Flooding / FEMA Flood Maps

Check the flood map before you buy or build

Parts of Starr County along the Rio Grande and local drainage areas lie in flood zones — look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center before you buy or build.

Starr County Home & Property

Starr County sits along the Rio Grande, and low-lying areas near the river can flood. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) shows flood zone boundaries for every property in the county. Properties in a high-risk zone (labeled Zone A or AE) may require flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage.

Even properties outside a mapped flood zone can flood. The maps are updated periodically, and local drainage and development can change flood risk over time. Search any address at msc.fema.gov to see the current flood zone designation. If a property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, get a quote on flood insurance before you close.

Source to confirm: FEMA Flood Map Service Center

More Starr County notes

Property Tax

Who handles property taxes in Starr County

Two separate offices handle property taxes here — one sets your value, the other collects the bill.

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Homestead Exemption

How the homestead exemption works in Starr County

If your home here is your main residence, a Texas homestead exemption can lower the taxable value — and Starr County has boosted its local exemption for seniors and disabled residents.

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Agricultural Valuation

Ag valuation can cut your property tax bill on rural land

Farm and ranch land in Starr County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for — and that can mean a much lower tax bill.

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Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas

Oil and gas have shaped Starr County for nearly a century

Starr County has a long oil and gas history, so mineral rights questions often come up when buying land here.

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