Tarrant County, Texas
51 local notes for Tarrant County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. DFW / North Texas.
See the Fort Worth place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Appraisal
Who Appraises Your Property in Tarrant County
The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) sets the value of your property each year, and that value determines how much tax you owe.
Homestead Exemption
How to Apply for a Homestead Exemption in Tarrant County
Homeowners who live in their Tarrant County home can apply for a homestead exemption to lower their property tax bill.
Appraisal Cap
The 10% Cap on Your Home's Appraised Value in Tarrant County
Once you have a homestead exemption on file, TAD can raise your home's appraised value by no more than 10% per year.
Tax Protest
How to Protest Your Property Tax Value in Tarrant County
If you think TAD overvalued your property, you can protest — the deadline is generally May 15 or 30 days after your notice arrives.
Mineral Taxes
How Mineral Rights Are Taxed in Tarrant County
Mineral interests in Tarrant County count as real property and are taxed just like land or a house.
Special Districts
Special Tax Districts: MUDs and PIDs in Tarrant County
Some Tarrant County properties lie inside special tax districts that add an extra line to your property tax bill.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural Valuation (Ag Exemption) for Tarrant County Landowners
Land actively used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management in Tarrant County may qualify for a much lower tax appraisal based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.
Senior / Disability Exemption
Extra Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners in Tarrant County
Homeowners 65 or older, or those with a qualifying disability, can apply for additional property tax exemptions that reduce what they owe each year.
Tax Office
The Tarrant County Tax Office Collects Property Taxes and Handles Vehicle Titles
The Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector is a separate office from TAD — it handles tax bills, vehicle registration, and titles, not appraisals.
New Homeowner
First Steps for New Tarrant County Homeowners on Taxes
When you buy a home in Tarrant County, apply for a homestead exemption right away — it could save you money starting the next tax year.
Wildlife Management
Wildlife Management Can Qualify Land for Agricultural Valuation in Tarrant County
Tarrant County landowners can switch land from agricultural use to a wildlife management plan and still receive the lower productivity-based property tax valuation.
Home & Property
Floodplain Permit
Building in a Flood Zone Requires a Free Permit in Tarrant County
Any work in a FEMA-designated flood zone in unincorporated Tarrant County — including placing fill — requires a free floodplain permit before you start.
Flood Risk
The Trinity River and Flood Risk in Tarrant County
The Trinity River and its forks run through Tarrant County, and flooding is a real risk — especially in low-lying areas near the river.
Water Supply
Where Tarrant County's Water Comes From
Most of Tarrant County's water supply comes from two East Texas lakes — Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers — managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Tarrant County Require a Permit
If your Tarrant County property is not on a public sewer, you need a county permit for any new or substantially changed on-site sewage system.
ETJ / Zoning
Unincorporated Tarrant County Is Mostly Inside City ETJs
Most unincorporated land in Tarrant County sits inside a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), meaning city subdivision rules apply even though you are not inside city limits.
Weather Hazard
Tornado Risk Is Real in Tarrant County
Tarrant County sits in a region of North Texas with a documented history of tornadoes going back to the 1800s — spring is the highest-risk season.
Hail and Storms
Large Hail and Severe Thunderstorms Hit Tarrant County Regularly
Tarrant County sees frequent severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding — often in spring and early summer.
Winter Weather
Ice Storms Are a Real Hazard in Tarrant County
Tarrant County can experience damaging ice storms and freezing temperatures in winter, which can disrupt power, roads, and water pipes.
Oil and Gas
Tarrant County Sits on the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Formation
Much of Tarrant County overlies the Barnett Shale — one of the country's major onshore natural gas fields — and thousands of wells have been drilled in and around the county.
Mineral Rights
In Tarrant County, Surface Rights and Mineral Rights Can Be Separate
Buying land in Tarrant County does not automatically mean you own the oil and gas underneath — mineral rights can be — and often are — owned by someone else.
Oil and Gas Wells
How to Look Up Oil and Gas Wells Near Your Tarrant County Property
The Railroad Commission of Texas lets anyone search for active, inactive, and permitted oil and gas wells using a free online map.
Flood Insurance
Flood Insurance in Tarrant County: What You Need to Know
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage — you need a separate flood insurance policy, available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program.
City Limits / ETJ
Living Outside Fort Worth City Limits Still Means City Rules May Apply
Fort Worth has one of the largest extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) in Tarrant County, so even some unincorporated properties near the city must follow Fort Worth's subdivision standards.
Flood Infrastructure
Fort Worth Is Rerouting Part of the Trinity River to Reduce Flood Risk
The Central City Flood Control Project aims to protect over 2,400 acres of Fort Worth neighborhoods by rerouting a section of the Trinity River north of downtown.
River Authority
The Trinity River Authority Serves Tarrant County and the Broader Basin
The Trinity River Authority (TRA) is a conservation and reclamation district that manages water treatment, flood planning, and river basin coordination across the Trinity watershed, which includes Tarrant County.
