Montgomery County, Texas
27 local notes for Montgomery County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Houston / Upper Gulf Coast.
See the The Woodlands place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two Different Offices Handle Your Property Tax
In Montgomery County, one office sets your property value and a separate office collects your tax bill.
Property Tax Savings
Homestead Exemption Can Cut Your School Tax Bill
If your home is your primary residence in Montgomery County, a homestead exemption removes part of its value from your school tax calculation.
Special District Taxes
Many Montgomery County Neighborhoods Pay MUD Taxes
More than 100 Municipal Utility Districts in Montgomery County can add a separate tax on top of your regular county and school taxes.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural Valuation Can Lower Taxes on Rural Land
Rural landowners in Montgomery County may qualify to have their land taxed on its farming productivity value rather than its market value.
Property Tax Protest
You Can Protest Your Appraisal if You Think It Is Too High
Montgomery County property owners have the right to challenge the appraised value set by MCAD each year.
School Taxes
Ten School Districts Serve Montgomery County
Your school district depends on where in Montgomery County you live, and each district sets its own tax rate.
Wildlife Valuation
Wildlife Management Can Qualify Land for Lower Tax Appraisal
Landowners in Montgomery County who actively manage land for wildlife may qualify for the same low tax appraisal as agricultural land.
Home & Property
Water Wells
Private Water Wells Are Regulated in Montgomery County
The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District oversees water wells in Montgomery County to protect the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
Water Supply
Montgomery County Is Shifting Away from Pumped Groundwater
A county-wide program is moving large water users toward surface water from Lake Conroe to reduce pumping from underground aquifers.
Septic Systems
Rural Homes Need a Septic Permit Before Building
Homes outside city sewer service in Montgomery County need a permitted on-site sewage system before construction can begin.
Flood Risk
Flooding Is a Serious Risk Along the San Jacinto River
Parts of Montgomery County along the San Jacinto River and its tributaries face major flood risk, as Hurricane Harvey showed in 2017.
Land Subsidence
Groundwater Pumping Can Cause Land to Sink
Pumping large amounts of water from underground aquifers can cause the land surface to slowly sink — a process called subsidence.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
Cars in Montgomery County Need Emissions Testing First
Montgomery County is in the Houston area emissions testing program, so most vehicles must pass an emissions test before you can register them.
Roads
SH 99 Grand Parkway Runs Through the County
State Highway 99, the Grand Parkway, passes through Montgomery County and serves as both a major commuter route and a hurricane evacuation corridor.
Outdoors
Fishing
Lake Conroe Offers Good Fishing Year-Round
Lake Conroe spans about 20,000 acres and is known for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass fishing.
Public Hunting
Nearly 48,000 Acres of Public Hunting Land Is in the County
The Sam Houston National Forest Wildlife Management Area includes about 47,600 acres in Montgomery County open for hunting, fishing, and camping.
Hiking and Recreation
Sam Houston National Forest Has Miles of Trails Near Houston
The Sam Houston National Forest spans three counties including Montgomery and offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping.
Boating and Water Access
Public Boat Ramps Give Access to Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe has public access points for boating and fishing, managed by the San Jacinto River Authority.
Rules & Licenses
Land Use
Much of Montgomery County Is Unincorporated
Large parts of Montgomery County have no city zoning, which affects what you can and cannot build on your land.
Emergency Preparedness
Have a Hurricane Evacuation Plan Before Storm Season
Montgomery County sits in the Houston hurricane zone, and residents should know their evacuation route before a storm threatens.
Hunting Licenses
You Need a Public Hunting Permit for National Forest Hunting
Hunters using the Sam Houston National Forest WMA in Montgomery County need a Texas hunting license plus a separate public hunting permit.
History & Culture
Local History
An Oil Strike in 1931 Changed Montgomery County Forever
A wildcatter named George W. Strake struck oil southeast of Conroe in 1931, turning a struggling timber town into one of Texas's most important oil fields.
Local History
Sawmills Once Shaped the County's Economy
Railroads arrived in the 1870s and triggered a logging boom that turned Montgomery County into a major Texas lumber producer.
Local History
The County Seat Moved Three Times Before Landing in Conroe
Montgomery County was established in 1837 and went through three different county seats before Conroe became permanent in 1889.
County Origins
Montgomery County Was Created by the Republic of Texas in 1837
Montgomery County is one of Texas's older counties, established by the Congress of the Republic of Texas in December 1837.
Demographics
Montgomery County Has Grown Rapidly as a Houston Suburb
Montgomery County grew from about 128,000 people in 1980 to over 620,000 by 2020, driven largely by Houston's suburban expansion northward.
City Origins
Conroe Was Named for a Lumberman Who Built a Sawmill in 1881
The city of Conroe takes its name from Isaac Conroe, a Houston-based lumberman who established a sawmill on Stewarts Creek in 1881.