Building outside Henrietta in Clay County means you need a permitted septic system

Outside Henrietta and the county's small towns, nearly all Clay County homes use a private septic system. Texas law calls these on-site sewage facilities, or OSSFs. They include conventional septic tanks, aerobic treatment systems, and other designs.

You need a permit before installing any new OSSF. The permit comes from a local authorized agent. In rural counties, that agent is often the county itself. The county acts under rules set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which is the state agency that oversees water and waste rules. The system type allowed depends on lot size, soil type, and how close you are to water features. State rules are in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 285.

If you are buying rural property with a home already on it, ask for proof that the septic system was permitted and inspected. An unpermitted or failing system can cost thousands to replace. It can also create legal problems at closing. Contact the Clay County offices in Henrietta or the TCEQ to find out who the local permitting authority is before any new construction.