.png){kind=logo}
Written by the KC Custom Homes Build On Your Lot Team, New Braunfels, TX
Building on your own land in the Texas Hill Country differs significantly from subdivision construction. Comal, Kendall, Hays, and surrounding counties each have distinct rules, terrain challenges, and utility requirements. This checklist guides landowners in New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Boerne, Spring Branch, and Bulverde from lot evaluation to move-in.
KC Custom Homes works with raw acreage and platted lots across multiple Hill Country counties, bringing over 25 years of experience to challenging sites from steep canyon lots to flat riverfront tracts.
Building on your lot means designing a custom home on land you already own or are buying. In the Hill Country, this typically involves rural or semi-rural tracts with unique terrain, views, and regulations.
Common lot types include lakefront, riverfront, acreage in gated communities like Vintage Oaks, Cordillera Ranch, and Mystic Shores, plus rural county land. Unlike subdivision buyers, you handle utilities, drives, grading, retaining walls, and drainage independently.
Pro tip: Walk your lot with your builder during the option period. An early site visit identifies potential challenges before closing.
Conduct a structured lot walk examining slope, trees, rock, views, and access. Combine this with surveys, soil tests, and builder/engineer consultations.
Order a geotechnical test ($800-$1,500, 1-2 weeks for results). In Comal and Kendall Counties, shallow limestone bedrock often requires drilled pier foundations instead of traditional slabs, adding weeks to foundation work and increasing structural costs. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends soil testing for foundation design and septic sizing.
Many Hill Country fire districts require minimum 12-foot-wide driveways with specific turning radii for emergency apparatus. Plan driveway routes early with your builder and fire marshal input.
Mini case note: A Canyon Lake client reduced site prep costs significantly by relocating the house pad 30 feet uphill after soil testing revealed shallow rock, while capturing superior lake views.
You need county development permits, septic approvals, fire code reviews, and HOA architectural sign-offs before construction starts. Processing times vary by jurisdiction.
In Comal County, development permits typically take 2-3 weeks with complete site plans, drainage calculations, and utility approvals. The Comal County Fire Marshal manages building permits and fire safety inspections.
Kendall County requires separate development permits for site work before building permit applications. Expect 3-4 weeks for complete plan review.
Septic permits require licensed sanitarian site evaluations. In areas with shallow rock or steep slopes, engineered aerobic systems replace conventional drain fields, adding cost and approval time. Comal County septic permits typically take 3-4 weeks after evaluation.
HOAs in communities like Cordillera Ranch and Vintage Oaks require 30-45 day architectural review periods. Many mandate minimum square footage (2,400-3,500 SF), exterior materials (often 50%+ stone or masonry on front elevations), and minimum roof slopes (6:12 pitch typical).
Utility planning significantly impacts budget and layout. Septic, wells, water lines, and electric require careful site coordination.
Wells in the Hill Country range from 350-800 feet deep, costing $15,000-$35,000. Drilling permits in Kendall and Comal Counties require registered drillers and take 1-2 weeks for approval.
Lots over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone require Water Pollution Abatement Plans, adding $2,000-$5,000 in engineering costs and 2-3 weeks to permit timelines. These plans mandate engineered stormwater controls and vegetation preservation near karst features.
Septic systems size based on bedroom count plus 50% capacity for future additions. Standard 3-bedroom homes require 450-gallon tanks minimum. Aerobic systems with spray irrigation need 150-200 feet of setback from property lines and neighboring wells.
Pro tip: Reserve a second septic field location when possible. Pre-approved backup areas simplify future replacement. Verify requirements with your county sanitarian.
Site prep ranges from modest grading to major excavation and walls. Total build costs must include these lot-specific expenses.
Tree clearing varies widely: $2,000-$8,000 typical for 1-2 acre lots. Protected oak removal requires arborist permits at $500-$2,000 per tree.
Rocky lots face additional costs: blasting ($8-$15 per cubic yard), drilled pier foundations, retaining walls ($35-$75 per square foot of wall face), and drainage systems with French drains and catch basins.
Driveways average $8-$15 per linear foot for gravel and $18-$35 per linear foot for concrete, excluding culverts. Rural lots often need 200-600 foot driveways from road to building site.
Rural allowances include propane tanks ($1,500-$3,500 installed), utility trenching ($3-$8 per linear foot), gates and entry features, and wildlife-friendly fencing ($8-$18 per linear foot).
Mini case note: A Mitchell Ranch client with gentle slope spent under budget on site work. A Cordillera Ranch client with 18 feet of elevation change required substantial investment in walls and drainage. Every lot requires site-specific estimates.
