Kaufman County, Texas
26 local notes for Kaufman County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. DFW / North Texas.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property tax in Kaufman County
The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.
Homestead Exemption
File your homestead exemption with KCAD to lower your tax bill
Texas requires school districts to give homeowners a $140,000 exemption on their primary residence — but you must apply with the appraisal district to get it.
Over-65 & Disability Exemption
Homeowners 65 and older get extra tax relief in Kaufman County
Once you turn 65, your school taxes can be frozen — meaning they cannot rise as long as you own and live in the home.
Agricultural Special Appraisal
Farm and ranch land can be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for
Texas law lets qualifying farm and ranch land be taxed on what it can produce, not what a developer would pay for it — which can cut your tax bill sharply.
MUDs and PIDs
Many new homes in Kaufman County sit inside special tax districts
Municipal Utility Districts and Public Improvement Districts add extra charges to your tax bill — check before you buy.
Home & Property
Floodplain Development
Building in a floodplain in unincorporated Kaufman County requires a permit
Any work on land that FEMA maps show as a floodplain — including new buildings, additions, or fill placement — requires a county flood plain permit first.
Septic / OSSF
You need a permit before installing a septic system in Kaufman County
Kaufman County requires a permit for any new septic system, and the installer must hold a TCEQ license.
City Limits vs. ETJ
Living near a city doesn't mean you're in the city — ETJ rules matter
Many homes near fast-growing Forney and Terrell are in the ETJ — a buffer zone outside city limits where cities can control how land is divided but cannot zone it.
Soil & Land Character
Kaufman County sits on Blackland Prairie — rich but tricky clay soil
The dark, clay-heavy Blackland Prairie soil that made Kaufman County good for farming also expands and contracts with moisture, which can crack foundations and shift slabs.
Mineral Rights
Kaufman County has oil and gas production — understand mineral rights before you buy
Oil, gas, limestone, sand, and gravel are all listed as natural resources in Kaufman County — if you buy land, check whether mineral rights come with the surface.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Emissions
Cars registered in Kaufman County must pass an annual emissions test
Kaufman County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth emissions testing area, so most gasoline vehicles need an emissions inspection every year.
Road Flooding
Kaufman County has low-water crossings that flood fast — turn around, don't drown
Rural roads along the Trinity River and Cedar Creek can flood quickly during heavy rain, and some have low-water crossings with no barriers.
Outdoors
Freshwater Fishing
Cedar Creek Reservoir offers good fishing along Kaufman County's eastern edge
Cedar Creek Reservoir covers more than 32,000 acres across Henderson and Kaufman counties and is rated excellent for catfish and white and hybrid striped bass.
State Park
Lake Tawakoni State Park is a short drive from Kaufman County
Lake Tawakoni State Park sits about 50 miles east of Dallas, offering camping, fishing, hiking, and boating on a nearly 38,000-acre reservoir.
Hunting Seasons
White-tailed deer hunting in Kaufman County follows the North Zone season
Kaufman County is in the North Zone for white-tailed deer — check TPWD for current season dates and the county's buck antler rule before you hunt.
Weather Hazards
Tornadoes and severe hail are real risks in Kaufman County
Kaufman County sits in a part of North Texas that regularly sees tornadoes and large hail — know your safe shelter plan before storm season.
Waterways
The East Fork of the Trinity River drains Kaufman County's western half
The East Fork Trinity and Cedar Creek are the two main waterways shaping flood risk, water supply, and recreation in Kaufman County.
Rules & Licenses
Water Wells
Kaufman County has no groundwater conservation district — state rules apply to water wells
There is no local groundwater conservation district in Kaufman County, so your water well is governed by state rules and must be drilled by a licensed driller who files a report with TCEQ.
Right to Farm
Texas law protects farming operations from certain nuisance lawsuits
If you move near an existing farm or ranch in Kaufman County, Texas law limits your ability to sue the operation as a nuisance.
Livestock & Fencing
Whether livestock must be fenced in depends on local stock law elections
Texas defaults to open range, but local elections can require landowners to fence their livestock in — check the county clerk for Kaufman County's current status.
History & Culture
County Origins
Kaufman County was settled in 1840 and named for a Texas congressman
The county was formally established in 1848 and named for David Spangler Kaufman, a diplomat and congressman who represented Texas in both the Republic and the United States.
Railroad History
Two railroads shaped Kaufman County's towns in the 1870s and 1890s
The Texas and Pacific Railway arrived in 1873 and helped Terrell grow; the Texas-Midland Railroad added a second line in the 1890s, bringing shops and jobs to the county.
Historic Institution
Terrell State Hospital opened in 1885 and became a landmark employer
The state chose a site near Terrell in 1883 for Texas's second psychiatric hospital — it grew into a major regional facility and for decades was the largest employer in the area.
Agricultural Innovation
The first USDA farm demonstration in the U.S. happened near Terrell in 1903
Walter Porter's farm near Terrell was chosen by the USDA in 1903 as the site of the nation's first agricultural demonstration farm — the model that led to today's Cooperative Extension Service.
Growth & Change
Kaufman County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S.
Kaufman County added more than 50,000 residents between 2020 and 2024 — a growth rate that made it the fastest-growing county in Texas and second-fastest in the country.
Community History
African Americans have deep roots in Kaufman County dating to before the Civil War
The 1860 census counted 533 enslaved people in Kaufman County; the Black population grew substantially after the Civil War and made up nearly a third of county residents by 1930.