Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas

Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Railroad Commission

Upton County has heavy oil and gas production, and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates every well drilled — which matters if you own land or mineral rights here.

Upton County Home & Property

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) permits and oversees all oil and gas wells in Texas. Upton County is one of the state's most active producing counties, with thousands of wells on record. If you buy land here, your deed may or may not include the mineral rights. In Texas, mineral rights and surface rights can be owned separately.

If someone has mineral rights under your land, they may have the legal right to drill. The RRC's website lets you search for permitted wells and active operators by county. If you have questions about a specific well near your property — or want to report a problem — start with the RRC's Oil and Gas Division at rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas.

Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Oil and Gas Division

More Upton County notes

Property Tax

Two offices handle property taxes in Upton County

The appraisal district and the tax assessor-collector are separate offices in different towns — knowing which one to call saves you time.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill

If your home in Upton County is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.

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Water / Wells

Upton County has a water district but limited groundwater conservation district coverage

Most of Upton County has no local groundwater district to set rules on well drilling. A small part of the county does fall inside a regional district. A county water district also exists, but it handles other water services.

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Hunting

Deer and turkey hunting rules for Upton County

Upton County follows TPWD North Zone deer rules, with a bag limit of five deer per season — but most land here is private, so access requires permission from landowners.

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