Harris County, Texas
52 local notes for Harris County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Houston / Upper Gulf Coast.
See the Houston place page ->Money & Taxes
Appraisal District
Who Sets Your Property Value in Harris County
The Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) sets the taxable value of every property in the county each year.
Property Tax Exemption
Homestead Exemption Can Cut Your Tax Bill in Harris County
Homeowners who live in their Harris County home as their primary residence can get a significant cut in their property tax bill through the homestead exemption.
Property Tax Protest
You Can Fight Your Appraisal in Harris County
Harris County property owners have the right to protest their appraised value every year — and many do.
Tax Office
The Harris County Tax Office Collects Property Taxes and Handles Car Registration
The Harris County Tax Office — separate from HCAD — is the agency that collects your property tax bill and handles vehicle registration.
Property Tax Structure
Your Property Tax Bill in Harris County Comes From Several Taxing Units
Your Harris County property tax bill combines rates from several different agencies — the county, your school district, any city, and possibly a MUD or other special district.
Appraisal Cap
The 10% Appraisal Cap Protects Harris County Homeowners From Runaway Values
Once you have a homestead exemption in Harris County, your taxable property value cannot rise more than 10% per year — no matter how fast the market moves.
Senior Property Tax
Seniors 65 and Older Can Freeze Their School Tax in Harris County
Homeowners who are 65 or older and have a homestead exemption in Harris County can freeze their school district property tax at the current level.
Hotel Occupancy Tax
Short-Term Rental Hosts in Houston Must Pay Hotel Occupancy Tax
If you operate a short-term rental inside Houston city limits, you must collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) through Houston First Corporation.
Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Disabled Veterans May Owe No Property Tax in Harris County
Veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA may qualify for a full property tax exemption on their Harris County homestead.
Home & Property
Municipal Utility Districts
What a MUD Is — and Why It Matters in Harris County
Harris County has hundreds of Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that provide water, sewer, and drainage to homes outside city limits.
Flood Risk
Harris County Has One of the Most Active Flood Programs in the Country
Harris County is one of the most flood-prone counties in the United States, and the county runs a major flood control agency to manage that risk.
Flood Insurance / FEMA Maps
How to Check Your Flood Zone Before Buying in Harris County
FEMA flood maps show which Harris County properties are in high-risk flood zones that require flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage.
Windstorm Insurance
Parts of Harris County Can Get Windstorm Insurance Through TWIA
Homeowners in the eastern part of Harris County — east of Highway 146 — may qualify for windstorm and hail insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).
Floodplain Permits
Building Near a Floodplain in Harris County Requires Permits
If you want to build, fill, or place structures in or near a floodplain in unincorporated Harris County, you must get a floodplain development permit.
Hurricane Risk
Harris County Sits in a Major Hurricane Corridor
Harris County is exposed to Gulf of Mexico hurricanes that can bring storm surge, extreme rainfall, and damaging winds.
Water Districts
Look Up Which Water District Serves Your Harris County Address
TCEQ's Water Districts Map Viewer lets you search any Harris County address to find which water or utility district supplies it.
Flood Mapping
Harris County Is Rebuilding Its Flood Maps With FEMA Help
The MAAPnext project is creating the most detailed and accurate set of flood maps Harris County has ever had.
Home Buyout Program
Harris County Will Buy Your Home If It Floods Repeatedly
The Harris County Flood Control District runs a voluntary buyout program for homes that flood repeatedly, purchasing properties so owners can move to safer ground.
Online Property Tools
Harris County Homeowners Can Manage Their Property Records Online
HCAD's online owner portal lets Harris County property owners check their appraisal, file exemptions, and protest their value without visiting an office.
Flood Risk Resources
Harris County Has Official Resources to Help You Understand Flood Risk
Harris County offers free flood risk information through HCFCD's website, including interactive maps, flood-zone lookup, and the MAAPnext updated modeling project.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Emissions / Registration
Harris County Requires an Emissions Test Before You Can Register Your Car
Because of air quality rules, Harris County vehicles must pass an annual emissions test before the owner can renew vehicle registration.
Vehicle Registration
How Vehicle Registration Works in Harris County
Texas uses a combined inspection-and-registration system called Two Steps, One Sticker — and Harris County adds an emissions test requirement.
Toll Roads
Harris County Has Its Own Toll Road System
The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) operates a large network of toll roads around Houston, including the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8).
Hurricane Evacuation
Harris County Has Official Hurricane Evacuation Zones
Harris County uses a zip zone system to tell residents when and in what order to evacuate during a hurricane.
Air Quality / Vehicle Inspection
Your Car Must Pass an Emissions Check in Harris County Each Year
Harris County is part of the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria emissions program, so most gasoline cars must pass an enhanced emissions inspection every year.
New Resident / Vehicle Registration
New Texas Residents Must Register Their Vehicle Within 30 Days
If you move to Harris County from another state, Texas law requires you to register your vehicle within 30 days and get a Texas driver license within 90 days.
