Lubbock County, Texas

26 local notes for Lubbock County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Panhandle / High Plains.

See the Lubbock place page ->

Money & Taxes

Property Tax

Who Values Your Property for Taxes

The Lubbock Central Appraisal District sets the value of your property; a separate tax office collects what you owe.

Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Tax Bill

If your home is your main residence, you likely qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces what you pay in property taxes.

Homestead Cap

The Homestead Cap Slows Tax Increases

Texas law limits how much your home's taxable value can rise each year once you have a homestead exemption.

Ag Valuation

Agricultural Land Can Be Taxed at a Much Lower Rate

Farm and ranch land in Lubbock County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for, which often cuts the tax bill sharply.

Tax Protest

You Can Protest Your Appraisal Value

If you think the appraisal district has overvalued your property, you have the right to formally protest and seek a lower value.

Home & Property

Groundwater

Your Well Water Comes from a Shrinking Aquifer

Nearly all rural water in Lubbock County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the largest in the world, but water levels have been dropping for decades.

Water Wells

New Wells Need a Permit from the Groundwater District

Before drilling a new water well in Lubbock County, you must get a permit from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District.

ETJ / Zoning

Outside City Limits Still Has Some City Rules

Land just outside a city in Lubbock County can fall inside the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). That means some city rules still apply, even if you are not paying city taxes.

Weather Risk

Hail and Severe Storms Are a Real Hazard Here

Lubbock County gets large hail, strong winds, and bad storms often. Your roof and insurance choices matter here.

Wildfire

Wildfire Can Move Fast on the Flat Plains

Dry conditions and strong West Texas winds make wildfires a serious risk in and around Lubbock County, especially for rural and edge-of-town properties.

Climate

The High Plains Climate Is Dry, Windy, and Extreme

Lubbock County gets only about 18 inches of rain a year, sits at high elevation, and sees both brutal summer heat and hard freezes in winter.

Water Planning

Long-Term Water Supply Is an Active Planning Issue

Lubbock County relies on the Ogallala Aquifer and surface reservoirs for water. Long-term supply is a real concern.

Cars & Driving

Vehicle Registration

New Residents Skip the Safety Inspection — Just Register at the County Tax Office

Move to Texas with an out-of-state car? As of January 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection — you register directly at the county tax office and pay a small replacement fee.

Outdoors

Deer Hunting

Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Are Hunted Here

Lubbock County falls in an area where hunters can pursue both white-tailed deer and mule deer, each with its own season and bag limit rules.

Dove Hunting

Dove Hunting Is a Fall Tradition on the Plains

Lubbock County's cotton and grain fields attract large numbers of mourning doves, making it a popular area for dove hunting each fall.

State Parks

Several State Parks Are Within a Few Hours of Lubbock

Lubbock County itself has no state park, but Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons, and other parks are within driving range for camping and outdoor recreation.

Playa Lakes

Hundreds of Playa Lakes Dot the County

Lubbock County has hundreds of small, shallow playas — seasonal lakes that fill with rain and support wildlife and waterfowl.

Turkey Hunting

Wild Turkey Season Is Open in Lubbock County

Lubbock County is in the North Zone for wild turkey hunting, with both fall and spring seasons available.

Rules & Licenses

CWD / Deer Disease

CWD Has Been Found in Deer Here — Check Before You Move a Carcass

Chronic Wasting Disease was confirmed in a free-ranging mule deer in Lubbock County, which means there are rules about transporting deer carcasses out of the area.

Public Hunting

An Annual Permit Opens Up Public Hunting Land

Texas Parks and Wildlife sells an Annual Public Hunting Permit that gives access to over a million acres of public and leased land across the state.

Right to Farm

Farming Operations Have Legal Protections Near Your Property

Texas law limits nuisance lawsuits against established farming operations. This matters if you buy rural land or a home near active agriculture in Lubbock County.

History & Culture

Agriculture