Administrative overview · FIPS 48085
Collin County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Collin County Development Services / Engineering and Fire Marshal’s Office
For a project in or near Collin County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
972-548-5585 (Development Services); 972-548-5576 (Fire Marshal’s Office); 972-548-3727 (Engineering)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Collin County Development Services, 4690 Community Avenue, Suite 200, McKinney, TX 75071
Operating hours
Development Services: Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–4:30 PM. Online applications, payments, inspections, comments, and status tracking are available through the Citizen Self-Service portal.
Review expectation
After intake and invoice issuance, which the county says generally takes 2–4 business days, review begins when all fees are paid and can take up to 30 days. OSSF suitability plat review can take up to 45 days after fees are paid. Administratively complete plat packages are considered by Commissioners Court within 30 days. Residential and OSSF permits expire after 365 days of no activity; commercial/non-residential permits expire after 180 days of no activity.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Collin County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Collin County Development Services / Engineering and Fire Marshal’s Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 972-548-5585 (Development Services); 972-548-5576 (Fire Marshal’s Office); 972-548-3727 (Engineering).
How long might review take?
After intake and invoice issuance, which the county says generally takes 2–4 business days, review begins when all fees are paid and can take up to 30 days. OSSF suitability plat review can take up to 45 days after fees are paid. Administratively complete plat packages are considered by Commissioners Court within 30 days. Residential and OSSF permits expire after 365 days of no activity; commercial/non-residential permits expire after 180 days of no activity.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply through the Citizen Self-Service portal; it accepts permit and plan applications, schedules inspections, provides review comments and status, and accepts fees. For residential/OSSF questions contact Development Services at 972-548-5585 or DevelopmentServices@co.collin.tx.us; OSSF inspections use DevelopmentSvcInspections@co.collin.tx.us. Apply for a development permit first when a new structure will connect to a new OSSF; staff then sends the associated OSSF permit through the portal. Commercial applicants should contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 972-548-5576.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
In unincorporated Collin County and county-permitting ETJ areas, residential and non-residential projects that disturb ground or add a footprint require a county Development Services permit; commercial projects may also require Fire Marshal permits. New residential dwellings and substantial remodels require a third-party inspection under state law/County Court Order. County floodplain regulations prohibit new residential structures in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and require applicable floodplain permits, elevations, and flood-damage measures. OSSF work is regulated under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366, 30 TAC Chapter 285, and stricter county OSSF rules; no separate county ICC edition was published. Permits are generally not required for re-roofing, new electrical service on an existing structure, roof-mounted solar panels, water-heater replacement, or AC-unit changeout when the project does not disturb ground, add footprint, create a new tenancy, or otherwise meet the county’s extensive-remodel threshold. Non-residential examples also include antenna additions on an existing cell tower without a new ground footprint. County and municipal/ETJ requirements can still change the result.