Municipal Utility Districts
What a MUD Is — and Why It Matters in Harris County
Harris County has hundreds of Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that provide water, sewer, and drainage to homes outside city limits.
A MUD is a special government district. It was created to build water and sewer infrastructure in areas where no city could afford to. You might live in unincorporated Harris County — meaning no city claims you — and still get water from a MUD.
MUDs charge their own tax rate on top of county and school rates. When you buy a home in a MUD, you take on that tax. Some MUDs also carry bond debt that adds to your tax bill for years. Before buying, ask your title company or agent to confirm which MUD serves the property and what its current tax rate is. TCEQ oversees MUDs statewide, and their Water Districts Map Viewer at tceq.texas.gov lets you search by address.
Source to confirm: TCEQ – Municipal Utility Districts Overview