Flood Risk

Check the FEMA flood map before buying property in Ellis County

Parts of Ellis County fall in FEMA flood zones. Check the flood map before you buy property near Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, or other local communities.

Ellis County Home & Property

Ellis County has flood-prone spots along its creeks and near the Trinity River. FEMA has issued flood maps for communities across the county. Ellis County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which means homeowners can buy federally backed flood insurance here.

If your lender sees your home in a high-risk flood zone, they will require flood insurance. Flooding can still happen even outside a mapped high-risk zone. Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to look up any address before you buy.

Source to confirm: FEMA — Ellis County Floodplain Information (via Ellis County Website)

More Ellis County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two different offices handle your property tax in Ellis County

The Ellis County Appraisal District sets your property value, but a separate Tax Assessor-Collector office sends the bill and collects the money.

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Homestead Exemption

File a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill

Texas law lets homeowners who live in their home claim a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.

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Ag Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value

In Ellis County, qualifying farm or ranch land is taxed on what it can produce, not what it could sell for. That can cut the tax bill by a lot.

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Vehicle Registration

Ellis County vehicles need an emissions test every year

Ellis County is in the DFW area, so most gas-powered vehicles must pass an emissions test every year before the owner can renew registration.

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