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Callahan County adopts new RV‑park regulations with grandfathering and expansion trigger
Summary
The Commissioners Court adopted regulations for recreational‑vehicle parks that grandfather existing parks but require compliance if a park expands; TCEQ water/septic requirements will apply where systems are involved and staff will verify permit status for a partially developed site near Clyde.
Callahan County Commissioners on Oct. 14 adopted new regulations governing recreational‑vehicle parks that include a grandfathering clause for parks already in operation and a clear trigger for compliance: any expansion or a new septic‑permit application filed after adoption will subject the park to the new rules.
Presiding official said a working group reviewed regulations from three other counties and drafted the county's version; participants identified in the transcript include Judge Odom and Commissioner McGowan. The court's package says existing RV parks are "grandfathered in," but the regulations include a clause stating that if a grandfathered RV park seeks to expand, it becomes subject to the guideline. "If a grandfathered RV park wants to expand and do an addition, then they become subject to this guideline," the court noted in the hearing.
The regulations reference Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements for water and septic systems; staff told the court some existing RV sites are not on centralized water systems and would need to work with water corporations or apply to TCEQ‑governed processes if they add service. Commissioners asked whether a partially developed site near Clyde — visible and laid out but not evidently hooked up — had filed a septic permit before the rules' adoption. The court directed staff to check with Shane (county septic official) to determine whether the site filed a permit before the adoption; that finding will determine whether the site remains grandfathered or must comply with the new regulations.
Commissioner Farmer moved to adopt the proposed regulations and Commissioner Windham seconded; the motion passed with no recorded opposition. The court also noted there is no county ban on rural water systems in the regulations and that each site must meet TCEQ or local water‑corporation requirements where applicable.
What the decision does and does not do
- Does adopt a county regulatory framework for RV parks, with a grandfathering clause for parks in operation before adoption and a clear expansion trigger. - Does reference TCEQ requirements for water/septic systems and places responsibility on applicants to comply. - Does not immediately require existing grandfathered parks to change unless they expand or file permits after adoption.
Next steps: County staff will verify whether the partially developed site near Clyde filed a septic permit prior to adoption; if the permit was filed beforehand the site may remain grandfathered, otherwise it will be required to meet the newly adopted regulations.
