McLennan County
What it takes to put a carport, garage, barn or RV cover on your property in McLennan County, Texas. Permit authority, wind speed, and who to call.
Waco · county seat
South and Central Texas
272,020 people · 1,037 sq mi
VERIFIED 09 / 2026
COUNTY MAP
outline + city dots
slot, not yet drawn
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
No, not from the county
McLennan County has no prior approval authority over new residential construction. For a new residential build, or work that adds more than fifty percent to the square footage or the value, you notify the county of the location, the approximate finish date and which version of the International Residential Code was used. Three inspections follow during the build. There is no permit to apply for and no approval to wait on.
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.
This is the county's own description of its authority. It does not cover work inside Waco or any other city limit, and it is not a floodplain or septic answer.
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
McLennan 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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Cities and communities in McLennan 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.
AxtellRules not verified
BrucevilleRules not verified
China SpringRules not verified
CrawfordRules not verified
EddyRules not verified
Elm MottRules not verified
HewittRules not verified
LeroyRules not verified
LorenaRules not verified
MartRules not verified
Mc GregorRules not verified
MoodyRules not verified
RieselRules not verified
RossRules not verified
WacoRules not verified
WestRules not verified
WoodwayRules not verified
ALL ZIP CODES · 29
7652476557765617662176622766247663076633766387664076643766547665576657766647667376682766897669176701767047670576706767077670876710767117671276798
WHO TO CALL
McLennan County Engineer
215 N 5th St, Suite 130
Waco, TX 76700
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.
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