Conceptual rendering, not a construction photographSpicewood, TX
Custom Home Projects in
Spicewood, Texas.
ClearBuild Texas takes on custom homes, large remodels, and additions in Spicewood, on both sides of the Burnet and Travis county line.
Spicewood is unincorporated and split between two counties, so the first question on any property is which side it sits on. The answer changes who issues permits, how high a floor must sit in a floodplain, how much land a septic system needs, and which groundwater district applies. Near Lake Travis, LCRA adds its own rules.
This page is general planning information, not a price quote or construction schedule. Call or email ClearBuild with the property location and we will talk through what applies to it.
Building here
What to plan for in Spicewood
Permits change at the county line
In Burnet County, get a 911 address first, then a building permit: Class A ($25) outside flood hazard areas, with no structural inspections, or Class B ($400) inside them. The building permit comes before the septic permit. In Travis County, a county development permit applies, and Chapter 480 requires the residential code with at least three third-party inspections.
Source: Burnet County, septic and building permitsFloodplain floors differ
Burnet County requires a one-foot freeboard for new construction and substantially improved structures, and recommends two feet in A zones. Travis County requires the lowest floor at two feet above the 0.2 percent annual chance flood outside the Colorado River Corridor, and two feet above the 1 percent flood inside it. Travis County's chapter was amended October 21, 2025.
Source: Travis County Code, chapter 464Septic has three possible authorities
Depending on the parcel, the permit comes from Burnet County, Travis County, or LCRA within 2,000 feet of Lake Travis's 691-foot contour. Travis County requires at least one acre for a home on septic, even with public water, which is stricter than the half acre in the state rule for new subdivisions with public water. Burnet County charges $250 for most systems and $400 for aerobic.
Source: Travis County Code, chapter 448Two groundwater districts
The Burnet side falls under the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District, which requires a new well to be registered and authorized before drilling. Travis County land with a Spicewood address, including the Pace Bend area, is shown inside the Southwestern Travis County district, where a new well needs a drilling authorization application. Confirm the district by address.
Source: Central Texas GCD, well applicationsLCRA's creek buffers
LCRA's Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance covers the Lake Travis watershed in Travis County and mapped parts of Burnet County. A single-family home creating under 10,000 square feet of impervious cover and disturbing under one acre usually needs written notification rather than a permit, if it meets the standards. Creek buffers run a flat 25 feet from the bank in Burnet County and 25 to 300 feet from the centerline by drainage area in Travis County, with a floodplain-based option. Septic systems cannot go in a buffer.
Source: LCRA Highland Lakes Watershed OrdinancePower and water: confirm by parcel
PEC serves both Burnet and Travis counties, and the owner pays the line extension cost before construction, plus fixed fees. PEC targets completion within 90 days after all requirements are met. We could not find one official list of public water providers for Spicewood, so ask early whether a parcel has service.
Source: PEC Tariff and Business RulesGeneral planning information, not legal or engineering advice. Requirements change; confirm with the listed agencies for a specific property.
Common questions
Is Spicewood in Burnet County or Travis County?
Both. Spicewood is an unincorporated community on both sides of the county line, so check the property's county before anything else.
Do I need a building permit in Spicewood?
On the Burnet County side, yes: a Class A or Class B county permit, after a 911 address. On the Travis County side, the county issues a development permit, and new homes need at least three third-party inspections.
How much land do I need for septic in Spicewood?
Travis County requires at least one acre for a home on septic, even with public water. In Burnet County, check the county's subdivision rules and the state minimums. Near Lake Travis, LCRA may be the permitting authority.
Does a home near Lake Travis need an LCRA permit?
Under the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, a single-family home under 10,000 square feet of impervious cover that disturbs less than an acre can usually proceed by written notification if it meets the standards. Septic is a separate question, and LCRA regulates it within its Lake Travis zone.
Does ClearBuild Texas build in Spicewood?
Yes. Spicewood is part of ClearBuild Texas's service area for custom homes, large remodels, and additions.
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