Most Hill Country projects take approximately 12-18+ months from design sign-off to move-in. Timelines vary based on design complexity, permitting, weather, and material availability.
KC Custom Homes uses a documented process guiding clients from initial meetings through warranty coverage.
Pre-design (1-3 months): Lot walk, feasibility checks, utility coordination, budget framework.
Design and pricing (2-4 months): Architectural design (6-8 weeks), structural engineering and MEP coordination (2-3 weeks), pricing and contract (2-3 weeks).
Permitting (1-2 months): County development permits (2-3 weeks), septic permits with evaluation (3-4 weeks), HOA architectural review (30-45 days in most communities).
Construction (8-12+ months): Site work and foundation (3-5 weeks), framing and dry-in (6-8 weeks), mechanicals and insulation (4-6 weeks), interior finishes (8-12 weeks), final details (2-3 weeks).
Completion (3-4 weeks): Final inspections, punch list, final walk-through.
Pro tip: Selection appointments (tile, counters, fixtures, colors) typically occur during framing. Delays impact schedule, so stay ahead of your builder's timeline.
Choose builders with deep local experience, clear processes, and strong Hill Country portfolios. Awards and completed project photos outweigh marketing claims.
KC Custom Homes has built across New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Boerne, Bulverde, and Spring Branch for 25+ years, including San Antonio Parade of Homes features. The company holds Texas Association of Builders Grand Award for Custom Builder recognition.
Look for builders with 10+ completed projects in your target community. They understand local architectural guidelines, preferred trades, and typical approval timelines.
Reputable Hill Country builders provide 1-year comprehensive warranties plus 2-year mechanical and 10-year structural coverage.
Pro tip: Visit the builder's gallery and filter by community or style. Multiple similar projects demonstrate relevant experience.
Site prep ranges from $15,000 for gentle, cleared lots to $75,000+ for steep, rocky terrain. Builders should provide line-by-line estimates covering clearing ($2,000-$8,000), grading, walls ($35-$75 per square foot), drainage, utilities ($3-$8 per linear foot for trenching), and driveways ($8-$35 per linear foot) after reviewing specific lot conditions.
Geotechnical tests cost $800-$1,500 and take 1-2 weeks for results. Engineers and builders use results to design appropriate foundations and septic systems. Shallow bedrock may require drilled pier foundations instead of slabs, adding 2-3 weeks to foundation phases.
HOAs typically regulate minimum square footage (2,400-3,500 SF in Hill Country communities), exterior materials (often 50%+ stone or masonry on front), roof slopes (6:12 minimum pitch common), fencing, and outbuildings. Budget 30-45 days for architectural review after submitting complete plans and material samples.
Rural tracts in Comal, Kendall, and Blanco Counties may allow barndominiums without deed restrictions, but HOAs and cities typically restrict them. Most gated communities prohibit metal exteriors or require wrapping in approved materials. Verify deed restrictions, county regulations, and zoning before designing barndominium plans.
Per-square-foot costs vary widely based on design complexity, materials, site conditions, and outdoor spaces. Set a total budget and discuss priorities with your builder. They can shape size, features, and finishes to align with goals and budget. A 2,500 SF home on flat lots has different total costs than identical floor plans on steep, rocky sites requiring extensive walls and grading.
Areas over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone require Water Pollution Abatement Plans and additional erosion controls, adding $2,000-$5,000 in engineering and 2-3 weeks to permit timelines. Requirements include engineered stormwater controls, vegetation preservation, and specific construction practices near karst features. Comal, Hays, and parts of Bexar County have the most stringent regulations.
KC Custom Homes brings 25+ years of Hill Country experience across Comal, Bexar, Guadalupe, and Wilson counties with Texas Association of Builders recognition including the Grand Award for Custom Builder.
Completed projects span Vintage Oaks, Cordillera Ranch, Mystic Shores, Pecan Springs, River's Edge at Gruene, and dozens of Hill Country neighborhoods. Review client testimonials, tour the portfolio, and speak with past clients before committing.
Ready to start your build on your lot project?
Own land or under contract in the Texas Hill Country? Share your survey and goals with KC Custom Homes. Our team will walk you through your lot, budget, and realistic build plan for New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Boerne, Spring Branch, Bulverde, or your corner of the Hill Country.
Get started today or call 210-801-0102 to speak with the KC Custom Homes team.
Reviewed by KC Custom Homes leadership for accuracy on Hill Country building rules and process.
To request a free quote, please fill the form below. Let us know what features you’re looking for in your next home and our experienced team will contact you shortly.