Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
Public Works/Floodplain: 432-742-7370; City-County Health Department septic: 432-681-7613; State Fire Marshal: 512-676-6800
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
Midland County Public Works, Midland Health Department, and Texas State Fire Marshal's Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Public Works/Floodplain: 432-742-7370; City-County Health Department septic: 432-681-7613; State Fire Marshal: 512-676-6800.
N/A for general floodplain review. OSSF authorization to construct is valid for one year, and the Health Department reserves at least 24 hours for initial application review before an inspection can be scheduled. Driveway and related Public Works permits are routed to Commissioners Court on its regular meeting cycle.
For septic work, contact Midland Health Department at 432-681-7613 at least four working days before inspection and leave the system uncovered until it passes; no inspection is scheduled during the first 24 hours after application receipt. Floodplain projects may require a site plan and a surveyor- or engineer-signed elevation or floodproofing certificate returned to Public Works. State fire/building inspection requests use the State Fire Marshal contacts listed on the county Fire Marshal page.
Midland County Flood Damage Prevention Regulations adopted in 1992 and the Monahans and South Draw Interim Flood Planning Framework adopted December 13, 2021; county OSSF requirements under 30 TAC Chapter 285. For addresses outside City of Midland limits, the county states that fire codes and building/fire-code permits, inspections, violations, and certificates of occupancy are handled by the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office; the county does not publish specific structural or fire-code editions for 2026. The City Fire Marshal may instead enforce within the City's ETJ. County guidance does not publish a minor-work exemption. It states that every person planning development in unincorporated Midland County must first obtain a floodplain permit; covered development includes buildings, additions and improvements, mobile-home placement, fill, grading, paving, excavation, drilling, storage, and changes to channels, ditches, or playa lakes. Verify City of Midland ETJ jurisdiction for the project address.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.