Septic rules and requirements in Comal County, Texas
Septic permits in Comal County are issued by the Comal County Environmental Health Department. A new system permit costs $300. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 97.6% of the rated acres. Comal County Environmental Health Department · checked 2026-09-23
Comal County Environmental Health
Issues the permit
checked 2026-09-23
$300
Septic system permit
checked 2026-09-23
Very limited
USDA rating, 97.6% of rated acres
checked 2026-09-12
Who issues septic permits in Comal County?
Comal County Environmental Health Department, at 195 David Jonas Drive, New Braunfels, TX 78132, 830-608-2090. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.
This department sits inside the county's Engineer's Office. It reviews OSSF designs and issues permits, and it enforces the county's and the state's environmental health rules. TCEQ named Comal County its own authorized agent for these permits.
The office answers this line Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Comal County Environmental Health Department · checked 2026-09-23
What does a septic permit cost in Comal County?
$300 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.
Applies to a sewerage facility permit for a system under 500 gallons of sewage a day. It is the lower of two fee tiers.
In effect from January 1, 2019.
| Sewerage Facility Permit (<500 gallons per day) | $300 | a system of up to 500 gallons a day |
|---|---|---|
| Sewerage Facility Permit (>500 gallons per day) | $500 | a system of more than 499 gallons a day |
| Holding Tank Permit | $150 | a alternative system |
A system that produces more sewage a day pays a higher fee under the same schedule. The department also charges separate fees for a permit renewal, a remodel, a re-inspection, and a holding tank. This is the county's own fee schedule, effective since January 2019. State rules set a permit fee only for areas with no local authorized agent. Comal County is its own authorized agent, so the state fee does not apply here.
Comal County Environmental Health Department — List of Environmental Health Department Fees · checked 2026-09-23
Is the soil in Comal County suitable for a septic system?
USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 97.6% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-12
What Comal County sets itself
The state writes the code. Comal County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the Texas requirements.
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$300
Applies to a sewerage facility permit for a system under 500 gallons of sewage a day. It is the lower of two fee tiers.
A system that produces more sewage a day pays a higher fee under the same schedule. The department also charges separate fees for a permit renewal, a remodel, a re-inspection, and a holding tank. This is the county's own fee schedule, effective since January 2019. State rules set a permit fee only for areas with no local authorized agent. Comal County is its own authorized agent, so the state fee does not apply here.
Comal County Environmental Health Department — List of Environmental Health Department Fees · checked 2026-09-23
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Comal County holds back its final approval until two things happen. A flood plain permit must be issued, and the project must meet county subdivision rules.
State rules for septic systems set no such requirement. They only require the site evaluation to record whether the tract sits in a mapped floodplain.
Comal County Engineer's Office — Apply for Septic Permit · checked 2026-09-23
Sources
Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. USDA's Soil Data Access service supplies the soil records. A script writes them, and nobody types them.
- Comal County Environmental Health Department
- Comal County Environmental Health Department — OSSF Information
- Comal County Engineer's Office — Apply for Septic Permit
- Comal County Environmental Health Department — List of Environmental Health Department Fees
- 30 TAC §285.91(2), Table II — Septic Tank and Aerobic Treatment Unit Sizing
- USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO)
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Comal County Environmental Health Department, on 830-608-2090.