Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Cameron County Require a Permit
If your home is not connected to a city sewer, you need a permit before installing or repairing a septic system (called an OSSF in Texas).
An On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) is the Texas term for a septic system or similar private wastewater setup. If your home is not connected to city sewer, it likely has one. State law requires a permit and approved plan before you build, change, or repair an OSSF. Cameron County has its own local office that handles these permits. You apply locally, not directly to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Parts of Cameron County have older homes with aging septic systems. A county-wide survey found areas where systems are more likely to fail. Before buying rural land, ask if the property has an OSSF and whether it has a valid permit. Check tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf for state rules.
Source to confirm: TCEQ — On-Site Sewage Facilities (Septic Systems)