Evacuation / Contraflow
During Major Hurricanes, Freeway Lanes in Harris County Can Be Reversed
TxDOT can activate contraflow on major Houston freeways during a hurricane evacuation, reversing lanes so all traffic moves inland.
Road Conditions
Check Road Conditions in Harris County at DriveTexas.org
TxDOT's DriveTexas.org shows real-time traffic, road closures, and weather-related alerts for Harris County roads and freeways.
Outdoors
Bay Fishing
Galveston Bay Is One of the Top Fishing Spots Near Houston
Galveston Bay borders the southeast edge of Harris County and offers saltwater fishing for speckled trout, redfish, and flounder.
Fishing License
Which Fishing License You Need in Harris County
Whether you fish Galveston Bay or an inland lake in Harris County determines which TPWD license endorsement you need.
State Park
Galveston Island State Park Is About an Hour from Houston
Galveston Island State Park offers beach and bay access for camping, fishing, bird watching, and paddling — close to the Houston metro.
Wildlife Trail
The Clear Lake Loop Is a Wildlife Viewing Drive Near Harris County
TPWD's Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail includes a Clear Lake Loop that passes through the Harris County area, offering access to Galveston Bay's bird life.
Bayous / Waterways
Harris County's Bayou System Is Part of Its Flood Defense
Harris County's system of bayous — including Buffalo, Brays, White Oak, and Greens — drains the flat coastal plain toward Galveston Bay.
Fishing Reports
TPWD Posts Weekly Fishing Reports for the Galveston Bay Area
Texas Parks and Wildlife publishes free weekly fishing reports for Galveston Bay and the Gulf Coast, showing what fish are biting and where.
Birding / Wildlife
Harris County Sits on a Major Bird Migration Route
The Houston area lies along the Central Flyway, one of the main bird migration routes in North America, making Harris County a strong birding destination in spring and fall.
Rules & Licenses
Air Quality / Ozone
Houston Has an Air Quality Problem Worth Knowing About
The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area — including Harris County — is classified as a serious ozone nonattainment zone by the EPA.
Short-Term Rentals
Houston Now Requires Short-Term Rental Registration
If you rent out a home on Airbnb or a similar platform inside Houston city limits, the city now requires you to register and pay fees.
City vs. Unincorporated Area
Living Outside Houston City Limits in Harris County Is Common
A large portion of Harris County's population lives in unincorporated areas — outside any city — which means different rules for zoning, permits, and services.
Land Use / Zoning
Houston Has No Traditional Zoning — and That Affects the Whole County
The City of Houston does not have traditional land-use zoning, which means a business can legally open next to a home in many areas.
Deed Restrictions
In Harris County, Deed Restrictions Often Replace Zoning
Because Houston has no traditional zoning, many neighborhoods use deed restrictions to control what can be built or operated on private property.
Fishing License
Buy Your Texas Fishing License Online Before You Head to the Water
Texas fishing licenses — required for anglers 17 and older in public waters — can be purchased online through TPWD before you arrive at the water.
Air Quality Forecast
Check the Daily Air Quality Forecast Before Going Outside in Harris County
TCEQ posts a daily air quality forecast for the Houston area that tells you whether ozone levels may be unhealthy.
History & Culture
State Historic Site
The Battle That Made Texas Happened in Harris County
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site marks the location where Texas won its independence from Mexico on April 21, 1836.
County History
Harris County Was Founded in 1836 and Named After an Early Settler
Harris County was established by the First Congress of the Republic of Texas and named after John R. Harris, who built an early port town on Buffalo Bayou.
Industrial History
The Houston Ship Channel Turned Houston Into an Industrial Giant
The Houston Ship Channel, completed in 1914, connected Houston to the Gulf of Mexico and made Harris County a center of the petrochemical industry.
City History
Houston Was Founded in 1836 and Named After Sam Houston
The city of Houston was founded in 1836 by two brothers who bought land on Buffalo Bayou and named it after the hero of San Jacinto.
Oil History
Harris County Had One of Texas's Early Oil Discoveries
The Goose Creek Oil Field near Baytown in Harris County was one of the early Texas oil discoveries that helped fuel the county's industrial growth.
Demographics / Culture
Harris County Is One of the Most Diverse Counties in the U.S.
Harris County has grown through successive waves of immigration and migration, making it one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse large counties in the country.
Size and Scale
Harris County Is One of the Largest Counties in the U.S.
Harris County covers about 1,778 square miles and has grown to be one of the most populous counties in the United States.
Industrial Heritage
Harris County Has the Largest Concentration of Petrochemical Plants in the U.S.
The area along the Houston Ship Channel grew into the largest concentration of petrochemical manufacturing in the United States.
Space History
NASA's Johnson Space Center Is in Harris County
NASA selected a site near Clear Lake in southeastern Harris County for what became the Johnson Space Center in 1961, shaping the Clear Lake area.
WWII History
The Houston Ship Channel Was a Major WWII Industrial Center
During World War II, the Houston Ship Channel and Harris County became a critical center of wartime shipbuilding and petrochemical production.