Travis County, Texas
48 local notes for Travis County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country.
See the Austin place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Travis Central Appraisal District: What It Does
TCAD sets the value of your property, but a separate office collects your taxes.
Homestead Exemption
How to Get Your Homestead Exemption in Travis County
A homestead exemption lowers the taxable value of your home and can save hundreds per year.
Senior & Disability Exemptions
Extra Property Tax Help for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners
Homeowners 65 or older, or with a qualifying disability, can freeze their school district taxes.
Veteran Exemptions
Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans in Travis County
Veterans with a VA disability rating may qualify for partial or full property tax relief.
Appraisal Protest
Disagreeing with Your Travis County Appraisal
You can protest your property's appraised value before a formal deadline each year.
Circuit Breaker Limitation
Travis County's 20% Appraisal Increase Cap
Most Travis County homes automatically get a 20% cap on yearly appraisal increases.
Tax Payment Deadlines
When Travis County Property Taxes Are Due
Tax bills go out around October 1 and are due by January 31 — missing that date costs you.
Agricultural Appraisal
Ag Valuation: Lower Taxes for Working Land in Travis County
Land used for farming or ranching may qualify for a much lower tax appraisal based on what the land produces, not what it could sell for.
STR Tax Obligations
Short-Term Rentals and Hotel Occupancy Tax in Travis County
If you rent your home short-term in Austin, you must collect and report Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Multiple Tax Rates
Travis County Has Over 180 Taxing Entities
Your property tax bill in Travis County is the sum of rates from many different taxing units — not just one.
Rollback Tax Warning
Converting Ag Land to a Homestead: Watch for Rollback Taxes
If you buy ag-valued land and change its use, you may owe back taxes going three years — but there is an exception for personal homesteads.
Home & Property
MUDs and Water Districts
Municipal Utility Districts: What They Mean for Your Home
Many homes in unincorporated Travis County are in a MUD, which provides water and sewer — and adds an extra tax rate.
Jurisdiction Basics
City Limits vs. ETJ vs. Unincorporated Travis County
Where your property sits — inside city limits, in an ETJ, or in unincorporated county land — determines which rules apply.
Septic / OSSF Permits
Septic Systems in Travis County: What You Need to Know
Homes outside city sewer service need an approved septic system, and Travis County oversees the permitting process.
Groundwater & Wells
The Edwards Aquifer and Water Wells in Travis County
Parts of Travis County sit over the Edwards Aquifer, which triggers stricter rules for wells, septic, and land development.
Flood Insurance & FEMA Maps
FEMA Flood Maps and Travis County Properties
FEMA flood maps show whether your property is in a high-risk flood zone, which affects your mortgage and insurance requirements.
Water Supply & Drought
Drought and Water Supply in Travis County
Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are the main water reserves for the region — their levels can drop sharply during drought.
LCRA Overview
What the LCRA Does for Travis County Residents
The Lower Colorado River Authority manages water, power, and flood control across the Colorado River basin, including Lake Travis.
Development Regulations
Building in Unincorporated Travis County: Chapter 482 Rules
If you subdivide or develop land outside any city in Travis County, state and county development rules apply.
Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights in Travis County: What Landowners Should Know
Mineral rights in Texas can be owned separately from surface rights, and buyers should check whether those rights are included in a sale.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Registration in Travis County: Two Steps, One Sticker
Travis County uses the Two Steps, One Sticker system, combining your vehicle inspection and registration renewal.
Roads & Highways
Roads in Travis County: State Highways, FM Roads, and County Roads
Travis County has a mix of state highways, Farm-to-Market roads, and county roads — each maintained by a different agency.
Tax Office Services
The Travis County Tax Office Handles More Than Taxes
The Travis County Tax Office handles vehicle registration, titles, and property tax payments all in one place.
Outdoors
Flash Flood Safety
Flash Floods: Travis County's Most Dangerous Weather Hazard
Central Texas sits in 'Flash Flood Alley' — water can rise faster than expected, and low-water crossings are deadly.
