Hood County, Texas
13 local notes for Hood County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. DFW / North Texas.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Savings
Homestead Exemption Cuts Your Property Tax Bill
If you own and live in your Hood County home, a homestead exemption can lower the value used to calculate your school tax bill by $100,000.
Property Tax Protest
You Can Protest Your Appraisal Value Each Year
Hood County property owners who think their appraisal is too high can formally protest, and the deadline is usually May 15 or 30 days after the notice arrives.
Agricultural Valuation
Ag Valuation Can Sharply Lower Taxes on Rural Land
Land used for farming, ranching, or timber can be taxed on its agricultural income value rather than its market value, which is often much lower.
Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans Get Extra Property Tax Exemptions in Texas
Texas law gives disabled veterans a property tax exemption based on their VA disability rating, and a 100% rating can mean a full exemption on a primary home.
Home & Property
Building Rules
No County Building Permit Required in Most of Hood County
In unincorporated Hood County — outside city limits — you do not need a county building permit to build a home, but you still need septic, road access, and well permits.
Water Wells
A Groundwater District Regulates Wells in Hood County
The Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District covers Hood County and requires a permit before you drill a new water well.
Flood Risk
Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Near the Brazos
Parts of Hood County along the Brazos River, the Paluxy River, and Lake Granbury are in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance costs and what you can build.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
Fishing
Lake Granbury Offers Free Public Boat Ramps and Good Fishing
Lake Granbury is an 8,310-acre reservoir on the Brazos River with free public boat ramps and a variety of fish species.
Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Hood County Has Antler Restrictions
Hood County hunters can take up to 4 deer per season, but specific antler-spread rules apply to bucks — check the TPWD Outdoor Annual before you hunt.
History & Culture
Historic Landmark
Granbury's Courthouse Square Is a Well-Preserved Historic District
The Hood County Courthouse in Granbury was built in 1890-1891, survived a 1968 tornado, and was fully restored using a Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program grant.
County History
Hood County Was Named for a Confederate General Who Never Visited
Hood County was formed in 1866 and named for Confederate General John Bell Hood, though he has no known connection to the land itself.
Geography
The Brazos River Runs Through Granbury and Shapes the County
Hood County covers 425 square miles in north-central Texas, with the Brazos River as its main waterway and Lake Granbury as the central reservoir.