Weather Preparedness
Sign Up for Weather Alerts Through the NWS Fort Worth Office
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth covers Tarrant County and issues forecasts, watches, and warnings for tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
Registering and Renewing Your Vehicle in Tarrant County
Tarrant County residents renew vehicle registration through the county Tax Assessor-Collector, with eight office locations and online and mail options.
Emissions Inspection
Tarrant County Requires an Emissions Test for Most Vehicles
Most gasoline-powered vehicles registered in Tarrant County must pass an emissions test before registration can be renewed.
Driver's License
Driver's Licenses in Tarrant County Are a DPS Matter
New driver's licenses and renewals in Tarrant County are handled by Texas DPS — not the county Tax Office.
Airport / Transportation
Tarrant County Sits Next to One of the Country's Busiest Airports
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport sits on the border of Tarrant and Dallas counties and is a major employment and transportation hub for the region.
Outdoors
Fishing
Fishing at Benbrook Lake in Tarrant County
Benbrook Lake sits about 10 miles southwest of downtown Fort Worth and offers fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, hybrid striped bass, crappie, and white bass.
Fishing
Fishing at Eagle Mountain Lake in Tarrant County
Eagle Mountain Lake, just north of Fort Worth, covers more than 8,700 acres and supports white crappie, white bass, largemouth bass, and catfish.
River Fishing
River Fishing on the Trinity in the Fort Worth Area
The Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River in Tarrant County offer accessible river fishing for catfish and other species.
State Parks
State Parks Near Fort Worth and Tarrant County
Tarrant County has no state park within its borders, but several TPWD parks are within an hour's drive of Fort Worth.
State Park
Cleburne State Park Is About 30 Miles from Fort Worth
Cleburne State Park in Johnson County is one of the closest TPWD parks to Fort Worth, offering fishing, camping, hiking, and paddling.
Lake Recreation
TRWD Lakes Offer Free Public Recreation in Tarrant County
The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) manages parks and trails on its lakes, including Eagle Mountain Park, which is free and first-come, first-served.
Lake Levels
Check Tarrant County Lake Levels Anytime on the TRWD Website
The Tarrant Regional Water District publishes a daily report on water levels in its lakes, which is useful for boaters, anglers, and anyone monitoring drought conditions.
Rules & Licenses
Short-Term Rentals
Short-Term Rentals in Fort Worth Have Strict Rules
Fort Worth does not allow short-term rentals (like Airbnb) in residential zoning districts — they are only permitted in commercial and mixed-use zones.
Fishing License
You Need a Texas Fishing License to Fish Tarrant County Waters
Anyone fishing in Tarrant County lakes or rivers needs a Texas fishing license from Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD).
Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Rules for Tarrant County
Hunters in Tarrant County can take up to four deer per season — no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless — across all seasons combined.
Invasive Species
Clean Your Boat Before Leaving Eagle Mountain Lake
Zebra mussels have invaded Eagle Mountain Lake in Tarrant County — state law requires boaters to clean, drain, and dry all equipment before leaving.
History & Culture
County History
How Tarrant County Got Its Name
Tarrant County was established in 1849 and named for General Edward H. Tarrant, a Republic of Texas militia commander.
Fort Worth History
Fort Worth Started as a U.S. Army Post in 1849
The U.S. War Department officially named the outpost Fort Worth on November 14, 1849 — it was built to protect settlers from Comanche raids.
Cattle History
Fort Worth Grew Up on the Cattle Drives
After the Civil War, millions of longhorn cattle passed through Fort Worth on their way north — the city became a major stop on the cattle trail.
Stockyards History
The Fort Worth Stockyards Were Once the Livestock Hub of the Southwest
Fort Worth built the Union Stockyards in 1887, and by the early 1900s it had become a major livestock trading and meatpacking center.
Railroad History
The Railroad Transformed Fort Worth in 1876
When the Texas and Pacific Railroad reached Fort Worth in 1876, the city shifted from a cattle trail stop to a regional trade center.
Gas Boom History
The Barnett Shale Boom Brought Gas Drilling Into Tarrant County Neighborhoods
Between 2002 and 2009, an urban natural gas drilling boom changed Tarrant County as companies drilled wells in neighborhoods, parks, and near schools.
Historic Courthouse
Tarrant County's Courthouse Is a Pink Granite Landmark Built in 1895
The Tarrant County Courthouse, completed in 1895, is built of pink granite and stands in downtown Fort Worth as a symbol of the county's growth in the late 1800s.
Indigenous History
The Battle of Village Creek Shaped Tarrant County's Early History
In 1841, Republic of Texas militia forces fought Native tribal communities at Village Creek, in eastern Tarrant County near present-day Arlington — the county was later named for the militia commander.
Population
Tarrant County Is One of the Fastest-Growing Counties in Texas
Tarrant County has grown from 664 residents in 1850 to more than 2 million people today — driven by cattle, railroads, aviation, and technology industries.