Texas · Counties · Hays County

Hays County

What it takes to put a carport, garage, barn or RV cover on your property in Hays County, Texas. Permit authority, wind speed, and who to call.

San Marcos · county seat South and Central Texas 304,390 people · 677 sq mi VERIFIED 09 / 2026
COUNTY MAP
outline + city dots
slot, not yet drawn
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
Yes. Outbuildings are named

Hays County requires a development permit for essentially anything you put on the ground in the unincorporated county, and it says so because of the National Flood Insurance Program rather than a zoning power. The county's own FAQ states that in order for the county to be in the National Flood Insurance Program, the county requires a permit for any kind of development, including but not limited to houses, pools, outbuildings, grading, creek crossing, etc. A shop, barn or carport set on your land is an outbuilding by that list. The fee depends on whether the site is inside or outside an established floodplain.

Texas counties have no general zoning power. Outside city limits there are no county setbacks, no lot coverage rule and no design review, so nobody at the county can tell you where on your land the building goes.

Fee: Set by the Hays County Development Services fee schedule. The county states the development permit fee is based on whether the development is inside or out of an established floodplain.

Hays County states it does not have and does not use zoning regulations for developing in the unincorporated areas of the county, and that it does not perform inspections on single-family development. A builder has to hire a third party for those. The airport zoning district around San Marcos Regional Airport is the one exception the county claims.

  • Yes, in order for the county to be in the National Flood Insurance Program, the county requires a permit for any kind of development, including but not limited to houses, pools, outbuildings, grading, creek crossing, etc.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • Hays County does not have / use zoning regulations for developing in the unincorporated areas of the county.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • The development permit fee is based on if the development is inside or out of an established floodplain.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • Hays County does not perform inspections on single-family development. A builder will be required to contact a 3rd party to complete the inspections.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · archived copy ↗
  • 2171 Yarrington Road Kyle, TX 78640source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · archived copy ↗
DESIGN WIND SPEED

Regional band for south and central texas. Wind speed follows your address, not the county line, so this is context and not a site figure.

110 – 130 mph
NOT SITE VERIFIED
90110–130130160 MPH

ASCE 7, Risk Category II. Look up your exact address →

County zoning
None
Statewide. Texas counties hold no general zoning power.
Windstorm certification
Not required
Hays is inland. Only the 14 coastal counties need a TDI WPI-8.
Floodplain administration
Not verified
We have not confirmed who administers FEMA floodplain permits here. Call the county before you pour.
Septic / OSSF setback
Not verified
If your slab lands near a septic field, the OSSF authority has a say. Ask when you call.
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TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]

Cities and communities in Hays County

Inside city limits the city's rules apply on top of the county's, and cities do zone. We have not yet read each city's ordinance, so every row below is marked unverified.

AustinRules not verified
BudaRules not verified
DriftwoodRules not verified
Dripping SpringsRules not verified
KyleRules not verified
San MarcosRules not verified
WimberleyRules not verified
ALL ZIP CODES · 14
7813078610786197862078623786407865278656786637866678676787367873778739
WHO TO CALL

Hays County Development Services

2171 Yarrington Road, Kyle, TX 78640
Call 512.393.2150 County permit page ↗
Ask them three things: do I need a permit to put up a carport here, is my site in a floodplain, and how far from the septic field.
CHECK YOUR EXACT SITE

Opens ATC Hazards by Location, the source we use for wind, snow and seismic values.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES
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TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]
Call Hays County