Septic rules and requirements in Wise County, Texas

Septic permits in Wise County are issued by the Wise County Environmental Services. A new system permit costs $360. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 77.8% of the rated acres. Wise County Environmental Services page · checked 2026-10-05

Wise County Environmental Services

Issues the permit

checked 2026-10-05

$360

Septic system permit

checked 2026-10-05

Very limited

USDA rating, 77.8% of rated acres

checked 2026-10-06

Who issues septic permits in Wise County?

Wise County Environmental Services, at 2901 S FM 51, Building 100, Decatur, TX 76234, 940-627-9332. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.

Wise County Environmental Services page · checked 2026-10-05

What does a septic permit cost in Wise County?

$360 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.

Applies to a standard system.

The county's fee table for this permit
permit fee (standard system) shown above	$360	a standard system
permit fee (aerobic system or anything that requires testing)	$560	a aerobic or tested system
Non-profit septic permits	$10	any system
Re-inspection fees	$100	a system the source lists as re-inspection

An aerobic system costs more.

Wise County Environmental Services, How to obtain your permit · checked 2026-10-05

Is the soil in Wise County suitable for a septic system?

USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 77.8% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 394,935 acres — 77.8% of 507,896 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 112,961 acres — 22.2% of 507,896 rated acres.
Not rated — 83,068 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-06

What Wise County sets itself

The state writes the code. Wise County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the Texas requirements.

Wise County sets a minimum lot size of 1 acre with public water and 2 acres with a private well.

Applies to a lot that existed after February 3, 1997.

A smaller lot needs a warranty deed that shows the lot existed before that date.

Wise County Environmental Services, How to obtain your permit · checked 2026-10-05
Wise County refers land divided into tracts of 10 acres or less for platting.

Applies to land divided after May 15, 2000.

Wise County Environmental Services, How to obtain your permit · checked 2026-10-05

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.

Wise County Environmental Services page · checked 2026-10-05
Wise County Environmental Services, How to obtain your permit · checked 2026-10-05
Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Chapter 285, Section 285.30, Site Evaluation · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-06

Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Wise County Environmental Services, on 940-627-9332.