The city of Midland is both county seat and the business hub of the Permian Basin

The city of Midland is the county seat — the city where county government is based. County offices are at the Midland County Courthouse at 500 N. Loraine Street. The county handles roads, elections, courts, and property records.

The city of Midland is a separate government from the county. It has its own city hall and its own rules. If your property is inside city limits, both city and county rules apply to you.

If your property is just outside the city but still close to it, you may be inside Midland's ETJ — extraterritorial jurisdiction. The ETJ is the area within a few miles of the city limits. Some city development rules can apply there even though you are not officially in the city yet. If you plan to build near city limits, check with the city planning department first.