Topic · Page 10
Home & Property
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
Starr County · Property Records
Starr County's deed books run back to 1848, the year the county was born
The County Clerk holds the deed and deed-of-trust index back to 1848, plus an online official-records search for anything modern.
Starr County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Starr County's groundwater office changed names in 2025
A 2025 Texas law moved groundwater duties into the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, so confirm its current well process before drilling.
Stephens County · Mineral Rights & Oil
Stephens County Has a Deep Oil History — Know Your Mineral Rights
Stephens County experienced a massive oil boom in the 1920s, and buyers of land today should always ask whether the mineral rights are included.
Stephens County · Water Wells & Groundwater
Stephens County Has No Groundwater Conservation District
Stephens County sits in Groundwater Management Area 6, but the official GCD map does not list a Stephens County groundwater district.
Sterling County · Groundwater & Wells
Drilling a Water Well in Sterling County
Sterling County has its own groundwater district that requires new wells to be registered before you drill.
Sterling County · Mineral Rights & Oil Leases
Oil and Gas Activity in Sterling County
Oil was found in Sterling County in 1947 and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates all wells drilled there today.
Stonewall County · Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas Activity Is Regulated by RRC District 7B
Stonewall County has a long history of oil production, and all drilling and production activity is overseen by the Railroad Commission of Texas District 7B office in Abilene.
Sutton County · Groundwater & Wells
A local district regulates water wells in Sutton County
If you plan to drill a water well in Sutton County, a local district sets the rules and may require a permit.
Swisher County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Drilling a Water Well in Swisher County Requires a Permit
Swisher County sits over the Ogallala Aquifer, and a regional district controls how much water landowners can pump.
Swisher County · Weather Hazards
Wildfire and Drought Are Real Risks in Swisher County
In Swisher County, fire risk can rise fast when wind, dry grass, and drought line up; well water needs steady attention too.
Tarrant County · Weather Preparedness
Build More Than One Weather-Warning Path
Tarrant County warnings come through several channels: NWS forecasts, automatic Wireless Emergency Alerts, and NOAA Weather Radio all do different jobs.
Tarrant County · Floodplain Permit
Building in a Flood Zone Requires a Free Permit in Tarrant County
Any work in a FEMA-designated flood zone in unincorporated Tarrant County, including placing fill, requires a free floodplain permit before you start.
Tarrant County · Flood Infrastructure
Fort Worth Is Rerouting Part of the Trinity River to Reduce Flood Risk
Central City is a working flood-control project with two main pieces: a new Trinity River channel north of downtown and changes at Gateway Park.
Tarrant County · Winter Weather
Ice Storms Are a Real Hazard in Tarrant County
A thin coat of freezing rain can shut down North Texas roads, so Tarrant County winter planning is mostly about timing, heat, and staying off ice.
Tarrant County · Mineral Rights
In Tarrant County, Surface Rights and Mineral Rights Can Be Separate
Buying land in Tarrant County does not automatically mean you own the oil and gas underneath. Mineral rights can be, and often are, owned by someone else.
Tarrant County · City Limits / ETJ
Living Outside Fort Worth City Limits Still Means City Rules May Apply
Fort Worth has one of the largest extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) in Tarrant County, so even some unincorporated properties near the city must follow Fort Worth's subdivision standards.
Tarrant County · Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Tarrant County Require a Permit
If your Tarrant County property is not on a public sewer, you need a county permit for any new or substantially changed on-site sewage system.
Tarrant County · Oil and Gas
Tarrant County Sits on the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Formation
Tarrant County sits over the 5,000-square-mile Barnett Shale, the gas field that made drilling rigs an unexpected part of an urban landscape.
Tarrant County · Flood Risk
The Trinity River and Flood Risk in Tarrant County
Fort Worth's levees grew out of the deadly 1949 Trinity River flood, but a levee does not make every nearby property flood-free.
Tarrant County · River Authority
The Trinity River Authority Serves Tarrant County and the Broader Basin
TRA and TRWD sound alike, but TRA works across the Trinity basin while TRWD handles much of Tarrant County's water supply and Fort Worth floodway.
Tarrant County · Weather Hazard
Tornado Risk Is Real in Tarrant County
NWS records show tornadoes in Tarrant County from 1880 to the present, so every household needs a shelter place and more than one warning path.
Tarrant County · ETJ / Zoning
Unincorporated Tarrant County Is Mostly Inside City ETJs
Most unincorporated land in Tarrant County sits inside a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), meaning city subdivision rules apply even though you are not inside city limits.
Tarrant County · Water Supply
Where Tarrant County's Water Comes From
Much of Tarrant County's water supply comes from Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers, two East Texas reservoirs managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Taylor County · Flood Risk
Check the FEMA flood map before buying property near Elm Creek
Use FEMA's map to screen a tract, then confirm the building location and lender or county determination before relying on the zone.
Taylor County · City Limits & ETJ
Land just outside Abilene city limits may still be in the city's ETJ
Land just outside Abilene may still fall in the city's ETJ, where small splits and new building plans can trigger city plat review.
Taylor County · Water Wells
You can look up water well records before buying rural land
Nearby well reports are useful leads, but their locations and submitted details may be wrong and cannot promise water on a particular tract.
Taylor County · Septic Systems
You need a permit before installing a septic system in Taylor County
Taylor County's Environmental Department handles local OSSF permits, and new septic work needs the permit before dirt work starts.
Terrell County · Water Wells
Drilling a Water Well? You Need a Permit First.
Terrell County has its own groundwater conservation district, created by state law in 2011, that regulates new water wells.
Terry County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Water Wells and the Ogallala Aquifer in Terry County
In Terry County, SPUWCD is the local groundwater office, and new wells need district paperwork before drilling.
