No county zoning in Brazos County — but rules still apply

Texas counties have limited power over land use. Brazos County has no countywide zoning rules. That means rural land faces fewer limits than land inside a city. But other rules do apply. Subdivision rules cover splitting land into parcels. Floodplain permits are needed for building in FEMA flood zones. Septic permits are needed when you are not on a city sewer.

Both Bryan and College Station have an extraterritorial jurisdiction — called an ETJ. An ETJ is the area just outside a city's limits. The city has some say over new building there. Bryan and College Station each have ETJ boundaries that reach beyond their city limits. Inside an ETJ, both the city and the county must sign off on building. City rules for streets, water, and sewer apply to new subdivisions in the ETJ. That is true even though those residents do not yet get city services.

If your land is in an ETJ, check with both Brazos County and the city before planning a subdivision or big project. For a development permit in unincorporated areas, contact the Brazos County Road and Bridge Department at brazoscountytx.gov.