Texas · Counties · Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County

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

Edinburg · county seat South and Central Texas 921,549 people · 1,571 sq mi VERIFIED 09 / 2026
COUNTY MAP
outline + city dots
slot, not yet drawn
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
Yes. Any structure needs a county permit

Hidalgo County requires a development permit before construction of any structure in the unincorporated county. The Planning Department's own permit application, which the county heads Chapter 232, Texas Local Government Code, states that the applicant acknowledges a development permit is required for the construction of any structure prior to the commencement of improvements. There is no square footage floor and no carve-out for accessory buildings on the form. A separate permit covers the septic system, and property in a mapped flood zone needs an elevation certificate before clearance is issued.

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.

The county grounds this permit in Chapter 232 of the Local Government Code, the border and colonia subdivision authority, not in Chapter 233. Nothing on the pages read says the county has adopted Chapter 233 Subchapter C, so that is recorded as unknown rather than yes.

  • APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANY STRUCTURE PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTSsource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • A SEPARATE PERMIT IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS AND THE VERIFICATION THAT SEPTIC TANKS WERE INSTALLED IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • PLANNING DEPARTMENT, COUNTY OF HIDALGO, Main Office, 2818 S. Business Hwy 281, Edinburg, Texas 78539, 956-318-2840source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • THE APPLICATION FEE SHALL BE DOUBLED FOR CONSTRUCTION COMMENCING...PRIOR TO OBTAINING AN APPROVED APPLICATIONsource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • Guiding and managing the growth of the unincorporated areas of the County through policiessource ↗ · 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
Hidalgo 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.
SPONSOR · 970×120AD 1 OF 2
TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]

Cities and communities in Hidalgo 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.

AlamoRules not verified
DonnaRules not verified
EdcouchRules not verified
EdinburgRules not verified
ElsaRules not verified
HargillRules not verified
HidalgoRules not verified
La BlancaRules not verified
La JoyaRules not verified
La VillaRules not verified
LinnRules not verified
Los EbanosRules not verified
McallenRules not verified
MercedesRules not verified
MissionRules not verified
PenitasRules not verified
PharrRules not verified
ProgresoRules not verified
San JuanRules not verified
Sullivan CityRules not verified
WeslacoRules not verified
ALL ZIP CODES · 30
785017850378504785167853778538785397854078541785427854378549785577855878560785627856378565785697857078572785737857478576785777857978589785957859678599
WHO TO CALL

Hidalgo County Planning Department, Permitting Division

2818 S. Business Hwy 281, Edinburg, TX 78539
Call (956) 318-2840 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
SPONSOR · 300×250AD 2 OF 2
TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]
Call Hidalgo County