Throckmorton County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas has been part of Throckmorton County for over a century
Oil was discovered here in 1925 and the county still produces oil and gas, so check whether mineral rights are included when you buy land.
Throckmorton County · Weather & Hazards
Wildfire is a real hazard in Throckmorton County
Throckmorton County was named in a 2024 Texas wildfire disaster declaration, so fire risk belongs on the checklist for rural homes and land.
Titus County · Minerals Under Your Land
Oil, Lignite, and Mineral Rights in Titus County
Titus County has a history of oil production and lignite coal deposits; if you buy land here, mineral rights may be owned separately from the surface.
Titus County · Rural Wastewater
Septic Systems in Titus County
Rural Titus County septic work sits under state OSSF rules and a county order TCEQ approved in 2017.
Titus County · Rural Water Supply
Water Wells and Groundwater in Titus County
Rural properties in Titus County often rely on private water wells, and the county sits over aquifers that have been studied by the Texas Water Development Board.
Titus County · Storms and Flooding
Weather Risks in Titus County
Titus County gets about 48 inches of rain a year and sits in a region where severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding are real seasonal risks.
Tom Green County · Mineral Rights
Buying Land Does Not Always Include the Mineral Rights
In Tom Green County, the person who sells you land may have already sold the oil and gas rights — a common situation in Texas oil country.
Tom Green County · Water & Geography
The Concho River and Three Reservoirs Shape This County
The Middle Concho feeds the Twin Buttes system upstream, while the North and South Concho meet in San Angelo to form the Concho River.
Tom Green County · Geography
Tom Green County changes character from plain to plateau
Flatter farm country meets rocky ranch country here, helping explain why one county can look so different from one road to the next.
Travis County · Driveway
A driveway onto a Travis County road may need a permit
Travis County has a driveway permit process for building access on a maintained county right-of-way.
Travis County · Development Regulations
Building in Unincorporated Travis County: Chapter 482 Rules
If you subdivide or develop land outside any city in Travis County, state and county development rules apply.
Travis County · Jurisdiction Basics
City Limits vs. ETJ vs. Unincorporated Travis County
Where your property sits (inside city limits, in an ETJ, or in unincorporated county land) determines which rules apply.
Travis County · Water Supply & Drought
Drought and Water Supply in Travis County
Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are the main water reserves for the region, and their levels can drop sharply during drought.
Travis County · Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights in Travis County: What Landowners Should Know
Mineral rights in Texas can be owned separately from surface rights, and buyers should check whether those rights are included in a sale.
Travis County · MUDs and Water Districts
Municipal Utility Districts: What They Mean for Your Home
Many homes in unincorporated Travis County are in a MUD, which provides water and sewer — and adds an extra tax rate.
Travis County · Septic / OSSF Permits
Septic Systems in Travis County: What You Need to Know
Homes outside city sewer service need an approved septic system, and Travis County oversees the permitting process.
Travis County · Groundwater & Wells
The Edwards Aquifer and Water Wells in Travis County
Parts of Travis County sit over the Edwards Aquifer, which triggers stricter rules for wells, septic, and land development.
Travis County · Utilities
Utility work in Travis County right-of-way has its own permit
Travis County requires right-of-way review for utility installation work such as water, sewer, electrical, and gas lines.
Travis County · LCRA Overview
What the LCRA Does for Travis County Residents
The Lower Colorado River Authority manages water, power, and flood control across the Colorado River basin, including Lake Travis.
Trinity County · Water Wells / Rural Water
Water Wells in Trinity County: Check the District Map First
Groundwater district lines do not always match county lines, so a Trinity County well question starts with the TCEQ GCD viewer and TWDB well records.
Upshur County · Flood Risk
Check the FEMA Flood Map Before Buying in Upshur County
East Texas gets significant rainfall, and low-lying land near creeks and streams in Upshur County can sit in a FEMA-designated flood zone.
Upshur County · Water Supply
Many Rural Properties in Upshur County Rely on Private Wells
Homes outside city limits in Upshur County often use private water wells, which are tracked by the Texas Water Development Board.
Upshur County · Mineral Rights
Upshur County Has a Long Oil and Gas History
Oil was discovered in Upshur County in 1931, and the Railroad Commission of Texas (District 6, based in Henderson) regulates all oil and gas activity here today.
Upton County · Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Railroad Commission
Upton County is one of the top crude-oil-producing counties in Texas, and the deed to a parcel here may not include a thing about the oil under it.
Upton County · 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.
Uvalde County · Water Wells
A groundwater district oversees wells in Uvalde County
If you plan to drill a water well in Uvalde County, you must work with the local groundwater conservation district.
Uvalde County · Water & Flooding
Five rivers run through Uvalde County
Uvalde County has five named river systems, which shape property values, flood risk, and water supply.
Val Verde County · Water Rights
No Val Verde groundwater district does not mean no well rules
Val Verde currently has no local groundwater conservation district, but state well standards and rule-of-capture limits still apply.
Van Zandt County · Access
Cutting a new driveway off a county road means a culvert permit
A rural entrance is more than a gap in the fence — a new driveway off a county road needs the precinct commissioner's culvert permit first.
Van Zandt County · Floodplain
Drainage and floodplain can decide what a Van Zandt tract can become
Where the water goes — and where the 100-year floodplain sits — is the part of a Van Zandt land split that can quietly shrink how many homes a tract will hold.
Van Zandt County · Septic
Out past the city limits, your sewage plan goes through Jon Paul Wedeking
Most rural Van Zandt homes run on a septic system, and the county's designated representative has to approve one before it goes in the ground.