Topic
Home & Property
Buying or owning a home in Texas comes with its own playbook — appraisal districts, the homestead exemption you have to file for, MUD and PID districts that change the tax bill, windstorm and flood coverage on the coast, and foundations that move on Texas clay. Here is the plain-English help for the money side of your home.
Tools
Local context
Start with a place.
Each city page opens with what gives it character, then the appraisal-district, tax-office, and local checks that matter there.
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
Texas-wide · Local districts
MUDs and PIDs can change the monthly feel of a house
A newer subdivision can carry extra district taxes or assessments.
Texas-wide · Closing
The owner title policy is negotiable, but local custom is real
Texas contracts and local practice often decide who pays.
Texas-wide · Insurance
Coastal homes need a windstorm conversation
A normal homeowners quote may not answer the wind and hail question.
Texas-wide · Insurance
Flood risk is not only a coastal problem
Hill Country creeks and Houston bayous can both make flood insurance worth checking.
Texas-wide · Places
A Texas mailing address is not a city-limit answer
Postal identity, city services, zoning, police, STR rules, and taxes can split apart.
Anderson County · Water / Wells
A Groundwater District Regulates Water Wells in Anderson County
Anderson County is covered by the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. This district covers Anderson, Cherokee, and Henderson counties and handles water well permits.
Anderson County · Septic / OSSF
You Need a Permit Before Installing a Septic System
Texas requires a permit for any septic system (called an OSSF). In unincorporated Anderson County, the county handles the permit process. Do not build before you apply.
Andrews County · Mineral rights / Oil and gas
Mineral rights and surface ownership often split in Andrews County
In Andrews County, the person who owns the land surface may not own the minerals underneath. The mineral owner has broad legal rights to access your property.
Angelina County · Water
ANRA provides water and wastewater service to parts of Angelina County
ANRA — the Angelina and Neches River Authority — provides water and wastewater service in parts of Angelina County. If you live outside a city, check with ANRA to see if service reaches your land.
Angelina County · Water / Wells
Drilling a water well in Angelina County — local and state rules you need to know
Angelina County is in the Pineywoods Groundwater Conservation District. You need a permit before drilling a water well. State rules also apply to every new well.
Angelina County · Water / Septic
You need a permit before installing a septic system in Angelina County
In Angelina County, you must get a permit before installing or repairing a septic system. ANRA handles that permitting process.
Aransas County · Coastal windstorm / Insurance
Coastal Windstorm Coverage: TWIA and the WPI-8 Certificate in Aransas County
Aransas County is in the Texas windstorm insurance zone. Most properties need a WPI-8 certificate to get wind and hail coverage through TWIA.
Aransas County · Flood / Hurricane
Hurricane Evacuation Planning for Aransas County
Aransas County sits directly in the Texas hurricane belt, and the City of Rockport uses a phased, time-based evacuation system. Voluntary evacuations begin 40 hours before a storm; mandatory orders start at 32 hours and ramp up from there.
Archer County · Septic / Water
Building outside Archer City means you'll need a permitted septic system
Most of Archer County has no public sewer. Rural homes use private septic systems that must be permitted under Texas state rules.
Archer County · Mineral rights / Oil and gas
In Archer County, the person who owns the oil may not own your land
In much of Archer County, the oil and minerals below the ground can belong to someone different from the person who owns the land on top.
Armstrong County · Water
Well Water in Armstrong County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer
Rural land in Armstrong County gets water from the Ogallala Aquifer. It is a large underground source that is slowly shrinking.
Atascosa County · Flood
Checking flood risk before you buy in Atascosa County
The Atascosa River and its tributaries can flood; FEMA flood maps show which properties are in high-risk zones and whether flood insurance is required.
Atascosa County · Oil and gas / Mineral rights
Eagle Ford Shale and mineral rights in Atascosa County
Atascosa County is in the Eagle Ford Shale. If you buy land here, you need to know who owns the minerals underneath it.
Atascosa County · Septic / OSSF
Septic system permits in unincorporated Atascosa County
If your property in unincorporated Atascosa County has no public sewer, you need a permitted septic system. You must get county approval before any work starts.
Atascosa County · Water / Wells
Water wells and the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District
Rural properties in Atascosa County that rely on private wells are regulated by the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, which requires permits for most new wells.
