Bastrop County, Texas septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Bastrop County Development Services — Environmental & Sanitation / OSSF Program

Bastrop County Development Services, 211 Jackson Street, Bastrop, TX 78602; 512-581-7176.

Texas permitting framework

Texas requires a permit and approved plan to construct, install, alter, extend, or repair an OSSF unless a specific exemption applies. TCEQ directs owners to the local permitting authority where an authorized local program exists and warns that local programs can be more stringent than statewide minimums.

Licensed OSSF professionals

TCEQ licenses or registers site evaluators, installers, maintenance providers, maintenance technicians, and designated representatives. County procedures can require particular licensed professionals based on system type, site conditions, and local rules.

Bastrop County is the TCEQ-authorized local agent

Bastrop County states that it is the authorized agent for TCEQ and has adopted Chapter 285 plus a local OSSF order containing requirements that are more stringent than the statewide minimums.

Permit required for every installation or modification regardless of acreage

The county expressly requires a permit for all septic installations and modifications regardless of acreage. This means owners should not assume the Texas 10-acre permitting exemption applies inside the Bastrop County authorized program.

Residential structures must obtain OSSF approval

Bastrop County states that all structures to be used as a residence are required to obtain an OSSF permit to demonstrate compliance with the county order.

Local minimum sizing rule for smaller structures

The county publishes a minimum sizing factor of 180 gallons per day for structures up to 1,500 square feet, including guest houses, workshops, detached garages, and recreational vehicles, with the county’s stated exception for RV parks. Project-specific design requirements still control.

Aerobic maintenance after the first two years

Bastrop County requires the initial two-year maintenance contract with a licensed maintenance provider for aerobic systems. The county states that homeowners may maintain their own aerobic system after that initial period if they complete approved training and meet the county/state owner-maintenance requirements.

Published application and inspection fees

The county’s published 2024–25 Development Services fee schedule lists $600 for standard residential OSSF applications, $700 for non-standard residential systems designed by a PE or designer, and $700 for residential aerobic systems. It also lists separate modification, design-resubmission, reinspection, commercial, and renewal fees. Confirm that the linked schedule is still current before filing.

Official sources

SepticScope summarizes public-agency information for planning purposes. The permitting agency's current instructions control if they differ from this guide.