County business license guide
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Kaufman County is growing fast, but a fast-growing county does not create one simple licensing system. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 209,235 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.7% in one year. For a business owner, the more important question is where the exact property sits and which government controls that address.
This guide explains the practical split between incorporated cities, unincorporated Kaufman County, countywide functions such as certain assumed-name and septic matters, and Texas state requirements. It also covers three 2026 changes: statewide mobile-food health licensing, a Kaufman County emergency-services-district sales-tax change, and the launch of the Texas Secretary of State’s SOSPortal.
Bottom line
There is no one Kaufman County license that replaces city, county, and state requirements. Current sources do not identify a universal countywide general business license. Instead, Kaufman County handles specific functions, especially in unincorporated areas: development review, certain commercial building and fire permits, occupancy, floodplain work, septic, county-road access, and 911 addressing.
Inside an incorporated city, start with the city’s planning, building, and permit process. Forney uses its Certificate of Occupancy as the local business-license step for a new or relocated business. Terrell requires businesses operating in the city to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy. Kaufman and Crandall also administer their own local development and permit systems.
Some county functions cross city lines. Kaufman County says it handles septic matters in city limits throughout the county except Terrell and Oak Ridge, which are separate TCEQ Authorized Agents.
Quick start: do these checks in this order
- Pin down the exact address. Use the Kaufman County GIS Portal to review city, ETJ, floodplain, and other jurisdiction layers.
- Determine whether the site is inside a city. The mailing city name does not prove municipal jurisdiction.
- Check use before spending money. Confirm zoning, occupancy, building, fire, parking, signs, access, and septic before signing a lease or remodeling.
- Use the correct name/entity route. A DBA is not a business license, and the filing office depends on legal structure.
- Check activity rules. food, professional work, construction trades, child care, transportation, and other regulated activities can add approvals.
- Handle tax and employer accounts. Those steps are separate from local land-use approval.
The Kaufman County jurisdiction map
The real question is: which government controls this address and activity? Kaufman County has incorporated municipalities and growing unincorporated areas. Its GIS tool can show city ETJs, flood zones, and other jurisdiction information for a searched property.
| Issue | Inside a city | Unincorporated county | Countywide or state layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic local approval | City-specific; often zoning/occupancy plus activity permits. | No universal county business license identified; property/activity permits may apply. | Texas has no general statewide business license. |
| Zoning / land use | Municipal planning and zoning. | County development, floodplain, access, subdivision, and related rules as applicable. | State law can limit municipal authority. |
| Building / occupancy / fire | City building/fire process. | County Fire Marshal for covered commercial, public, and multifamily work. | State codes or professional rules may overlay. |
| DBA / assumed name | County Clerk for qualifying non-state-filing types; Secretary of State for LLCs, corporations, LPs, professional associations, LLPs, and foreign filing entities. | Entity type decides the filing office. | |
| Septic / OSSF | County handles most city limits; Terrell and Oak Ridge are separate Authorized Agents. | Kaufman County Development Services. | TCEQ is the state layer. |
| Food | Fixed/temporary food: identify the health authority for the exact site. Mobile food health licensing: DSHS statewide license. | DSHS rules and jurisdiction tools. | |
| Employer / tax | No general county employer account identified. | Comptroller, TWC, Texas OAG, IRS as applicable. | |
Do not use the postal city name as your jurisdiction test. Search the full address or property ID in the county GIS and confirm with the issuing office. An ETJ is also not the same as being inside city limits.
Three 2026 changes that matter
Mobile food health licensing became statewide July 1
Beginning July 1, 2026, mobile food vendors must use the Texas Department of State Health Services statewide license. DSHS says this replaced separate local health licenses for each jurisdiction. Local fire, zoning, location, event, and other non-health rules still apply. Use the current DSHS Mobile Food Vendors page, even if an older city page still describes a local mobile-food health license.
Kaufman County ESD No. 1 sales-tax changes took effect October 1
The Texas Comptroller’s October 2026 update says Kaufman County Emergency Services District No. 1 adopted local sales and use tax with different district rates depending on the area. The district covers parts of central and eastern Kaufman County and has stated exclusions. Businesses making taxable sales should use the Comptroller’s address-based Sales Tax Rate Locator rather than assume one local rate applies throughout the county.
