Nueces County, Texas
28 local notes for Nueces County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend.
See the Corpus Christi place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two different offices handle your property tax
The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax office sends the bill and collects the money.
Homestead Exemption
A homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill
If this home is your main residence, you may qualify for an exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.
Special Districts
Several special districts can add to your tax bill
Depending on where you buy, Emergency Service Districts, drainage districts, and hospital and water authority districts may all appear on your tax statement.
Agricultural Valuation
Farmland can be taxed on what it produces, not its market value
Qualifying farm or ranch land in Nueces County may be appraised at productivity value rather than full market value, which usually means a much lower tax bill.
Home & Property
Windstorm Insurance
Coastal properties in Nueces County may need windstorm insurance from a state pool
Nueces County is one of 14 Texas Gulf Coast counties where the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides wind and hail coverage when private insurers won't.
WPI-8 Certificate
Coastal structures need a windstorm certificate to get TWIA coverage
A WPI-8 certificate proves a building was inspected and met coastal windstorm building codes — without it, getting windstorm insurance in Nueces County is much harder.
Flood Zones
FEMA flood maps for Nueces County were recently revised
Revised flood maps covering Corpus Christi, Bishop, and unincorporated Nueces County show which areas face the highest flood risk.
Flood Planning
A regional flood plan guides how Nueces County manages flood risk
The Texas Water Development Board adopted a Nueces Regional Flood Plan that sets long-term strategies for reducing flood damage in the county.
Septic Systems
Rural properties outside city sewer service need a permitted septic system
Homes in unincorporated Nueces County that are not connected to a city sewer system must have an on-site sewage facility (OSSF), commonly called a septic system, permitted under state rules.
ETJ and City Limits
Corpus Christi has land-use authority beyond its city limits
Corpus Christi controls development in an area outside its official city limits called the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), which can affect what you can build on nearby rural land.
Cars & Driving
Hurricane Evacuation
I-37 is the main hurricane evacuation route out of Corpus Christi
TxDOT uses I-37 northbound as the primary evacuation corridor for the Corpus Christi area, and the highway shoulder can be converted into an extra travel lane during a storm.
Vehicle Registration
Vehicles registered in Nueces County use the Two Steps, One Sticker program
As of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Texas no longer require a safety inspection before registration. In Nueces County, which is not one of the 17 emissions-testing counties, you simply register and receive one windshield sticker.
Island Access
Port Aransas is in Nueces County and reached by ferry or causeway
Port Aransas sits on Mustang Island in Nueces County and is accessible by a free state-operated ferry from Aransas Pass or by crossing the JFK Causeway from Corpus Christi and driving north on SH 361.
Outdoors
National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore offers 66 miles of wild Gulf Coast beach
Padre Island National Seashore, located near Corpus Christi, protects one of the longest undeveloped barrier island coastlines in the United States.
State Park
Mustang Island State Park has five miles of Gulf Coast beach and camping
Mustang Island State Park on the barrier island south of Corpus Christi offers camping, swimming, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching on the Gulf of Mexico.
Fishing Licenses
You need a Texas fishing license to fish in Nueces County waters
Anyone 17 or older needs a Texas fishing license to fish in Corpus Christi Bay, the Laguna Madre, or other Nueces County waters.
Freshwater Fishing
Lake Corpus Christi is 20 miles northwest and open for fishing
Lake Corpus Christi is a large reservoir in the Nueces River watershed, known for excellent catfish and crappie, with boat ramp and pier access through the adjacent state park.
Deer Hunting
Nueces County has a five-deer bag limit for white-tailed deer
Nueces County falls in the South Zone for white-tailed deer, allowing up to five deer per hunter per season with no more than three bucks.
Dove Hunting
Nueces County has strong dove hunting with a 15-bird daily bag limit
Nueces County sits in good dove country, with a combined bag limit of 15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves per day during the regular season.
Coastal Ecology
The Laguna Madre is one of the few hypersaline lagoons in the world
The Laguna Madre, which borders the eastern side of Nueces County, is a shallow, highly salty lagoon that supports unique wildlife and world-class fishing.
Rules & Licenses
Mineral Rights
Nueces County has active oil and gas production — mineral rights matter here
Oil and gas have been produced in Nueces County since 1922, and mineral rights on any property you buy may be owned by someone else.
Water Authority
The South Texas Water Authority is a special taxing district in Nueces County
The South Texas Water Authority is one of several special districts in Nueces County that can add a line item to your property tax bill.
History & Culture
County History
Nueces County was formed in 1846 and named for the river on its northern edge
Nueces County was formed from San Patricio County in 1846, one year after Texas became a state, and takes its name from the Nueces River.
County Seat
Corpus Christi is the county seat and largest city in Nueces County
Corpus Christi has served as the Nueces County seat since the county was organized in 1846 and is home to the Port of Corpus Christi, one of the largest ports in Texas.
Energy History
Oil and natural gas have shaped Nueces County since the 1920s
Natural gas was discovered in Nueces County in 1922, launching decades of oil and gas production that transformed the local economy.
Cultural Heritage
Nueces County has deep Tejano and Hispanic roots going back centuries
About 62 percent of Nueces County residents identify as Hispanic, reflecting a history of Spanish settlement, ranching culture, and Tejano community that predates Texas statehood.
Agriculture
Sorghum and cotton are key crops in Nueces County's farming history
Nueces County shifted from being one of Texas's top cotton producers in the early 20th century to relying more on sorghum and beef cattle as agricultural mainstays.
Geography
Nueces County covers 847 square miles on the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi Bay
Nueces County sits on the Gulf Coast, bounded by the Nueces River to the north and Corpus Christi Bay to the east, with flat terrain ranging from sea level to about 180 feet.