Custom Homes and Home Remodeling in Wise County

A substantial remodel may involve several rooms, a changed layout or coordinated interior and exterior work. An addition may create a larger living area, new bedrooms or a different connection between existing spaces. Start by describing the problem you want to solve rather than choosing finishes first.

Custom homes, ADUs and barndominiums are also part of the conversation for suitable properties. Those projects begin with intended use and land conditions. Having acreage, an existing shop or an open section of a lot does not by itself establish what can be built or occupied.

A custom home, addition, substantial remodel, ADU or barndominium starts with the property. A mailing address that says Decatur, Rhome or another nearby city does not establish who reviews the work. City limits, county lines, an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), utilities and recorded restrictions can each affect the plan.

Rural land can offer room to consider a different layout, a larger addition or detached living space. The useful building area depends on access, drainage, wastewater, easements and the property's approvals. Start with the actual address and what you want to build or change before choosing a floor plan.

The city is the starting point for zoning, permitted residential uses, building setbacks and the applicable building and trade permits. New homes, additions and many remodels need plan review and inspections; electrical, plumbing and heating or cooling work may have separate submissions. A detached dwelling or a garage conversion also needs review for its intended use. A permit for a shed or workshop does not establish permission to live in it.

City approval may be only one part of the project. Septic permitting, utility service, highway access and recorded deed restrictions can involve other organizations. The directory below points you to each city's actual permit resources.

Wise County states that it does not require general building permits. Rural projects still need a property-specific review of septic, floodplain, subdivision or platting, road access and other applicable requirements. State trade rules and construction obligations also remain relevant. For example, electrical work must follow the applicable state requirements even where a local electrical permit is not required.

Use the county checklist below before assuming that an existing tract, a second dwelling or an addition is ready to build. County requirements differ from a city's zoning and building-permit system.

Wise County building-permit FAQ · TDLR electrical compliance guide

An ETJ is an area outside a city's incorporated limits where state law allows certain municipal authority. It is not the same as being inside the city. Subdivision or development platting, road access, drainage and other specifically authorized matters may involve the city, county or both through an agreement. Do not assume that every city zoning or building rule applies simply because land is in an ETJ.

Ask the city and county to confirm the parcel's current status and which office reviews each part of the proposed work. Check current maps, any release or annexation records and property-specific development agreements. An old map or nearby property's permit is not a reliable answer for your address.

Wise County Development Rules, section 3.01 · Texas Local Government Code chapter 212 · Texas Local Government Code chapter 242

1. Platting and buildable area. Confirm whether the lot was lawfully created and whether a proposed split, replat or development needs review. Applicable county subdivision standards include building lines, road frontage, drainage and utility easements. Check the recorded plat and restrictions before placing the house, addition or shop.
2. Septic and additional living space. Obtain the required OSSF approval before installing or changing a septic system. Adding bedrooms, a separate dwelling or another wastewater-producing use calls for a capacity and site review. Wise County's adopted rules require OSSF permits even on tracts of 10 acres or more. The permitting office varies: Aurora, Bridgeport, Fort Worth, New Fairview and Paradise administer their own city-limit OSSF programs, and TRWD has authority in specified lake areas. Confirm the correct office through TCEQ's local-authority finder.
3. Floodplain and drainage. Check with the County Engineer before development in a flood-hazard area or work that affects drainage. Grading, fill, culverts and additions can matter as much as a new house. Review floodplain mapping, drainage easements and any reservoir or dam-related restrictions affecting the site.
4. Driveway and road access. Identify the road owner before designing the entrance. County-road work uses the county's driveway/right-of-way process; access to a state-maintained highway or FM road requires the appropriate TxDOT review. City streets and private roads have different approval and access arrangements.
5. Water, power and addressing. Confirm that the actual providers can serve the planned use and what extensions, meters or easements are needed. For a private well, review Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District's current registration, spacing and other requirements. Obtain or confirm the site's 911 address through the appropriate office.
6. Deed restrictions and HOA requirements. Review the deed, title information, recorded plat, easements and any architectural-approval rules. Government permits do not establish that private restrictions allow a second home, rental unit, building type or proposed location.