SOSPortal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload September 29
The Texas Secretary of State launched SOSPortal on September 29, 2026 for business filings, searches, and orders. If an older guide sends you to SOSDirect for a new entity or state assumed-name filing, start from the current Business Services page.
What Kaufman County actually handles
Kaufman County Development Services says it manages the majority of permitting requirements in the county’s unincorporated areas. The county matters even though current sources do not identify a universal countywide general business license.
Commercial development, building, fire, and occupancy
The County Fire Marshal’s Inspections Division covers new commercial establishments and public buildings in unincorporated Kaufman County under the adopted fire code. Its portal supports permit applications, property records, and inspections.
A county building permit may be required for a new building, substantial improvement, or change in use or occupancy. Covered public buildings, commercial establishments, and residential buildings with four or more units also use the county Certificate of Occupancy process. The county lists limited CO exceptions, including an individual home office and a residence-based business with no employees or customers coming to the home.
Inside an incorporated city, begin with the city building and fire process unless an official source shows the county retains the specific function.
Floodplain, county-road access, and 911 addressing
Unincorporated development in a FEMA-mapped floodplain requires county floodplain review. A driveway or culvert in county right-of-way can require a county permit. New structures in unincorporated areas also use the county’s 911 addressing process. These property approvals can matter even when there is no general county business license.
Septic is a special jurisdiction rule
Kaufman County is a TCEQ Authorized Agent for on-site sewage facilities. Its current FAQ says Terrell and Oak Ridge handle OSSF matters within their own city limits; all other city limits in Kaufman County are handled by county Development Services. If septic is involved, use the county OSSF information rather than assuming the municipal boundary decides the agency.
If the address is inside a city, use the city process
Kaufman County’s municipalities have separate development systems. These examples show why one countywide city rule would be misleading.
Forney
Forney’s code requires a new or relocated business to secure a Certificate of Occupancy before opening and labels that process its business license. The city uses MyGov for permits. Start with the Forney Certificate of Occupancy page.
Terrell
Terrell says all businesses operating in the city must apply for a Certificate of Occupancy, with building, fire, and health review when applicable. Use the Terrell permit page.
City of Kaufman
The city’s Development Services Department handles planning, zoning, subdivision regulation, building safety, and public health within the city. It also publishes a 2026 zoning map. Use City of Kaufman Development Services.
Crandall
Crandall has its own commercial permits, Certificate of Occupancy, contractor registration, and activity permits. Its commercial permit form says a CO must issue before occupancy. Start with Crandall Permits and Licenses.
Before signing a lease: give the issuing office the exact address and a short description of customers, employees, equipment, deliveries, food/other regulated activities, signs, outdoor storage, and construction. Ask whether the proposed use is allowed and what must be approved before occupancy.
DBA and assumed-name filing: county clerk or Secretary of State?
A DBA is a public name filing. It is not permission to occupy a building, a zoning approval, a food permit, or a general operating license.
Texas Secretary of State guidance draws the filing line by entity type:
- County clerk route: sole proprietorships, general partnerships or joint ventures, estates, real estate investment trusts, and other business types not required to file the assumed name with the Secretary of State generally file with the county clerk in each county where a business office is maintained, or where business is conducted if there is no Texas business office.
- Secretary of State route: corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, professional associations, LLPs, and foreign filing entities file the assumed name with the Texas Secretary of State.
Since a 2019 Texas law change, entities in the second group are not required to make a duplicate county assumed-name filing. That is important because some older local webpages still use broader wording. For a county filing that actually applies to you, use the Kaufman County Assumed Name Packet and the county’s Assumed Name Search. For a state-filing entity, use the current Secretary of State assumed-name instructions and SOSPortal.
Home businesses: city rules, county property rules, and Texas protection
Home businesses need a jurisdiction check just like storefronts. Inside a municipality, Texas Local Government Code Section 229.902 now protects a qualifying no-impact home-based business from a municipal rule that prohibits the business or requires a license, permit, or other approval merely to operate it.
