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Application Process
Verify Your Address
This website provides information on development outside corporate city limits in Travis County.
To verify what city and county your property is located in, use the Jurisdiction Web Map.
Gather Required Information
The following information is needed to complete your application:
- Address
- Legal description of the property from Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD)
- Property ID (PID)
- Lot # (if applicable)
- Block (if applicable)
- Phase and section (if applicable)
- Sealed estimate for cost of construction
- Proposed construction start date
Unsure about required information or documents?
Our new tool Camino can help. Answer a few questions to get information that will assist with your application.
This version of Camino is a beta release and is intended as a supplemental tool to learn about likely requirements for your project. We have tried to build the tool to accurately capture the required steps, information, and documentation depending on the unique nature of your project, but it is NOT a substitute for Travis County Code or any other laws and regulations.
Collect & Complete Other Required Documents
These documents are the minimum required documents necessary to accept a Commercial Site Plan application. Additional documents may be required, and if documents are missing, incomplete, or illegible, the application cannot be accepted.
- Non-Residential Checklist
- Site plan sealed by a Texas-licensed engineer that complies with Travis County Code and at a minimum includes:
- Site grading
- Drainage information
- All proposed improvements
- Erosion and sedimentation control plan
- Restoration plan
- Sealed engineering and drainage report for the site
- Sealed structural plans for pond walls, retaining walls, and all concrete structures
- Travis County Fire Marshal site plan approval
- Traffic Generation Information on Travis County forms
- A completed Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) if there are more than 1,000 vehicle trips per day
- Floodplain & Drainage Analysis
- Stormwater data, calculations, and drainage and detention system designs shall conform to the City of Austin Drainage Criteria Manual.
- If in a floodplain, a Floodplain Letter (one of the following)
- If in a floodplain, a Floodplain Letter (one of the following)
or - Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) Letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Authorization Letter (response to the PCN Letter) from the USACE
- If in a floodplain, a Floodplain Letter (one of the following)
- Receipt from USPS for Certified Mailing for Project Notifications
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) (construction plan only)
- Site Grading Plan (construction plan only)
Create an Account
Travis County uses a permitting website to process development permits.
Once you complete all previous steps, please proceed to create a permitting account.
Apply for Your Permit
Once your account is created and phone number verified, you can move on to filing your paperwork.
Please have all the requirements in previous steps handy.
Start your online application.
Follow the instructions and steps provided within the platform.
In the “Select an Application Type” step, select “Development (Non-Residential)”.
Check the Status of Your Application
As we review your application, you can track the progress in the permitting website.
All communication associated with your permit application will be conducted within the same website. Please monitor your email and queue for status updates or comments associated with your application.
Respond to Our Comments (if applicable)
If the County has provided comments on your application, action is required by you to address the comments. The review process will be paused until you have responded sufficiently to each comment.
Receive the Permit
Once your application is approved, you will receive an e-mail notification.
Post the permit somewhere visible from the public right of way (ROW) on your work site before you begin your project.
Schedule Inspections
After you receive your permit, you must schedule the following inspections. Additional inspections may be required.
- Pre-construction meeting with development and environmental to determine applicable inspections
Related Permits
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Work in Right-of-Way / Utility Installation
Learn how to get a permit to install utilities or do work in the county right-of-way.
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic System)
Learn how to get a permit to install a septic system on a commercial property.
References & Code
Travis County Code:
- Chapter 247, Health & Safety
- Chapter 249, Junkyards, Automotive Wrecking, and Salvage Yard
- Chapter 260, Public Swimming Pools
- Chapter 312, Siting of Solid Waste Facilities
- Chapter 448, On-Site Sewage Facilities
- Chapter 464, Floodplain Management
- Chapter 482, Development Regulations