Wise County Development Rules and forms · Environmental Services · County Engineer · 911 Addressing

TCEQ OSSF authority finder · TxDOT driveway guidance · Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District

For subdivisions covered by Wise County's published standards, septic-served lots generally need at least one acre with public water or two acres with a private well. Those standards are not a blanket buildability decision for every older lot. The parcel's creation date, recorded approvals, wastewater design and applicable authority need review. Acreage alone does not establish that a home or ADU will fit.

Use the city resources below for an initial check, then confirm the address, zoning district and actual construction scope. These are permit-planning starting points, not a list of every required approval.

City Development Services uses GovWell for permit applications and inspections. Ask Planning about zoning, plat status and any ADU-specific approval before expanding living space.

Decatur Development Services · Decatur Planning · Telion Decatur services

The city issues permits and uses third-party inspections. Its forms separate building, accessory-structure and trade work. Check the intended dwelling use, setbacks and utility-service conditions before designing a conversion.

Rhome Building requirements · Permit forms · Telion Rhome services

The city’s remodel guidance calls for an application, structural plan, site plan, scope and registered contractor, with additional requirements based on the work. Its plat application includes city and ETJ property.

Boyd Remodel guidance · Plat application · Telion Boyd services

The residential permit application includes new homes, additions, remodels and accessory structures. New-home plans need a scaled site plan with drainage, easements, driveway and building distances; trade work has its own application.

Chico Forms and applications · New-home plan requirements · Telion Chico services

Published permit categories include homes, additions, remodels and accessory buildings with or without trade work. Confirm the latest application, zoning and guest-house requirements with City Hall; published older documents need a current-amendment check.

Alvord City of Alvord · Published permit schedule · Telion Alvord services

The city’s code requires permits for permanent structures and inspections before occupancy. Conversions must fit the property’s zoning; review parking, plat status and water/wastewater arrangements. Paradise is a separate OSSF permitting authority within its city limits.

Paradise Building and permitting · Paradise zoning code · Telion Paradise services

City permits cover construction, alteration and demolition, with separate trade-permit categories. Check zoning, lot drainage and the intended residential use of accessory space. Confirm whether the parcel is in Wise or Denton County. New Fairview has its own city-limit OSSF program.

New Fairview Building requirements · Permit code · Telion New Fairview services

The city publishes building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, driveway/right-of-way and septic applications. Its code includes floodplain-development permits and ETJ development-plat requirements for covered work. Confirm each review for your scope.

Bridgeport Permit applications · Planning and zoning · Telion Bridgeport services

Aurora, Newark, Runaway Bay and the City of Lake Bridgeport have their own municipal starting points. Check the actual city boundary and any lake-related review. The City of Bridgeport, City of Lake Bridgeport and Lake Bridgeport reservoir are distinct places.

Aurora permits · Newark permits · Runaway Bay permits and applications · City of Lake Bridgeport

Bowie is nearby in Montague County. A Bowie-area project needs its own city and county review. New Fairview’s two-county footprint also makes a parcel-level county check important.

Describe how the space will be used: a family living area within the existing home, a detached guest house, a separate dwelling with its own kitchen, or a rental. Those uses can receive different treatment. Ask about dwelling count, allowed occupants or rental use, parking, setbacks, utility connections and septic capacity before finalizing the design.

A garage, barn or workshop conversion also needs a construction review of the existing foundation and structure, moisture protection, ceiling height, insulation, exits and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. An existing building's location or prior storage use does not establish approval for habitable space.

Send Telion the actual address or parcel location, a survey or plat if available, and a short description of your custom home, ADU, barndominium, addition or remodeling project. Include photos and any existing plans, septic records or known restrictions. We can use those details to discuss the scope and identify the site questions that need answers before the project moves forward.

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Planning information reviewed October 9, 2026. Requirements and boundaries can change. Confirm the current requirements with the responsible authority for your property and scope before construction. This guide is general planning information, not legal or engineering advice or a determination that a project is approved.