The short answer
Just moving dirt to shape a lot usually doesn't need a building permit on its own — but a survey is worth having so you know your boundaries and easements, and a floodplain development permit can apply if the lot is in a mapped flood zone. And no matter what, call 811 before anyone digs. Rules differ inside city limits vs. unincorporated county, so check your local office.
A survey: why you want one
You're not legally required to have a survey to move dirt, but grading without knowing your lines is how people cut, fill or clear onto a neighbor's property or into a drainage easement. A current survey tells you:
- Where your actual boundaries are — fences are often wrong.
- Where easements run (drainage, utility, access) that you can't build a pad or block.
- Setbacks you have to keep the structure behind.
- Elevations, if you order a topographic or elevation certificate — useful in flood zones.
Permits that can apply
- Floodplain development permit — much of Hidalgo County sits in FEMA-mapped flood zones. If yours does, filling, grading or building can require a floodplain permit and a minimum finished-floor elevation. This is the one people miss most.
- Driveway / culvert permit — tying a new driveway or culvert into a county or city road usually needs approval so you don't block the roadside drainage.
- City grading / land-disturbance rules — inside city limits (McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, etc.) some disturbance thresholds trigger a permit or a drainage plan. Unincorporated county is different again.
- Building permit — the structure itself needs one; that's separate from the dirt work, but the pad elevation often ties back to the floodplain requirement.
The one that always applies: call 811
Before any trenching or excavation, Texas law requires calling 811 (Texas811) to have buried utilities located and marked. It's free, it takes a couple of business days, and hitting an unmarked gas or fiber line is dangerous and expensive. We won't put a tooth in the ground until locates are done.
Not sure what your lot needs?
Tell us where the lot is and what you're planning. We work in these cities every week and can tell you what usually applies and point you to the right office. See our grading & site prep and trenching pages.