Septic rules in Hays County
In Hays County "a permit will be required for all On-Site Sewage Facilities, regardless of the size of the lot or acreage onto which it is installed," the county's septic page said as of August 2026. No permit is issued for a system on a tract found in violation of the Hays County Development (Subdivision) Regulations, so check the tract's subdivision status first. Hays County Development Services issues permits through an online account or in person, and the county cites Health and Safety Code chapter 366 as its authority over on-site sewage systems.
Septic complaints go to 512-393-2150, option 3. The development fee schedule lists $610 for a single-family application and $910 for non-single-family. A reinspection or tie-in inspection is $150, and so is a design resubmission. A minor alteration is $310, a major one $510. Renewal is $600 single family or $900 otherwise, with a designer's letter that nothing changed. Every application also carries a $10 TCEQ OSSF Grant Program state fee.
Advanced and aerobic systems need a Maintenance Affidavit and a two-year initial maintenance contract with the application, and ongoing maintenance after that. If the contract's late, that's $50, so note the renewal date when you sign.
The county's rules, line by line
- Who permits septic systems
- Hays County Development Services (online account and application, or in person); septic complaints 512-393-2150, option 3.
- Governing code
- Health and Safety Code chapter 366, which Hays County says gives it general authority over on-site sewage disposal systems.
- Inspection at sale
- No rule found in the county's published code. The county's septic pages state no inspection rule for a sale or transfer.
- Permit steps
- Permit required for all OSSFs regardless of lot size or acreage. No permit is issued for an OSSF on a tract found in violation of the Hays County Development (Subdivision) Regulations.
- Still to confirm with the county
- Advanced or aerobic systems need a Maintenance Affidavit and an initial two-year maintenance contract with the application; ongoing maintenance is required for all aerobic or advanced treatment OSSFs.
Septic fees in Hays County
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Permit application, single family residence | $610 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Permit application, non-single-family | $910 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Reinspection / tie-in inspection | $150 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Design resubmission | $150 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Minor system alteration | $310 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Major alteration | $510 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Maintenance contract late fee | $50 | Development fee schedule, OSSF block |
| Renewal, single family | $600 | With a designer letter that no changes were made |
| Renewal, non-single-family | $900 | With a designer letter that no changes were made |
| TCEQ OSSF Grant Program state fee | $10 | Listed on every application |
Rules and fees change every year, so confirm a line with Hays County Development Services before you rely on it. "No rule found" means the pages and code we have say nothing on that line, which isn't the same as the county telling you there's no rule. To compare counties, use the county rules lookup.
What septic work costs
These are statewide Texas estimates from our model, so they aren't Hays County prices; where the county posts its own permit fees, they are on this page.
| Job | Estimated range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Septic pumping | $300 to $600 | per visit |
| Septic inspection | $110 to $455 | per inspection |
| Drain field | $690 to $4,650 | per repair |
These are estimates, not quotes. How we estimate costs.