Flood Zones

Parts of Polk County Flood — Check Before You Buy

The Trinity River runs along Polk County's western edge, and flood-prone areas require special permits and may require flood insurance.

Polk County Home & Property

Polk County sits along the Trinity River. Some areas — including land near the river and near Lake Livingston — fall in FEMA-designated flood zones. If your property is in a flood zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, you are required to carry flood insurance.

If you want to build or add onto a structure in the floodplain, you need an elevation certificate and a permit. Call the Polk County Floodplain Administrator at 936-327-6820, ext. 1, to ask whether a specific address is in a flood zone. You can also look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov.

Source to confirm: Polk County Permits — polktx.gov

More Polk County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Different Offices Handle Your Property Tax

In Polk County, one office sets your property value and a separate office collects the tax you owe.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Property Tax Bill

If this home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces your taxable value.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland and Timberland Can Be Taxed at a Lower Value

Land used for farming, ranching, or timber production may qualify for a special appraisal based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.

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Groundwater & Wells

You Need a Permit Before Drilling a Water Well

Polk County is in the Lower Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which requires you to register a new well before you drill.

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