Ector County, Texas
27 local notes for Ector County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos.
See the Odessa place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax in Ector County
The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax assessor-collector handles payments — they are two separate offices.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill
Texas law gives homeowners a $140,000 exemption from the school district portion of their property tax if the home is their primary residence.
Senior & Disabled Exemption
Extra Tax Break for Homeowners 65 or Older
Homeowners who are 65 or older or who are disabled get an additional $60,000 school district exemption and may qualify for a tax freeze.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value
Landowners who use their Ector County property for farming or ranching can apply to have it taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for.
Appraisal Protest
You Have the Right to Protest Your Property Value in Ector County
If you think the Ector County Appraisal District valued your property too high, Texas law gives you the right to protest — and there is a deadline.
Home & Property
Mineral Rights
In Ector County, Mineral Rights and Surface Rights Are Often Separate
When you buy land in Ector County, you may not own the oil and gas below it — those rights are often already owned by someone else.
Groundwater Protection
Oil Drilling Near Water Wells Requires a Groundwater Protection Review
Before drilling an oil or gas well in Ector County, operators may need a groundwater protection review to show they won't harm local water sources.
Septic Systems
You Need a Permit for a Septic System Outside City Limits
Any on-site sewage system — like a septic tank — built outside Odessa's city sewer service requires a permit before installation.
Flooding
Playa Lakes Create Flood Risk in Ector County
Shallow seasonal lakes called playa lakes dot Ector County; properties near them are more likely to flood after heavy rain.
Wildfire Hazard
Wildfire Risk Is High in Ector County
Dry conditions, sparse vegetation, and West Texas winds make wildfires a serious hazard for homeowners in Ector County.
Water Supply
Water Is Scarce in Ector County — Know Your Source Before You Buy
Ector County averages only about 13–14 inches of rain per year; properties outside city water service may depend on wells or trucked water.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Registration in Texas Takes Two Steps
In Texas, vehicle registration is a single step for most non-commercial vehicles — as of January 1, 2025, safety inspections are no longer required before registration in Ector County.
New Resident
New Texans Must Register Their Vehicle Within 30 Days
If you move to Ector County from another state, you have 30 days to register your vehicle and get a Texas driver's license.
Outdoors
Mule Deer Hunting
Mule Deer Season in Ector County Is Short
Ector County is in the Trans-Pecos mule deer zone, where archery and general season combined run only a few weeks in fall.
Dove Hunting
Dove Season Dates in Ector County Depend on Which Side of I-20 You Hunt
Interstate 20 splits Ector County into two TPWD dove zones with different season start and end dates.
Small Game & Javelina
Ector County Has Seasons for Quail and Javelina
Quail season runs through late winter and javelina season runs from fall into late February in Ector County.
Public Access
There Is No Public Hunting Land in Ector County
All hunting in Ector County takes place on private land — hunters must have written or verbal permission from the landowner.
Rules & Licenses
Oil & Gas Regulation
The Railroad Commission Regulates Oil and Gas, Not Railroads
Despite its name, the Texas Railroad Commission is the state agency that permits and oversees oil and gas drilling in Ector County.
Hunting License
You Need a Texas Hunting License to Hunt in Ector County
Any hunter in Ector County must hold a valid Texas hunting license, plus additional endorsements depending on what they hunt.
History & Culture
Oil History
Oil Was Discovered in Ector County in 1926 and Changed Everything
The first producing oil well in Ector County came in on December 28, 1926, launching a boom that turned a small cow town into a major city.
County History
Ector County Is Named for a Confederate General and Texas Judge
Texas created Ector County in 1887 from Tom Green County land and named it for Mathew D. Ector, a Confederate general who later served as a Texas appeals judge.
Founding History
A Railroad Built Odessa in the 1880s
Odessa was founded in 1881 when the Texas and Pacific Railway extended across West Texas and workers established a water stop on the South Plains.
Natural Landmark
A Meteor Crater Sits About Ten Miles Southwest of Odessa
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a prehistoric impact site in south-central Ector County, designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
Cultural Institution
Odessa Has a Museum Dedicated to the U.S. Presidency
The Presidential Museum in Odessa focuses on the office of the U.S. presidency, tracing its roots to a Presidential Room opened in the Ector County Library in 1965.
Cultural Landmark
Odessa Has a Replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
A replica of the original Globe Theatre in London sits on the Odessa College campus and hosts seasonal Shakespeare performances.
Indigenous History
Prehistoric Rock Art Exists in Ector County
Blue Mountain pictographs in Ector County are ancient rock paintings left by prehistoric peoples, depicting hunting scenes.
Higher Education
The University of Texas Permian Basin Is in Odessa
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB), established in 1973, is a four-year university in Odessa that serves the West Texas region.