Kerr County, Texas
13 local notes for Kerr County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property taxes in Kerr County
The appraisal district sets your property value, but a separate tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.
Homestead Exemption
A homestead exemption can cut your school tax bill in Kerr County
If your home is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.
Agricultural Appraisal
Farm and ranch land in Kerr County can be taxed on productivity, not market value
Land used for ranching, crops, or wildlife management may qualify for a special tax appraisal that is far lower than market value.
Home & Property
Groundwater & Wells
Drilling a water well in Kerr County requires a permit
The Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District regulates wells in Kerr County and requires permits before you drill.
Septic Systems
Outside city limits in Kerr County, you likely need a septic permit
Most of Kerr County is not served by public sewer, so homes outside city limits need a permitted on-site sewage facility.
Flood Risk
Flash floods are a serious danger in Kerr County
The Hill Country around Kerrville sits in what is commonly called Flash Flood Alley — one of the most flash-flood-prone areas in the United States.
River Authority
The Upper Guadalupe River Authority manages water in Kerr County
UGRA is a conservation and reclamation district created by the Texas Legislature that handles water quality, river monitoring, and flood preparedness for the Guadalupe River watershed in Kerr County.
Wildfire Hazard
Wildfire is a real risk in Kerr County's Hill Country landscape
Dry cedar and oak brush, periodic drought, and Hill Country winds make Kerr County a wildfire-prone area.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
Public Hunting
The Kerr Wildlife Management Area offers public hunting by draw
The 6,459-acre Kerr WMA near Hunt allows public hunting for deer and turkey, but you must win a spot through TPWD's public draw system.
Hunting Seasons
Kerr County has strong deer and turkey hunting seasons
Kerr County falls in TPWD's North Zone for deer and turkey, with general deer season running November through early January.
History & Culture
County History
Kerr County was carved from the Hill Country in 1856
Kerr County was established January 26, 1856, named for James Kerr, a colonist and figure in the Texas Revolution.
Ranching Heritage
Kerrville was once called the Mohair Capital of the World
Sheep and Angora goat ranching dominated Kerr County's economy for decades, and the county shipped over a million pounds of wool in a single year.