Texas · Counties · Smith County

Smith County

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

Tyler · county seat North Texas 252,549 people · 921 sq mi VERIFIED 09 / 2026
COUNTY MAP
outline + city dots
slot, not yet drawn
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
No, not from the county

Smith County says it in one line in its own ordinance index: other than subdivision regulations, Smith County has no local building policies for construction in unincorporated areas of the county. The regulations the county has adopted cover subdivisions, flood damage prevention, driveway culverts, road right-of-way, salvage yards and stormwater. There is no building permit to apply for and no county approval to wait on before a building is delivered.

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.

No building policy is not the same as no rules at all. Flood damage prevention regulations still apply on land in a mapped flood hazard area, a driveway culvert permit still applies at a county road, and septic is permitted separately. None of this reaches inside Tyler or any other city limit.

  • Other than subdivision regulations, Smith County has no local building policies for construction in unincorporated areas of the county.source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · archived copy ↗
  • RTS Environmental LLC, run by Trace Stanley, is the contractor for Smith County. The office can be reached at 903-630-4234 or [email protected]source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
DESIGN WIND SPEED

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

90 – 115 mph
NOT SITE VERIFIED
9090–115130160 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
Smith 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 Smith 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.

ArpRules not verified
BullardRules not verified
FlintRules not verified
LindaleRules not verified
TroupRules not verified
TylerRules not verified
WhitehouseRules not verified
WinonaRules not verified
ALL ZIP CODES · 23
7514075647756627568475701757027570375704757057570675707757087570975711757507575775762757717577375789757907579175792
WHO TO CALL

Smith County permit office

Address not verified
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]
Who to call in Smith County