Gregg County, Texas
25 local notes for Gregg County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. East Texas / Piney Woods.
See the Longview place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Who values your property for taxes in Gregg County
The Gregg County Appraisal District (GCAD) sets the value of every taxable property in the county each year.
Homestead Exemption
Lower your tax bill with a homestead exemption
If your home in Gregg County is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that cuts your taxable value.
Agricultural Use
Ag valuation can cut taxes on rural Gregg County land
Land used for farming, timber, or beekeeping in Gregg County can be taxed on its productive value — not its market value — which can mean much lower taxes.
Tax Rates
Gregg County has many taxing units — your bill depends on where you live
Your property tax bill in Gregg County is the sum of rates from every taxing unit whose boundary includes your address.
Tax Protest
You can protest your property value in Gregg County
If you think the Gregg County Appraisal District overvalued your property, you have the right to protest — and a deadline to do it.
Special Exemptions
Extra property tax breaks for seniors and veterans in Gregg County
Seniors 65 and older, disabled persons, and disabled veterans may qualify for extra property tax reductions in Gregg County beyond the standard homestead exemption.
Home & Property
Flood Risk
Flooding is a real risk in parts of Gregg County
Parts of Gregg County — including areas in and around Longview, Kilgore, and Gladewater — lie in FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas.
Septic Systems
No city sewer? You need a septic permit in Gregg County
Homes in unincorporated Gregg County that are not on a city sewer must have a permitted septic system, called an on-site sewage facility (OSSF).
Water Wells
Water wells in Gregg County: what you need to know
If your Gregg County property is not on a public water system, you may rely on a private water well — and there are state rules even without a local groundwater district.
City Limits & ETJ
Living inside or outside city limits matters in Gregg County
Whether your address falls inside a city, in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), or in unincorporated Gregg County affects your taxes, services, and building rules.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
No emissions test required to register your car in Gregg County
Gregg County is not one of Texas's emissions-testing counties, and as of January 1, 2025, Texas no longer requires a safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles either — so most Gregg County drivers need no inspection at all to register.
Boat Registration
Register your boat at the Gregg County tax office
Gregg County residents can register boats and personal watercraft at the county Tax Assessor-Collector office in Longview.
Outdoors
Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Gregg County
Gregg County falls in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with specific antler restrictions and bag limits set by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Fishing
Cherokee Lake offers fishing in Gregg County
Cherokee Lake in Gregg County is a documented fishing destination tracked by Texas Parks and Wildlife, with largemouth bass among the recorded species.
Public Hunting Access
The Annual Public Hunting Permit opens land across Texas
Texas residents can buy an Annual Public Hunting Permit from TPWD to access over a million acres of public hunting land statewide.
Rivers & Waterways
The Sabine River runs through Gregg County
The Sabine River flows northwest to southeast through Gregg County and is a key water feature shaping both the landscape and flood risk.
Natural Environment
Gregg County sits in the East Texas Piney Woods
Gregg County is part of the East Texas Piney Woods — a region of pine and hardwood forests that shapes the local ecosystem, timber industry, and outdoor recreation.
Rules & Licenses
Game Warden
How to reach Gregg County's game warden
Gregg County has a TPWD game warden who enforces hunting, fishing, and boating laws in the county.
Mineral Rights
Oil and gas wells in Gregg County are regulated by the Railroad Commission
The Texas Railroad Commission regulates all oil and gas activity in Gregg County — a county with a long history of petroleum production.
History & Culture
County History
How Gregg County got its name
Gregg County was created in 1873 and named after John B. Gregg, a Confederate general killed during the Civil War.
Oil Boom History
The East Texas Oil Field transformed Gregg County
The discovery of the East Texas Oil Field in 1931 turned Gregg County from a quiet farming area into one of the most active oil regions in U.S. history.
Railroad History
Railroads built Longview — and Gregg County
Longview was founded in 1870 as a railroad town, and the arrival of multiple rail lines shaped the early economy of Gregg County.
Industrial History
Industry came to Gregg County after World War II
After World War II, major industrial employers — including LeTourneau and Texas Eastman — set up in Gregg County and built an economy beyond oil.
Communities
Gregg County has several cities beyond Longview
Gregg County includes Longview (the county seat) plus several other incorporated cities — each with its own government, services, and school district.
Early History
Indigenous peoples lived in Gregg County before Anglo settlement
The area that is now Gregg County was home to Caddo peoples and later Cherokee immigrants before Anglo settlers arrived in the 1840s.