Most of Hardin County is unincorporated — city rules may not apply

The main cities in Hardin County are Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, Sour Lake, and Saratoga. Outside those city limits, you are in unincorporated county land. That means no city zoning rules. No city building permits. And sometimes no city water or sewer service.

Texas cities can also have what is called an extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ. Think of it as a buffer zone just outside the city line. Inside the ETJ, the city can control some types of development — even though you are not inside the city. If you buy land near one of Hardin County's cities, you should check whether your land is inside that city's ETJ. Call the county or the nearest city to find out which rules apply to your address.