Austin County · Flood
The Brazos River forms the eastern edge of Austin County — and a real flood risk
The Brazos River runs along Austin County's eastern border. Property near the river and its tributaries can sit in a FEMA high-risk flood zone. That can mean required flood insurance and stricter building rules.
Bailey County · Water / Wells
Groundwater in Bailey County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer
Bailey County gets nearly all its water from the Ogallala Aquifer. A local district controls how much you can pump from a new well.
Bailey County · Weather / Hazards
Wildfire and Drought Are the Top Weather Hazards in Bailey County
Wildfire and drought are the top natural hazards in Bailey County. Flooding is rare here — the bigger risks are dry conditions, fast-moving grass fires, and multi-year droughts.
Bandera County · Water / Groundwater
Bandera County has its own groundwater district — wells need a permit
Most new water wells in Bandera County need a permit from the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (BCRAGD) before you start drilling.
Bandera County · Flood
Flash flooding on the Medina River is a serious hazard in Bandera
The Medina River runs through the town of Bandera and can rise extremely fast during heavy rain — USGS and BCRAGD have built a flood early warning system that lets residents track river levels in real time.
Bastrop County · Flood
Building Near the Colorado River Means a Floodplain Permit
Bastrop County requires a permit before you build in or near the 100-year floodplain, with stricter rules for structures inside the flood zone.
Bastrop County · Water / Wells
Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Regulates Wells
The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, created by voters in 2002, issues water well permits and oversees groundwater use in Bastrop and Lee counties.
Bastrop County · Water / Septic
Septic System Permit Required Outside City Sewer Service
Most rural land in Bastrop County has no public sewer. You need a licensed professional and a county permit before you can install a septic system.
Bastrop County · Wildfire
Wildfire Is a Real Risk in the Lost Pines Area
The 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire burned for 55 days, destroyed over 1,600 homes, and scorched nearly all of Bastrop State Park — a reminder that homes in the Lost Pines area face significant wildfire exposure.
Baylor County · Water / Groundwater
Drilling a well in Baylor County? You are tapping the Seymour Aquifer
The Seymour Aquifer is the main freshwater source under Baylor County. The Rolling Plains Groundwater Conservation District oversees well permits and water use in the county.
Bee County · Water / Wells
Bee Groundwater Conservation District: Well Rules for Rural Properties
Most of Bee County is inside the Bee Groundwater Conservation District, which controls how landowners drill new water wells.
Bee County · Mineral rights / Oil and gas
Mineral Rights and Surface Owners in Bee County
Bee County has a long oil and gas history. In Texas, whoever owns the mineral rights can enter your land to drill — even if you own the surface.
Bell County · Water
Bell County's drinking water comes from two Army Corps reservoirs
Most Bell County municipal water comes from Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir through the Brazos River Authority and Bell County WCID No. 1.
Bell County · Flood
Flood zones and floodplain rules in Bell County
Bell County has significant floodplain areas along the Leon, Lampasas, and Little rivers, and the county engineer enforces federal FEMA rules for any construction near those areas.
Bell County · Water
Private water wells and the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District
If you drill a private well in Bell County, you work with the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District, which registers wells and protects the county's groundwater.
Bell County · Water / Septic
Septic system permits in Bell County
If your Bell County home is not on a city sewer line, you must get a permit from the Bell County Public Health District before installing or repairing a septic system.
Bell County · Short-term rental
Short-term rental rules vary by city in Bell County
Killeen and Belton each require permits and inspections before you can rent your home short-term. Rules differ by city and can change.
Bell County · Weather hazard
Tornado risk in Bell County
Bell County has recorded tornadoes going back to the 1880s. Spring thunderstorm season along I-35 brings real tornado risk every year.
Bell County · Land use
Unincorporated Bell County has no zoning – what that means for buyers
Outside Bell County city limits, there is no zoning, so neighbors can run livestock operations, small businesses, or other uses without getting county approval.
Bexar County · Air quality
Bexar County has a serious ozone air quality problem
The EPA classifies Bexar County as a serious ozone nonattainment area under the 2015 eight-hour ozone standard, which affects regional regulations and can matter for people with respiratory conditions.
Bexar County · Building permits
Commercial and multi-family (4+ unit) construction in unincorporated Bexar County needs a county building permit
There is no zoning in unincorporated Bexar County, but commercial, public, and residential construction with four or more units still needs a county building permit. All work must meet the 2021 International Code Series.
