Sec. 232.0025. TIMELY APPROVAL OF PLATS

(a) The commissioners court of a county or a person designated by the commissioners court shall issue a written list of the documentation and other information that must be submitted with a plat application. The documentation or other information must relate to a requirement authorized under this section or other applicable law. An application submitted to the commissioners court or the person designated by the commissioners court that contains the documents and other information on the list is considered complete.

(b) If a person submits a plat application to the commissioners court that does not include all of the documentation or other information required by Subsection (a), the commissioners court or the court's designee shall, not later than the 10th business day after the date the commissioners court receives the application, notify the applicant of the missing documents or other information. The commissioners court shall allow an applicant to timely submit the missing documents or other information.

(c) An application is considered complete when all documentation or other information required by Subsection (a) is received. Acceptance by the commissioners court or the court's designee of a completed plat application with the documentation or other information required by Subsection (a) shall not be construed as approval of the documentation or other information.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (f), the commissioners court or the court's designee shall take final action on a plat application, including the resolution of all appeals, not later than the 60th day after the date a completed plat application is received by the commissioners court or the court's designee.

(e) If the commissioners court or the court's designee disapproves a plat application, the applicant shall be given a complete list of the reasons for the disapproval.

(f) The 60-day period under Subsection (d):

(1) may be extended for a reasonable period, if agreed to in writing by the applicant and approved by the commissioners court or the court's designee;

(2) may be extended 60 additional days if Chapter 2007, Government Code, requires the county to perform a takings impact assessment in connection with a plat application; and

(3) applies only to a decision wholly within the control of the commissioners court or the court's designee.

(g) The commissioners court or the court's designee shall make the determination under Subsection (f)(2) of whether the 60-day period will be extended not later than the 20th day after the date a completed plat application is received by the commissioners court or the court's designee.

(h) The commissioners court or the court's designee may not compel an applicant to waive the time limits contained in this section.

(i) If the commissioners court or the court's designee fails to take final action on the plat as required by Subsection (d):

(1) the commissioners court shall refund the greater of the unexpended portion of any plat application fee or deposit or 50 percent of a plat application fee or deposit that has been paid;

(2) the plat application is granted by operation of law; and

(3) the applicant may apply to a district court in the county where the tract of land is located for a writ of mandamus to compel the commissioners court to issue documents recognizing the plat's approval.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 129, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.