Mineral Rights

In Wilson County, mineral rights are often owned separately from the land

Oil was discovered in Wilson County in 1941, and decades of production mean the mineral estate under many properties may belong to someone other than the surface owner.

Wilson County Home & Property

Texas law separates the surface estate (the land you walk on) from the mineral estate (oil, gas, and other minerals below). In Wilson County, where oil production has occurred since 1941, mineral rights on many properties were severed and sold off long ago. You may buy land here and not own what is underneath it.

The owner of the mineral estate has the legal right to access the surface to develop those minerals. That means an oil company could have the right to drill on land you own. Before buying rural land in Wilson County, have a title company do a mineral search. The Railroad Commission of Texas website has a public GIS viewer showing active oil and gas activity in the county.

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

More Wilson County notes

Property Tax

Two offices handle your property taxes in Wilson County

The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax assessor-collector bills and collects the tax — they are separate offices.

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Property Tax

Homestead exemption can cut your school tax bill in Wilson County

Texas law requires school districts to give homeowners a $140,000 exemption on their primary residence, which directly lowers the taxable value.

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Property Tax

Wilson County has 25 taxing units — each can add to your bill

Your Wilson County property tax bill adds up rates from up to 25 separate taxing units — the county, school districts, cities, and special districts each set their own rate.

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Water Wells

Drilling a water well in Wilson County requires a permit

Wilson County is fully inside the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, which regulates water wells and requires permits for most new drilling.

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