Bexar County · Flood / Insurance
Flood map updates are adding properties to Bexar County flood zones
Bexar County's FEMA flood maps are being updated with newer data, and more than 5,600 buildings have been added to draft flood zones—which can affect insurance requirements and property values.
Bexar County · Severe weather
Hail, tornadoes, and heavy rain are recurring hazards in Bexar County
Bexar County sits in a corridor where hailstorms, tornadoes, and flash flooding occur regularly, and homeowners should understand what their insurance covers before storm season.
Bexar County · Special districts
MUDs and PIDs add extra fees to your Bexar County property tax bill
New developments in Bexar County, especially on the outer edges of San Antonio, often sit inside Municipal Utility Districts or Public Improvement Districts that add extra taxes or fees to your bill.
Bexar County · Land use / Development
No zoning rules in unincorporated Bexar County
If your land is outside any city limits in Bexar County, the county has no zoning rules—but other rules still apply.
Bexar County · City limits / ETJ
San Antonio's ETJ reaches far into unincorporated Bexar County
Land outside San Antonio city limits but inside its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction can still face some city rules, and only the city can annex that land.
Bexar County · Water conservation
SAWS drought stages can restrict when and how much you water outdoors
The San Antonio Water System triggers watering restrictions tied to Edwards Aquifer levels, and the current stage can change your outdoor irrigation schedule significantly.
Bexar County · Septic / OSSF
Septic systems in Bexar County require a county permit
All septic systems in unincorporated Bexar County need a county permit. Existing systems without one must be registered.
Bexar County · Emergency preparedness
Sign up for emergency alerts through Bexar County's Office of Emergency Management
Bexar County's Office of Emergency Management coordinates disaster preparedness and response, and residents can sign up for weather and emergency alerts through free local notification systems.
Bexar County · Flood insurance
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage in Bexar County
Flood damage is excluded from standard homeowners policies; residents in Bexar County who want flood coverage must buy a separate policy, and there is a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect.
Bexar County · Mineral rights
Surface and mineral rights can be split in Bexar County
In Texas, the owner of the minerals beneath a property may be a completely different person from the surface owner, and the mineral estate is legally dominant—meaning a mineral owner can use your surface to access what's below.
Bexar County · Environmental / TCEQ
TCEQ tracks contaminated sites in Bexar County
Bexar County has TCEQ-listed contaminated sites. Buyers of commercial or industrial land should check state environmental databases before closing.
Bexar County · Water supply
The Edwards Aquifer is San Antonio's primary water source
Most of Bexar County's drinking water comes from the Edwards Aquifer, a limestone aquifer managed by the Edwards Aquifer Authority to balance supply with drought and environmental needs.
Bexar County · Wildfire
Wildfire risk is real in Bexar County's wildland-urban interface
As San Antonio has grown into surrounding brushland, more homes in Bexar County sit in areas where wildfire poses a serious threat, especially during dry summers.
Blanco County · Water / Groundwater
Drilling a Water Well Requires a Permit in Most Cases
All wells in Blanco County must be registered with the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, and any well capable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day needs a separate operating permit.
Blanco County · Flood
Flash Floods on the Blanco River Can Rise with Little Warning
The Blanco River and its tributaries can rise extremely fast during heavy rain, making flooding one of the most serious natural hazards for anyone buying or living in low-lying areas of Blanco County.
Borden County · Water / Groundwater
Borden County Has No Groundwater Conservation District — Well Rules Are Minimal
Borden County does not have a local groundwater conservation district, which means there are no local permits required to drill a water well, but the county sits in a drought-prone area where groundwater levels in the Ogallala Aquifer have been declining for decades.
Borden County · Oil & gas / Mineral rights
Oil and Gas Activity in Borden County Means Mineral Rights Matter
Borden County has produced oil since 1949 and falls within Railroad Commission District 8A, so buyers of rural land should check whether mineral rights are included in a sale or have already been severed.
Bosque County · Flood / Roads
Low-water crossings and flash floods are a real danger in Bosque County
The Bosque River and its tributaries can rise fast during heavy rain, turning low-water crossings into deadly hazards and making flood zone status an important factor when buying rural property.
Bosque County · Water / Wells
New water wells in Bosque County require a permit from a groundwater district
Bosque County is part of the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which requires permits for new wells drawing from the Trinity Aquifer.