Flood Risk

Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Near the Brazos

Parts of Hood County along the Brazos River, the Paluxy River, and Lake Granbury are in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance costs and what you can build.

Hood County Home & Property

The Brazos and Paluxy rivers run through Hood County. Properties near these waterways or near Lake Granbury can fall inside a Special Flood Hazard Area on FEMA flood maps. If you buy in one of these zones, your lender will likely require flood insurance.

Hood County also requires a floodplain development permit before you build in a flood hazard area. You can look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center website. Enter your address to see if it falls in a mapped flood zone. Maps are updated over time, so check the current version — not what a listing states.

If your property is in an unincorporated area, contact the Hood County Floodplain Administrator through Hood County Development before you build or make changes to your land.

Source to confirm: FEMA Flood Map Service Center

More Hood County notes

Property Tax Savings

Homestead Exemption Cuts Your Property Tax Bill

If you own and live in your Hood County home, a homestead exemption can lower the value used to calculate your school tax bill by $100,000.

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Property Tax Protest

You Can Protest Your Appraisal Value Each Year

Hood County property owners who think their appraisal is too high can formally protest, and the deadline is usually May 15 or 30 days after the notice arrives.

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Agricultural Valuation

Ag Valuation Can Sharply Lower Taxes on Rural Land

Land used for farming, ranching, or timber can be taxed on its agricultural income value rather than its market value, which is often much lower.

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Building Rules

No County Building Permit Required in Most of Hood County

In unincorporated Hood County — outside city limits — you do not need a county building permit to build a home, but you still need septic, road access, and well permits.

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