Midland & Odessa Foundation Guide: Caliche & Permits

Updated October 25, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Population (2020)	Midland 132,524; Odessa 114,428; West Odessa 33,340; Gardendale 2,020	U.S. Census via Wikipedia
Midland County soils	Sandy red and dark loam soils predominate; no permanent surface water	Handbook of Texas (Midland County)
Llano Estacado	Sands, sandy loams and clay loams over hard, impervious caliche	Handbook of Texas (Llano Estacado)
Kimbrough series	Cemented caliche (petrocalcic) layer 4 to 20 in. down; extensive on the Southern High Plains	USDA NRCS
Rainfall	About 13.5 in./yr at Midland; about 12.3 in./yr at Odessa (1991–2020 normals)	Wikipedia (NOAA normals)
Expansive soil	Wet soil heaves and lifts a building; dry soil collapses and lets it settle	TDLR TB 10-01
State license	No state license for general contractors or foundation repair	TDLR; Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
Midland permits	Development Services, 300 N. Loraine; PermitMidland portal	City of Midland
Odessa permits	Building Inspection Division, 411 W. 8th St.; MGO Connect portal	City of Odessa
Seismicity	Gardendale Seismic Response Area, NE Ector to SW Martin County (2021)	Railroad Commission of Texas
Before digging	Contact 811 at least two business days ahead	Texas811

What is the ground made of here?

Midland and Odessa both sit on the southwestern edge of the Llano Estacado, the high plateau of the Southern High Plains. The Handbook of Texas describes its soils as dark-brown to reddish-brown sands, sandy loams and clay loams, and explains that calcium carbonate seeping into older deposits formed a hard caprock of impervious material commonly called caliche. For Midland County, the Handbook says sandy red and dark loam soils predominate across flat land broken by draws. Ector County spans the lower shelf of the Great Plains and the northern border of the Edwards Plateau, with elevations from about 2,500 to 3,300 feet.

USDA soil series descriptions show how variable this is. The Kimbrough series, extensive in western Texas and eastern New Mexico, has a cemented petrocalcic layer starting 4 to 20 inches below the surface. The Ratliff series, also extensive on the Southern High Plains, is a deeper loam to clay loam with a calcic horizon beginning 20 to 40 inches down. Which one, or which mix, sits under a particular house can only be settled with a soil map or a test hole.

Why does a dry climate still move foundations?

TDLR's technical bulletin on residential foundations over expansive soils says soils with high moisture heave and lift a building, while low moisture lets them collapse and the building settles. It names surface drainage, plant choices, sprinkling practices and long-term maintenance as important, and says water should drain away from the house on all sides. Midland averages about 13.5 inches of precipitation a year and Odessa about 12.3 inches, so most of the time the soil is dry. Roof runoff, sprinklers and plumbing leaks therefore make an outsized difference, because they wet one part of the soil while the rest stays dry.

Slab or pier-and-beam: how do repairs differ?

Slab on grade: a dropped section is supported with piers under the beam and lifted. See slab foundation repair.
Pier and beam: the crawl space allows re-shimming, new supports and wood repair without breaking concrete. See pier-and-beam repair.

Shallow caliche can stop a pier earlier than expected, so ask how the contractor decides a pier is finished. The foundation piers page covers types and questions.

Does Texas license foundation contractors?

No. TDLR licenses trades such as electricians and air conditioning contractors, but its programs don't include general contractors or foundation repair. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which once registered builders, was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009, according to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.

Who issues permits?

In Midland, Permitting and Inspections in Development Services handles building permits from 300 N. Loraine. The city says residential permits are required for work including remodeling and repairs, that only the owner or the owner's licensed and bonded contractor may obtain one, and that most projects require a contractor registered with the city. Applications go through PermitMidland. In Odessa, the Building Inspection Division issues permits and inspects construction from City Hall at 411 W. 8th Street, through the MGO Connect portal, and publishes a residential footing and foundation inspection checklist. West Odessa and Gardendale are unincorporated, so ask the contractor and Ector County.

What about earthquakes?

In September 2021 the Railroad Commission of Texas asked operators of 76 saltwater disposal wells in the Gardendale Seismic Response Area, from northeast Ector County to southwest Martin County, to reduce injection. Its staff concluded disposal likely contributes to the area's quakes, which included six felt events of magnitude 3.5 or greater since February 2020. Soil moisture remains the usual suspect for foundation movement, but note the date if cracks appear after a felt quake.

How should you compare bids?

Ask for the elevation survey and a drawing that numbers each pier
Compare pier type, count and how depth is decided, not just the total
Read the warranty for length, transferability and exclusions
Ask what plumbing, irrigation and drainage checks come with the repair
For a big job or conflicting bids, hire a licensed professional engineer, verifiable through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Confirm the contractor contacts 811 at least two business days before digging

Common questions

Is caliche good for a foundation?

A thick, continuous caliche layer can be firm support. A thin crust over softer soil can mislead. A contractor or engineer should confirm what's under your house.

Do I need an engineer?

Not always. For a large repair, a disputed cause or a home sale, an independent engineer's report gives you a plan to compare bids against.

Are Midland and Odessa permits the same?

No. Each city runs its own permit office and portal: PermitMidland in Midland and MGO Connect in Odessa. Unincorporated areas fall under Ector or Midland County.

Midland and Odessa foundation repair guide (2026)