Texas Porch

Mineral Rights

Oil and gas rights can be owned separately from your land

In Victoria County, oil and gas mineral rights are often severed from surface ownership, meaning what is below your land may belong to someone else.

Victoria County Home & Property

Victoria County has a long oil and gas history dating to the 1930s. Many parcels have been split so the mineral estate — rights to oil, gas, and other subsurface resources — is owned separately from the surface. When you buy land, you may or may not be buying the minerals.

Under Texas law, the mineral estate is dominant. If someone else owns the minerals under your land, they have the legal right to access the surface to develop those resources, within limits. Before buying rural property in Victoria County, ask the seller what mineral rights convey and review the deed carefully. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas operations at rrc.texas.gov.

Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Oil and Gas Exploration and Surface Ownership FAQ

More Victoria County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property taxes

In Victoria County, one office sets your property value and a separate office collects your tax bill.

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Homestead Exemption

Apply for the homestead exemption to lower your school tax

Texas homeowners who live in their home can apply for a $140,000 school district exemption that lowers their taxable value.

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Age & Disability Exemptions

Extra tax break for residents 65 and older or disabled

Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who receive Social Security disability benefits, can get an additional $60,000 school tax exemption.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm or ranch land is taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for

Texas lets qualifying farm, ranch, and timber land be taxed on what it earns, not what it would sell for, which can sharply cut the tax bill.

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