Administrative overview · FIPS 48499
Wood 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
Wood County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management, Floodplain Administration, OSSF Inspector, and Commissioners Court
For a project in or near Wood 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
Fire Marshal/Emergency Management and Floodplain Administrator: 903-763-2356; mobile 903-569-7327; OSSF Inspector: 903-763-5308; courthouse: 903-763-1236
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Wood County Courthouse, 100 S. Main Street, Quitman, TX 75783; Fire Marshal/Emergency Management mailing address: P.O. Box 938, Quitman, TX 75783; OSSF Inspector: Smart Street at West Goode Street, Quitman, TX 75783
Operating hours
Operating hours not verified
Review expectation
No fixed floodplain or field-inspection review time is published. Texas OSSF rules require the permitting authority to approve or deny a complete septic application and planning materials within 30 days and give a written reason for denial. Under Wood County's 2026 subdivision rules, the Commissioners Court must take final action on a complete plat application within 30 days; an approved final plat must be filed with the County Clerk within six months. A floodplain development permit remains valid for one year and must be renewed if the work is not completed.
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 Wood County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Wood County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management, Floodplain Administration, OSSF Inspector, and Commissioners Court 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 Fire Marshal/Emergency Management and Floodplain Administrator: 903-763-2356; mobile 903-569-7327; OSSF Inspector: 903-763-5308; courthouse: 903-763-1236 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
No fixed floodplain or field-inspection review time is published. Texas OSSF rules require the permitting authority to approve or deny a complete septic application and planning materials within 30 days and give a written reason for denial. Under Wood County's 2026 subdivision rules, the Commissioners Court must take final action on a complete plat application within 30 days; an approved final plat must be filed with the County Clerk within six months. A floodplain development permit remains valid for one year and must be renewed if the work is not completed.
How are inspections scheduled?
For floodplain work, submit the county Development Permit Application with the $25 fee and any required plans, specifications, and elevation certification to Floodplain Administrator Tully Davidson; call 903-763-2356 or 903-569-7327 to coordinate review and inspections. The administrator determines the flood zone, may approve or deny the application, and may require an elevation certificate for floodplain construction. For septic work, contact the Wood County OSSF Inspector at 903-763-5308 and obtain the required authorization before construction; subdivision applications must include a septic letter from the county OSSF office or, in the Lake Fork area, the Sabine River Authority.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Wood County publishes no countywide general structural-building permit or adopted IRC, IBC, residential electrical, plumbing, or mechanical code for unincorporated property. The county does enforce floodplain-development permitting, OSSF requirements, and the Revised and Amended Wood County Subdivision Rules and Regulations effective May 26, 2026, including drainage, road, groundwater, stormwater, and site-suitability standards. OSSF work is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366, 30 TAC Chapter 285, and the local authorized-agent program; Lake Fork-area septic review may involve the Sabine River Authority. Incorporated cities and applicable ETJs may impose separate municipal codes. No county general-building permit is published for ordinary structural, alteration, or cosmetic work in unincorporated Wood County, but that does not exempt floodplain development, OSSF installation or alteration, subdivision platting, drainage, driveway, stormwater, or municipal/ETJ requirements. The floodplain administrator may issue an exemption certificate after determining that a proposed project lies outside the Special Flood Hazard Area. No separate county minor-work exemption list is published; applicants should confirm OSSF exceptions with the county inspector because local rules may be stricter than state minimums.