North Texas Permit Database
City rules first. County rules second. Use this database to check your city page for permit thresholds and setbacks, then use county pages as baseline guidance for unincorporated properties.
Quick Answer: City Beats County
If you are inside city limits: your city planning/building department rule is the one that controls.
County pages are baseline only for unincorporated areas. This is where most counties are permit-light for portable products.
Most common reference point: 200 sq ft threshold in many areas, but several cities are stricter and require permits at all sizes.
City Permit Pages (Primary)
One-story accessory structures under 200 sq ft are commonly permit-exempt.
Source: shed-permit-guide.md · Confidence: HIGH · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Generally 200 sq ft permit threshold, with special placement flexibility for very small rear-yard structures.
Source: shed-permit-guide.md · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Plan for permits on accessory structures; Fort Worth is commonly stricter than county baseline.
Source: merged · Confidence: HIGH · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Frisco typically requires city-level review for accessory structures.
Source: merged · Confidence: HIGH · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
City of Gainesville is stricter than nearby county baseline; treat as permit-required workflow.
Source: merged · Confidence: HIGH · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
City-level rules apply in Decatur; rural Wise County assumptions do not automatically apply in city limits.
Source: merged · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
County Baseline Pages (Unincorporated Areas)
Unincorporated areas generally follow the common Texas 200 sq ft accessory-structure threshold. City limits rules can be stricter.
Source: merged · Confidence: HIGH · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Unincorporated baseline can align to 200 sq ft, but many cities set their own thresholds and permit rules.
Source: merged · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Unincorporated areas are usually straightforward. Wichita Falls city limits have specific placement and setback distinctions.
Source: merged · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Unincorporated areas are generally permit-light for portable structures. Always verify city limits separately.
Source: merged · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Outside city limits, county restrictions are typically light. Gainesville city rules are notably stricter and should be checked first.
Source: merged · Confidence: MEDIUM · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
Unincorporated territory is usually permissive; city limits (such as Weatherford) may apply standard permit/setback codes.
Source: merged · Confidence: LOW · Reviewed: 2026-04-01
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