Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Unincorporated Galveston County Are Regulated by the County
If your property is not on a public sewer, you need a septic system. In unincorporated Galveston County, the Health District handles permits and inspections.
A septic system is also called an on-site sewage facility, or OSSF. If you are not connected to a public sewer, you need one. In unincorporated Galveston County, the Galveston County Health District (GCHD) issues permits and does inspections. You must get a permit before you install or replace a system. Coastal soil and high water tables in parts of the county can make standard septic systems hard to use.
If you are buying rural land without sewer service, get the septic system inspected before you close. A broken system is expensive to fix. It can also create public health problems. Contact the Galveston County Health District at gchd.org or call 409-938-2411 for permit rules and approved system types.
Source to confirm: Galveston County Health District — On-Site Sewage Facilities