TCEQ-Licensed Designer & InstallerManchaca, TXServing Austin & the Hill Country
(512) 710-7163
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Service · Permits & Design

Septic permits and design handled from soil test to county approval.

Texas OSSF permitting is not a process you want to manage yourself. We run the soil and site evaluation, produce code-compliant CAD drawings, file the permit with your county, and follow it through approval. You stay focused on your project, not the county office.

Start the Permit ProcessCall (512) 710-7163
What We Handle

The permit is only as good as the design behind it

In Texas, every new or modified OSSF (On-Site Sewage Facility) requires a permitted design signed off by a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator. The permit does not come before the design. The design cannot be right without an accurate soil and site evaluation. The three steps are a chain, and the chain is only as strong as the evaluator who ran it.

We are licensed to perform the full chain: soil and site evaluation, system design, and OSSF permit filing. That matters because it removes the handoff between the evaluator and the designer. When the same licensed professional evaluates the soil and produces the design, the data does not get lost or misread between parties, and the county has fewer grounds to kick the application back.

Travis County, Hays County, Bastrop County, and the other counties we work in each have their own OSSF programs with their own forms and review timelines. We know their requirements and file applications that are correct the first time. Delays most often come from incomplete or non-compliant submittals, not from county processing time. We do not submit incomplete applications.

What the permit and design engagement includes

  • On-site soil evaluation and profile documentation
  • Setback measurements from wells, water features, and property lines
  • System type determination based on soil and site data
  • Code-compliant septic system design with CAD drawings
  • County OSSF permit application preparation and filing
  • Application follow-through and response to county questions
  • Coordination with the county inspector for final approval
  • Permit and design documents provided to you for your records

Design only or design plus install?

We offer design and permitting as a standalone service for property owners or builders who already have an installation contractor. If you want us to handle the installation as well, that is our preferred arrangement, because it removes the handoff and one more point where errors can enter. See our new installation page for the full picture.

How It Goes

From blank land to approved permit

1

Site Evaluation

Soil borings, slope and topography assessment, setback measurements, and any limiting-layer identification.

2

System Design

Code-compliant design matched to your soil data, lot, bedroom count, and applicable county OSSF rules. CAD drawings produced and reviewed.

3

Permit Filing

Complete OSSF application submitted to your county. We respond to any reviewer questions and track the application to approval.

4

Approval & Handoff

Permit approved and issued. Documents delivered to you. If we are also installing, we schedule the installation from here.

What To Expect

Timelines and process reality

2–6 wks
Typical time from site evaluation to county permit approval, varying by county workload
1 stop
Same TCEQ-licensed professional evaluates the soil, produces the design, and files the permit
No delays
Complete applications submitted, reducing the back-and-forth that slows most permit processes
Permits & Design FAQ

Common questions

OSSF stands for On-Site Sewage Facility. In Texas, any property that handles its own wastewater is regulated as an OSSF. A county OSSF permit is required before installing, modifying, or repairing a septic system. The permit process includes a site evaluation, a code-compliant design, county review and approval, and a final inspection after installation. Skipping the permit is a code violation that can create serious problems when you try to sell the property.
Permitting timelines vary by county and their current workload. In the Austin metro, the full process from initial site evaluation through county permit approval typically runs two to six weeks. We file the permit and follow it through so you are not tracking it yourself. Delays most often come from incomplete applications, which is why we review every submittal before it goes to the county.
Yes. Design-only engagements are available. We perform the soil and site evaluation, produce the code-compliant CAD design, and file the OSSF permit. If you then bring in your own installer, the permit and design documents transfer to them. That said, using the designer as the installer removes a handoff point and a potential source of errors, which is why we prefer to handle both when possible.
We visit the property and assess the soil profile through test holes or borings, evaluate the slope and topography, measure setbacks from wells, water features, and property lines, and check for any limiting layers like shallow rock or a high water table. The results determine what system types the site can support and directly inform the design. Without an accurate evaluation, any design is a guess.

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Get Started

Ready to start the permit process?

Tell us about your property and what you’re building. We’ll schedule the site evaluation and walk you through the permit timeline for your county.

Start the Permit ProcessCall (512) 710-7163