Updated November 10, 2026
Johnson County sits in the Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie region, sandy loam over sandstone in the timbers and shallow soils over limestone on the prairie, which drain better but still move with the seasons. Use the bid checklist to compare, then request one written quote.
Limestone and timber
Johnson County sits on the Grand Prairie's limestone with the Eastern Cross Timbers crossing it, so excavation can hit rock in one subdivision and sand in the next. A bid that includes a line for rock excavation or says it is excluded is a bid that has thought about the lot.
County development permits and the floodplain
Johnson County's development services office issues a development permit for new development outside the cities and treats fences and walls in the floodplain as development. A retaining wall or slab near a creek in Burleson, Joshua or Alvarado should come with a floodplain check on the bid.
Cleburne, Burleson and the commuter subdivisions
The north end of the county around Burleson and Joshua is filling with subdivisions that share Tarrant County's builders and HOAs, so patio and driveway-widening bids there look like Fort Worth bids: HOA drawing, builder slab to tie into, city approach permit. South toward Cleburne and Alvarado the jobs turn to shop slabs, barn pads and long gravel-to-concrete drives, where the culvert at the county road and the compaction of a built-up pad are the lines to read first.
What Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie ground means for the bid
Johnson County is Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie country: sandy loam over sandstone in the timbers and shallow soils over limestone on the prairie, which drain better but still move with the seasons. The practical reading for a bid is that the base and drainage lines are not optional. Ask what is removed, what is placed and compacted, how thick the slab is at the edge, and where the water goes.
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife, Cross Timbers ecoregion
Johnson County facts a bid should account for
- Johnson County had an estimated 218,048 residents in July 2025, up from 179,927 in 2020, with 78,009 housing units and 74.7 percent owner-occupied. source
- Johnson County Development Services issues development permits for any new development in the unincorporated county before construction starts, administers floodplain management for FEMA (fences and walls in the floodplain count as development) and permits on-site sewage facilities as TCEQ's designated representative. source
- The Central Appraisal District of Johnson County at 109 N. Main Street in Cleburne keeps the parcel records; the Comptroller's directory lists 43 active taxing units. source
- The Texas Almanac places Johnson County in the Grand Prairie, a limestone-based area, with the Eastern Cross Timbers also running through the county, so lots can sit on shallow limestone or sandy loam depending on the side of the county. source
Bid guides for jobs in Johnson County
Driveway bids
A driveway bid you can trust lists the slab thickness, the steel and its spacing, what the base is made of and how it is compacted, the joint layout, the finish, and whether tear-out, haul-off and the city approach permit are included.
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Patio bids
A patio bid should state thickness and steel, the slope away from the house, how downspouts and drainage are handled, where the joints fall, the finish (broom, exposed aggregate, stamped) and whether the HOA drawing is included.
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Slab & foundation flatwork bids
A slab bid for a shop, garage, carport, RV pad or small addition should list the slab thickness, the thickened edge or beam detail, the steel, the base and compaction, whether a vapor retarder goes under it, anchor bolt layout for a building kit, and whether an engineer's design or city inspection is required.
See details →Sidewalk & steps bids
A walkway bid should state width, thickness, steel, joint spacing, cross slope and finish; a steps bid should add riser height, tread depth and how the steps tie to the landing.
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Commercial flatwork bids
A commercial bid for a parking lot, drive lane, dumpster pad, sidewalk or loading area should define the scope panel by panel, give thickness and steel per area, say how new panels are doweled into old, lay out joints, address ADA slopes and routes, state phasing and hours, and include the certificate of insurance and lien release terms.
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Stamped & colored concrete bids
A stamped concrete bid should name the pattern, the coloring method (integral color or shake-on hardener), the release color, the sealer and whether grit is added for traction, plus how control joints will be hidden in the pattern, and it should say so in writing.
See details →Questions about concrete in Johnson County
Do I need a permit for concrete work in Johnson County?
Johnson County had an estimated 218,048 residents in July 2025, up from 179,927 in 2020, with 78,009 housing units and 74.7 percent owner-occupied. Rules differ by project and address, so the contractor confirms the requirement with Johnson County before quoting and the written quote includes any permit. Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
What soil is under Johnson County, and how does it change a slab?
Johnson County sits in Johnson County on Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie ground, sandy loam over sandstone in the timbers and shallow soils over limestone on the prairie, which drain better but still move with the seasons. On this ground a slab should have a prepared and compacted subgrade, crushed stone, steel set on chairs, thicker edges, tight control joints and drainage that moves water away from the edge. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife, Cross Timbers ecoregion.
How do I get a written quote in Johnson County?
Send the address and what you want built through the quote form. One local crew visits, then quotes the base, steel, joints and drainage in writing before any concrete is ordered. Each project in Johnson County is quoted on its own site conditions.