Texas Porch

Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas

Oil and gas activity is high here — know who regulates it

Yoakum County has had active oil and gas production since 1936, and the Railroad Commission of Texas regulates all of it.

Yoakum County Home & Property

Oil was discovered in Yoakum County in 1936. Since then, the county has been a major producing area. The Wasson field, which spans western Yoakum County and part of Gaines County, became one of the largest oil fields in West Texas. Thousands of wells have been drilled across the county over the decades.

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) is the state agency that oversees oil and gas wells, pipelines, and production here. Yoakum County falls under RRC District 8A, based in Lubbock. If you are buying land, check whether the mineral rights are included — in Texas they can be sold separately from the surface. You can search well records on the RRC website.

Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Oil & Gas Counties and Districts

More Yoakum County notes

Property Tax

Who handles your property tax in Yoakum County

Two separate offices handle property taxes here — one sets your value, the other collects the bill.

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Ag Valuation

Farmland can be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for

If your land is actively used for farming or ranching, it may qualify for a much lower tax bill under agricultural special appraisal.

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Water Wells

A local district regulates groundwater wells in Yoakum County

Before drilling a water well in Yoakum County, you must work with the Sandy Land Underground Water Conservation District.

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Hunting

Yoakum County has two deer species and solid dove and quail hunting

Hunters in Yoakum County can pursue both white-tailed and mule deer, plus dove, quail, and waterfowl — but seasons and limits shift each year.

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