The statutory definition is important. A no-impact business must stay within the property’s occupancy limit for employees and clients, avoid on-street parking or a substantial traffic increase, keep business activity from being visible from the street, and avoid substantial noise or a municipal noise violation.
The protection is not a free pass. Cities may still enforce applicable fire and building codes and rules involving health, sanitation, traffic, waste, pollution, noise, and residential compatibility. The statute also allows limits on certain activities, and it does not override HOA rules, deed restrictions, private agreements, or municipal short-term-rental ordinances.
For an unincorporated home location, do not assume the municipal statute answers county questions. Check Kaufman County Development Services for property-specific issues such as floodplain status, septic, county-road access, 911 addressing, or a proposed use that triggers a county development process.
For a broader explanation, see BLG’s Home Occupation Permit Explained.
Food businesses: first identify the type, then the health authority
Do not group a restaurant, caterer, temporary booth, cottage-food operation, and mobile food vendor under one permit. The route depends on the operating model and location.
Fixed restaurants and food stores
Texas DSHS explains that fixed retail food establishments can fall under a city, county, public health district, or DSHS depending on the location. Use the Texas Retail Food Establishments Jurisdiction Interactive Map to identify the current health authority for the exact address. Then use that agency’s permit path.
For example, Terrell publishes an annual Health/Food Permit process for restaurants and businesses selling food in the city. The City of Kaufman says its Public Health Division handles food safety and food permits within the city. Those city pages are useful for fixed businesses in those jurisdictions, but they should not be treated as a countywide rule.
Mobile food vendors
For health licensing, start with DSHS. Since July 1, 2026, every mobile food vendor that fits the state definition must use the DSHS statewide license. Local governments still can enforce applicable fire, zoning, location, and similar non-health rules. If you plan to operate at events or on private lots in several cities, check those local location and event rules in addition to the state license.
Temporary food and other models
Temporary food operations remain a separate category. Determine which health authority has jurisdiction over the event location, then follow its current temporary-event process. Cottage food also follows a separate Texas legal framework and should not be treated as a normal restaurant permit.
Texas entity, tax, professional, and employer steps
Texas does not require a general statewide business license, but many activities are regulated. BLG’s Texas business license guide covers the state framework.
Entity formation and state filings
LLCs, corporations, and other state filing entities use the Texas Secretary of State. As of September 29, 2026, the current online system is SOSPortal. Entity formation does not prove that a local property is approved for the business.
Sales and use tax
If you sell taxable property or services, review the Comptroller’s tax registration application. Local taxing boundaries can differ within Kaufman County, and ESD No. 1 changed effective October 1, 2026. Use the Comptroller’s Sales Tax Rate Locator for the exact address rather than guessing from a ZIP code.
regulated industries
If you hire
Check Texas Workforce Commission unemployment-tax liability and registration rules. Texas employers must report new hires and rehires to the Office of the Attorney General within 20 calendar days. If a federal EIN is required, obtain it directly from the IRS at no charge.
Four examples of how the path changes
Retail shop inside Forney
Start with Forney for zoning, building, and Certificate of Occupancy. Then add the correct entity/DBA route, Texas tax registration if applicable, and any activity license.
Office on unincorporated property
Start with county GIS and Development Services. Check 911 addressing, septic, floodplain, county-road access, and commercial building/fire review when relevant. A home office may fit a county CO exception, but other property or industry rules can still apply.
Restaurant in Terrell
Food truck operating around the county
Use the statewide DSHS mobile food health license, then check each operating location for fire, zoning, event, parking, and location rules.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling the County Clerk DBA a business license. It is a name filing, not permission to operate.
- Assuming every Kaufman mailing address is inside the City of Kaufman. Use the actual jurisdiction.
- Using county Fire Marshal rules for a city storefront without checking the city. Incorporated municipalities can have their own building and occupancy systems.
- Using an old SOSDirect link. SOSPortal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload on September 29, 2026.
- Sending an LLC to the County Clerk for a duplicate DBA filing. State-filing entities generally use the Secretary of State for assumed names under the current Texas filing split.