Highland Lakes / LCRA
Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes: Flood Control and Water Supply
Lake Travis is managed by the LCRA for both water supply and flood control — water levels can change dramatically.
Lake Access
Public Boat Ramps and Access Points on Lake Travis
There are 16 public access points on Lake Travis — most charge a fee and are run by LCRA or Travis County.
State Park
McKinney Falls State Park: Hiking and Swimming Near Downtown Austin
McKinney Falls State Park sits 13 miles from the state capitol and offers hiking, swimming, and camping on Onion Creek.
City Swimming Hole
Barton Springs Pool: Year-Round Natural Swimming in Austin
Barton Springs Pool is a three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park that stays around 68–70 degrees all year.
Wildfire Hazard
Wildfire Risk in Travis County: Homes Near the Wildland Edge
More than half of Austin falls inside a wildland-urban interface zone where fire risk is high and building rules are stricter.
Local Flood Hazard
Onion Creek: Flash Flood Risk in Southeast Travis County
Onion Creek in southeast Travis County has a history of severe flash flooding that has damaged neighborhoods and caused fatalities.
Nature & Gardens
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Travis County
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin is operated by UT Austin and focuses on native Texas plants.
Severe Weather
Hail and Severe Thunderstorms in Travis County
Travis County gets hailstorms and severe thunderstorms, especially in spring — they can damage roofs, vehicles, and crops.
Rules & Licenses
Short-Term Rentals
Short-Term Rentals Inside Austin City Limits
If you rent your home for less than 30 days inside Austin, you need a city license — and the rules are detailed.
Burn Bans
Burn Bans in Unincorporated Travis County
Travis County Commissioners Court can ban outdoor burning in unincorporated areas when fire danger is high.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Hunting and Fishing Licenses in Travis County
Texas requires a hunting or fishing license for most people, and you can get one online from TPWD.
History & Culture
County History
How Travis County Was Founded and Named
Travis County was created on January 25, 1840 and named for William Barret Travis, the Alamo commander.
Austin History
Why Austin Became the Capital of Texas
Austin became the Texas capital in 1839 after Republic President Lamar picked a site on the Colorado River.
UT Austin History
The University of Texas at Austin: A County Anchor Since 1881
Austin won a statewide competition to host the University of Texas in 1881, and it has shaped the county ever since.
Geography
Travis County's Landscape: East Flat, West Hill Country
The Balcones Escarpment splits Travis County into two distinct landscapes — flat east and hilly west.
Early Settlement
Travis County's Roots in Stephen F. Austin's Colony
The land that became Travis County was part of Stephen F. Austin's third land grant from the Mexican government in 1827.
County Boundaries
Travis County Once Covered 40,000 Square Miles
Travis County started huge — nearly the size of Kentucky — and was later carved into more than a dozen other counties.
Austin Growth History
The Railroad Changed Austin's Economy in the 1870s
The Houston and Texas Central Railway reached Austin in 1871 and doubled the city's population within five years.
Dam History
Mansfield Dam and the Making of Lake Travis
Mansfield Dam was completed in 1942 and created Lake Travis, bringing flood control and water supply to Central Texas.
Economic History
How Austin Became a Tech Hub
IBM's arrival in 1967 launched a tech economy in Austin that grew into one of the largest in the country.
Presidential & Cultural History
The LBJ Library and Lady Bird Johnson's Legacy in Travis County
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library opened in Austin in 1971 and sits on the UT campus.
Texas Republic History
The Archives War: Austin Fights to Stay the Capital
In 1842, Austin residents blocked President Sam Houston from moving the republic's government records to Houston.
Demographics
Travis County's Population and Diversity
Travis County grew from a small farming region to a metro area of over a million people, with significant Hispanic, Black, and Anglo populations.
Capitol & Civic History
Congress Avenue and the Texas State Capitol
Congress Avenue was the main street in Austin's original 1839 city plan, running from the Colorado River to the Capitol.