Texas Camping Codes (Houston, Spring, Sonora: leases, credit, mobile home)

[NewMexicoCowboy]

Hi yall,
I go to a deer camp on a regular basis.Does the state or any of the counties in Texas have special rules like zoning and codes for that sort of thing.I have wondered this for quite some time because we dont have running water or plumbing at the deer camp.However we do have electricity.There's just a bunch of old vehicles and a common camp fire/cooking area and campers and no heating or AC at the deer camp.

So like what are the rules for places like this in rural Texas on land.I cant afford a home and I dont have any credit because I used to be a Dave Ramsey disciple so I have been looking at getting my own deer camp style set up at some point to live at..I am not the owner of the deer camp.Like do county and state officials really go after hunters and campers over this.Also old broken down vehicles are there too.Its on a multi-section ranch that we lease from the rancher.Thank you.Its like FEMA trailers pop-ups and travel trailers at the deer camp I stay at when I am out camping.I really like to camp.I plan on following every applicable rule,law,regulation, and code if I ever get my own camp set up on my own land.I have enough cash in savings to buy a small ranch to put the deer camp on.I may put a tiny house or a used mobile home on it and I know that theres restrictions on those like sometimes the mobile home has to be less than 10 years old.

[ChristieP]

Each county has its own rules, but as a general rule, you will have to have a septic system if you place a permanent dwelling on your land. No, counties don't care about deer hunters' RVs, or old vehicles on land unless they are polluting by releasing raw sewage.

There is no zoning in unincorporated areas, although your land may have deed restrictions, such as "no mobile homes." The deed restrictions are filed with the county.

Each county may have laws about landowner conduct. For example, my county does not allow any firearm target practice on land of less than 10 acres.

[NewMexicoCowboy]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Each county has its own rules, but as a general rule, you will have to have a septic system if you place a permanent dwelling on your land. No, counties don't care about deer hunters' RVs, or old vehicles on land unless they are polluting by releasing raw sewage.

There is no zoning in unincorporated areas, although your land may have deed restrictions, such as "no mobile homes." The deed restrictions are filed with the county.

Each county may have laws about landowner conduct. For example, my county does not allow any firearm target practice on land of less than 10 acres.

Thank you very much ChristieP.Ya I was familiar with the 10 acre rule in much of the state.

[NewMexicoCowboy]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Each county has its own rules, but as a general rule, you will have to have a septic system if you place a permanent dwelling on your land. No, counties don't care about deer hunters' RVs, or old vehicles on land unless they are polluting by releasing raw sewage.

There is no zoning in unincorporated areas, although your land may have deed restrictions, such as "no mobile homes." The deed restrictions are filed with the county.

Each county may have laws about landowner conduct. For example, my county does not allow any firearm target practice on land of less than 10 acres.

the deer camp at our lease does not have operational bathrooms so I guess we have no running septic..I guess its just not enforced at our place.I have no control over how the deer camp is ran so it being in code is not my responsibilty.Although I will make sure my own deer camp will be in full compliance if I ever get it built.

[crone]

Counties in Texas cannot make ordinances without permission from the state. The state does have rules about water and electricity, but they do not require any permit or inspection. There are no county building codes that I know of.

[NewMexicoCowboy]

Originally Posted by crone

Counties in Texas cannot make ordinances without permission from the state. The state does have rules about water and electricity, but they do not require any permit or inspection. There are no county building codes that I know of.

Okay thank you crone.

[StealthRabbit]

Camping codes vs zoning vs building requirements can be specified by county or municipality (as well as state). Check locally, as this thread also has some false statements. If you search Texas codes and zoning, you will find more info., Including official state and county documents.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/texa...s-enforce.html

For those seeking specific camping info for Texas... (As per thread title), do your research. Texas is very private property focused, very little public lands (where many people in USA camp and wander / horseback / atv / boat (or tube) ride for free.)

[crone]

The state does have codes for anything hooking up to the water and electricity grid.

One must have licensed contractors doing the work. The state does not specify anything about getting permits or inspections so how do they know? People in Houston do 100K remodels on kitchens without permits or inspections. One would think if the house sells somebody would look if the work was permitted. They rarely do. And then they just pay the penalty and get the permit.

Private property developers can do what they want unless they are in the ETJ of some city. George Mitchell demonstrated that in 1974. Developments in the ETJ of Houston need to comply with the subdivision codes of Houston in case they are annexed. But that street width, etc.

[NewMexicoCowboy]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Camping codes vs zoning vs building requirements can be specified by county or municipality (as well as state). Check locally, as this thread also has some false statements. If you search Texas codes and zoning, you will find more info., Including official state and county documents.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/texa...s-enforce.html

For those seeking specific camping info for Texas... (As per thread title), do your research. Texas is very private property focused, very little public lands (where many people in USA camp and wander / horseback / atv / boat (or tube) ride for free.)

What are the false statements, StealthRabbit?

[StealthRabbit]

Determine your county, then drill down to requirements.

I have built or evaluated building in 4 different Texas counties, and the requirements are vastly different in each. These are all rural sites. It is false to claim that rural building regulations are common throughout the entire state, they are not.

BTW my good friend and neighbor rents out hunting leases.
He has hundreds of vintage cars, tractors, trucks, buses. And a few thousand acres. It would be quite expensive to acquire enough property to offer hunting leases. Then there are the 'specialty' leases with exotic game. Another friend breeds and feeds for the mega racks, and his trophy hunts are quite expensive per the size of rack. Then the 'glamping' (luxury) hunting ranches, of which several are nearby. This forces the locals to buy hunting leases further out. A few neighbors have been buying ranches in Camp Wood, Rock Springs, Sonora. Those are about an hour west of me.