Administrative overview · FIPS 48321
Matagorda 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
Matagorda County Environmental Health Department and Fire Marshal's Office
For a project in or near Matagorda 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
Environmental Health: 979-244-2717; 911 Addressing: 979-244-6801; Fire Marshal: 979-241-0180
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Environmental Health: 2200 7th Street, First Floor, Bay City, TX 77414; Fire Marshal: 2200 7th Street, Third Floor, Bay City, TX 77414
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM-5:00 PM; closed 12:00-1:00 PM for lunch
Review expectation
County A-, VE-, and X-zone guidance states approximately five days for permit review. A- and VE-zone development permits are valid for one year; qualifying RVs in flood zones must remain road-ready and be moved at least once every 180 days.
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 Matagorda County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Matagorda County Environmental Health Department 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?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact Environmental Health: 979-244-2717; 911 Addressing: 979-244-6801; Fire Marshal: 979-241-0180 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
County A-, VE-, and X-zone guidance states approximately five days for permit review. A- and VE-zone development permits are valid for one year; qualifying RVs in flood zones must remain road-ready and be moved at least once every 180 days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Contact Environmental Health at 979-244-2717. Obtain a county 911 address before beginning and submit plans, construction cost, contractor information, and prior septic approval or a sewer-service letter. Flood-zone work requires the applicable engineer-prepared plans and elevation certificates, including final documentation. Septic work must be performed by a registered installer and coordinated with Environmental Health for inspection and licensing to operate.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Matagorda County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance adopted December 28, 2020, using FEMA flood maps effective January 15, 2021; A- and VE-zone construction generally requires two feet of freeboard and engineered/elevation documentation. The county adopted the 2021 International Fire Code with amendments effective May 4, 2026. On-site sewage facilities are regulated under the county OSSF order and 30 TAC Chapters 285 and 366. A generally adopted county structural building-code edition was not confirmed. No general minor-work or size exemption was confirmed. County guidance requires permits for structures and improvements of any size, including portable buildings, roofs, siding, exterior remodeling, additions, electrical connections, fill in floodplains, and RV placement in regulated situations. X-zone projects receive a flood-zone exemption certificate but still require the county development permit. New or altered septic systems require permits regardless of acreage.