Septic recordsBuying & selling

Buying or Selling a Septic Property in Texas

We have not verified a statewide law in Texas requiring a septic inspection at the time a property transfers. That does not mean no requirement applies where you're buying: county and municipal time-of-transfer ordinances exist in various places around the country outside the states with a statewide law. Check the county page below, and ask the local health department directly — that is the authoritative source for a local ordinance, and this page is not.

254
counties
86
with records we hold
277,568
records held statewide
Not identified
statewide transfer law

What we could verify

No statewide Texas law requiring septic inspection at time of transfer. Three states do have a real, verified one — Massachusetts, Iowa, and a waterfront-only law in New Hampshire — for comparison; Texas is not one of them, at least not at the state level. A county or municipality in Texas could still have its own ordinance we have not audited; the local health department for the specific county is the authoritative source.

Who regulates septic in Texas

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) Program. See the full Texas septic regulation page for the permit sequence and licensing.

Finding the record before you close

Wherever you're transacting in Texas, the septic permit or as-built (where one exists) is almost always held by the county or district health office, not the state. How to find septic records before closing covers how to pull it; below is the county-by-county index of what we hold for Texas.

CountyRecords held
Travis164,420
Comal99,906
Randall6,747
Potter2,039
Collin1,144
Robertson473
Archer304
El Paso275
Refugio167
Hockley163
Hemphill140
Upshur138
Houston123
Marion118
McMullen117
Pecos107
Rains100
Anderson89
Jasper76
Orange76
Burleson65
Smith50
Kerr48
Hudspeth45
Jim Wells39
Liberty39
Jim Hogg34
Wichita29
Lubbock28
Crosby28
Wood26
Jackson26
Mason24
Hunt23
Armstrong22
Gonzales20
Calhoun18
Hopkins18
Dallam18
Gregg17
Nueces16
Newton16
Dallas16
Leon13
Trinity12
Guadalupe11
Coryell10
Brown10
Howard9
Harrison8
Caldwell8
Rockwall8
Polk7
San Patricio6
Parker6
Waller6
Cameron5
San Augustine5
Hill5
McLennan5
Taylor5
Andrews4
Sabine4
Angelina4
Somervell4
Midland3
Kaufman2
Jefferson2
Hays2
Webb1
Wharton1
Lee1
Washington1
San Jacinto1
Freestone1
Goliad1
Bailey1
Medina1
Wilson1
Fayette1
Bandera1
Concho1
McCulloch1
Tom Green1
Tarrant1
DeWitt1

Full Texas county index · Texas regulations · Texas septic companies · Open the parcel map

Common questions

Does Texas require a septic inspection to sell a house?

We have not verified a statewide law requiring one in Texas. A county or municipal ordinance could still apply; check with the local health department where the property is located.

Who regulates septic systems in Texas?

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) Program

Where do I find septic records for a Texas property before closing?

At the county or district health office that issued the permit, in almost every case. See the county-by-county index on this page for Texas, and our general guide to finding records before closing.

Reviewed 2026-08-31 against the official sources linked above (where a source is cited) or, where none is cited, left deliberately general. Laws, lender overlays and local ordinances change; confirm current requirements with the county or state agency, your lender, and a licensed inspector before you rely on this for a closing.