / OSSF
- Driveway and right-of-way access
- Required engineered plans and foundation documents
The first question is “Who has jurisdiction over my property?” A San Antonio mailing address does not always mean the property is inside San Antonio city limits. Being outside the city also does not automatically mean no approvals are required.
Start with the City of San Antonio Development Services Department for zoning, plan review, permits and inspections.
Start with Bexar County and identify which development, Fire Marshal, floodplain, septic, access or stormwater requirements apply.
County requirements can overlap with certain requirements of the city whose extraterritorial jurisdiction covers the property.
Your exact requirements can change based on building use, square footage, occupancy, utilities, floodplain status, site work and driveway access.
For projects within the incorporated City of San Antonio.
The City of San Antonio Development Services Department handles building permits for properties located within city limits. New construction can involve zoning or plat verification, plan review, permits, inspections and related trade approvals.
For properties in unincorporated Bexar County.
Do not assume that “outside the city” means “no permit.” Bexar County regulates certain construction in unincorporated areas, and covered projects can involve County Fire Marshal plan review, permitting and inspections.
Depending on the property and project, separate requirements may also involve floodplain, stormwater, driveway/right-of-way, septic/OSSF and other development approvals.
One of the most commonly misunderstood situations.
ETJ means Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. A property can be outside the incorporated city limits while certain development-related requirements still involve San Antonio.
Bexar County's current building-permit guidance addresses projects located in the City of San Antonio ETJ and directs applicants to verify applicable city-related requirements in addition to county requirements.
The answer depends heavily on location, use and site conditions.
A private shop on rural acreage can have a very different permit path from a warehouse, church, retail building, barndominium or public-use facility.
- Does the structure require a building or development permit?
- Are engineered structural plans required?
- Is a separate engineered foundation plan required?
- Do plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems require trade permits?
- Is the property in a floodplain or drainage area?
- Will septic / OSSF approval be required?
- Is a driveway or right-of-way permit required?
- Are there plat notes, easements or private deed restrictions?
- Is the property inside a city ETJ?
Not every project needs every item, but these are common categories to verify.
Do not use one county's answer for another property. The San Antonio region crosses multiple counties, municipalities and ETJs.
Unincorporated Bexar County can involve building, Fire Marshal, floodplain,
stormwater, access and septic requirements.
Bexar County Building Permits →
Comal County's Fire Marshal publishes a permit and inspection process for covered projects
in unincorporated areas.
Comal County Permit Overview →
Kendall County publishes development information covering development permits,
access, septic, floodplain, driveway/ROW and Fire Marshal resources.
Kendall County Development Information →
Bandera County publishes a development permit application for residential
and non-residential development.
Bandera County Development Permit →
Medina County development rules can apply to unincorporated property,
with additional considerations where a city ETJ is involved.
Medina County Official Website →
Boerne, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes and other cities can have their own permitting, zoning, development and inspection processes.
The cheapest time to discover a permitting issue is before the building is engineered, fabricated or delivered.
Determine whether the property is inside a city, on unincorporated county land and whether an ETJ applies.
Tell the jurisdiction exactly how the building will be used. A private shop and a public-use building can be treated very differently.
Ask the reviewing authority for its current building or development permit checklist.
Check setbacks, floodplain, drainage, septic, access, plat notes, easements and private restrictions.
Ask which sealed building plans, calculations and foundation documents must be submitted.
Once requirements are known, configure the building around the correct use, loads and jurisdictional requirements.
Do I need a permit for a metal building in San Antonio?
Do I need a permit if my land is outside San Antonio city limits?
What does “unincorporated Bexar County” mean?
What is the San Antonio ETJ?
Do I need a permit for a shop or garage on acreage?
Do I need engineered drawings?
Are the rules the same in Bexar, Comal, Kendall, Medina and Bandera counties?
Tell us where you're building, the size you need and how you plan to use it. Texas Metal Buildings can help configure a red-iron or cold-formed building package around the project.
If your project needs additional architectural or planning guidance, Mario Herrera with MH Planner is a professional architect who can provide more information about his services and help you understand next steps for your project. Texas Metal Buildings LLC remains your metal building supplier; architectural, permitting and planning services are handled separately by the appropriate professional.
Permit requirements can change. Always verify current requirements with the applicable jurisdiction.
- City of San Antonio — Residential Permits
- City of San Antonio — Business & Commercial Projects
- Bexar County — Building Permits
- Bexar County — Code Enforcement & Inspections
- Comal County — Permit & Inspection Process Overview
- Kendall County — Development Information