- Following an old local mobile-food health-license instruction after July 1, 2026. The DSHS statewide MFV license now controls health licensing, while local non-health rules remain.
- Signing a lease before checking use and occupancy. A beautiful space can still be wrong for the intended use or expensive to bring into compliance.
What to ask the city or county before you open
Phone or email script
“I plan to operate a [business type] at [exact street address] . The business will be [home-based / storefront / office / mobile] , with [number] employees and [customer visits / no customer visits] . We will [briefly describe food, other regulated activities, equipment, outdoor storage, deliveries, signs, or construction] . Is this address inside your jurisdiction, is the use allowed, and which zoning, occupancy, building, fire, sign, health, access, or other local approvals should I complete before I open or sign a lease?”
If the office says another agency controls one piece, ask for the exact department or current application page. County, city, health, fire, and state responsibilities do not always follow the same boundary.
Official sources and action links
- Kaufman County Development Services and GIS Portal
- Kaufman County Permits and Inspections
- Kaufman County Certificate of Occupancy
- Kaufman County OSSF / septic information
- Kaufman County Clerk assumed-name information
- Texas Secretary of State Name Filings FAQ
- Texas Secretary of State Business Services / SOSPortal
- Texas Business Permit Office
- Texas Comptroller online tax registration
- Texas Comptroller October 2026 local tax changes
- Texas DSHS retail food jurisdiction and licensing
- Texas DSHS Mobile Food Vendors
- Texas Workforce Commission Unemployment Tax Program
- Texas new-hire reporting
- IRS Employer Identification Number information
Related business license guides
Start with the closest next-step guides, then explore other BLG location and licensing resources.
Best next guides
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Frequently asked questions
Does Kaufman County require one general business license for every business?
Current county sources do not identify one countywide general business license for every business. Kaufman County instead handles specific functions such as unincorporated development, fire and occupancy review, septic, floodplain, right-of-way access, 911 addressing, and certain assumed-name filings. Inside a city, use that city’s local process.
How do I know whether my business address is inside a city or in unincorporated Kaufman County?
Do not rely on the mailing city name. Use the Kaufman County Development Services GIS Portal to search the full address or property ID and review city, ETJ, floodplain, and other jurisdiction layers. Confirm the result with the office that will issue the permit before you sign a lease or build.
Where do I file a DBA in Kaufman County?
Texas Secretary of State guidance generally sends sole proprietorships, general partnerships or joint ventures, estates, REITs, and other non-state-filing types to the county clerk. Corporations, LLCs, LPs, professional associations, LLPs, and foreign filing entities file assumed names with the Secretary of State and do not make a duplicate county filing under the 2019 change.
Who handles septic permits in Kaufman County?
Kaufman County is a TCEQ Authorized Agent. The county says Development Services handles OSSF matters throughout the county, including city limits, except in Terrell and Oak Ridge. Those two cities are their own Authorized Agents.
What changed for food trucks in Kaufman County in 2026?
Beginning July 1, 2026, mobile food vendors use a statewide Texas DSHS health license instead of separate local health licenses for each jurisdiction. Local fire, zoning, location, event, and other non-health rules can still apply.
Can a city in Kaufman County require a permit for a home-based business?
Texas law bars a municipality from requiring an operating license, permit, or approval for a qualifying no-impact home-based business. The protection has limits: fire, building, health, sanitation, traffic, waste, noise, compatibility, certain excluded activities, and private HOA or deed restrictions can still matter.
Update note
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Next review: January 14, 2027
This guide was researched as a new county jurisdiction page using current Kaufman County, municipal, and Texas sources. The review covered incorporated versus unincorporated responsibility, development and occupancy, septic jurisdiction, assumed names, home businesses, food licensing, state filing systems, taxes, other regulated activities, and employer steps. It includes the July 1, 2026 statewide mobile food licensing change, the October 1, 2026 Kaufman County ESD No. 1 sales-tax change, and the September 29, 2026 SOSPortal launch.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only. Business license, tax, zoning, building, fire, health, and permit rules can change and may depend on the exact address and activity. Confirm current requirements with the responsible government agency before you apply, pay a fee, sign a lease, start construction, or begin operating.