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Home & Property
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
Lynn County · Groundwater
Most Lynn County water comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, and it is declining
Rural wells in Lynn County usually point to Ogallala groundwater, so permits, spacing, and water history matter before you drill.
Madison County · Groundwater & Wells
A Madison County Water Well Starts With METGCD
Before a new well is drilled, the owner needs either an exempt-well registration or permits from the Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District.
Martin County · Mineral Rights
In Martin County, Someone Else May Own What's Under Your Land
Surface rights and mineral rights can be split. In Texas, mineral owners have strong surface-use rights.
Martin County · Water & Wells
Martin County Groundwater Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer
Most rural water in Martin County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, and a local district monitors it and can help if you are buying property with a well.
Mason County · Water supply
Most Rural Properties in Mason County Rely on Private Wells
Rural Mason County water often comes from private wells, and the local groundwater district has rules to check before drilling.
Matagorda County · Groundwater
A local district regulates groundwater in this county
If you plan to drill a water well in Matagorda County, you must work with the Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District.
Matagorda County · Coastal Windstorm Insurance
Coastal homes may need windstorm insurance through the state
Matagorda County is in TWIA's coastal coverage area, so wind and hail insurance can involve extra steps before closing.
Matagorda County · Flood Maps
Flood maps for this county were recently revised
FEMA released revised preliminary flood maps for Matagorda County in early 2025, which could change flood insurance requirements for some properties.
Maverick County · Water & Agriculture
A Large Irrigation Canal Supports Farming Here
The Maverick canal brought gravity irrigation to the Quemado Valley in 1932; historical coverage does not guarantee water for land offered today.
Maverick County · Oil & Gas
Maverick County Sits Over the Eagle Ford Shale
The Eagle Ford Shale formation runs under Maverick County, making mineral rights and oil and gas activity relevant to anyone buying land here.
Maverick County · Flood Hazard
The Rio Grande Can Flood — Know Your Risk
Properties near the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass face real flood risk, and a flood map can show whether your land is in a hazard zone.
McCulloch County · Water Wells
Drilling a water well in McCulloch County requires a permit first
The Hickory Underground Water Conservation District regulates groundwater in McCulloch County — you must file a notice and get a permit before drilling most wells.
McLennan County · Flood Zones
A Flood Map Beats a Guess Near the Brazos and Bosque
McLennan County's rivers and creeks create real flood exposure, but FEMA's current map and any later amendments are what matter for a specific address.
McLennan County · Water Supply
Lake Waco Supplies the Waco Area
Lake Waco stores water from three Bosque River branches and serves municipal and industrial customers in the Waco area.
McLennan County · Severe Weather
McLennan's Tornado Record Reaches Back to 1880
The National Weather Service's McLennan County tornado record begins in 1880, and spring remains the main severe-weather season.
McLennan County · Groundwater
The Trinity Aquifer Runs Beneath McLennan County
The Trinity Aquifer underlies McLennan County, while a groundwater district sets the local path for drilling and operating private wells.
McMullen County · Flood Risk
Flash Flooding Is a Real Risk Along the Rivers
The Frio and Nueces rivers run through McMullen County and can flood quickly, so check FEMA flood maps before buying near the water.
McMullen County · Water Wells
New Water Wells Need a Permit in McMullen County
The McMullen Groundwater Conservation District oversees well drilling in the county — contact them before you drill.
Medina County · Land Use & Economy
Cattle, Crops, and Oil All Drive the Medina County Economy
Medina County is a working agricultural county where cattle ranching, grain and peanut farming, and some oil and gas production all occur on roughly 1,300 square miles of land.
Medina County · Location & Size
Medina County Is Immediately West of San Antonio, Covering About 1,330 Square Miles
Medina County borders Bexar County (San Antonio) on the east and covers about 1,330 square miles of mixed Hill Country and plains terrain.
Medina County · Groundwater & Wells
New Water Wells in Medina County Require a Permit
The Medina County Groundwater Conservation District regulates new wells and requires permits before you drill.
Medina County · Land & Geography
The Balcones Escarpment Splits Medina County into Two Very Different Landscapes
A geological fault line called the Balcones Escarpment runs east-west through Medina County, creating Hill Country terrain to the north and flat plains to the south.
Menard County · Water Wells
A local water district oversees wells in Menard County
The Menard County Underground Water District regulates groundwater wells and requires permits for most new wells above domestic or livestock use.
Midland County · Mineral Rights
In Midland County, the mineral estate often belongs to a different owner
Buying land in Midland County does not automatically mean you own the oil and gas beneath it. The mineral rights are often sold or retained separately.
Midland County · Climate & Weather
Midland County has a hot, windy, and dry climate with cold winters
Midland County sits at roughly 2,800 feet elevation with July highs near 96 degrees, January lows around 32 degrees, only about 13 to 14 inches of rain per year, and frequent high winds.
Midland County · Oil & Gas Regulation
Oil and gas drilling in Midland County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
The Railroad Commission of Texas issues drilling permits and oversees oil and gas operations across the Permian Basin, and it runs a District 8 field office right in Midland.
Midland County · Flood Risk
Some parts of Midland County have flood risk from South Draw
Even in dry West Texas, parts of Midland County lie in FEMA-mapped flood zones, and the county adopted a special flood framework for the South Draw area.
Midland County · Water Supply
Water is scarce in Midland County — most homes rely on municipal supply or deep wells
Midland County averages only about 13.5 inches of rain per year, and residents outside city limits often depend on water wells that draw from deep aquifers.
Milam County · Water & Flood Awareness
The Brazos, Little, and San Gabriel Drain Milam County
Milam County is drained by the Brazos, Little, and San Gabriel rivers; FEMA's address search shows whether a specific property falls in a mapped flood hazard area.
Mills County · Land Stewardship
Mills County has a Soil and Water Conservation District for landowners
The Mills County Soil and Water Conservation District can help landowners with erosion control, water quality, and federal conservation programs.
Mitchell County · Water Rights
A Groundwater District Covers All of Mitchell County
The Lone Wolf Groundwater Conservation District regulates water wells across all of Mitchell County and requires permits for new wells.
Mitchell County · Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas
Oil Production Has Shaped Mitchell County Since 1920
Petroleum was discovered in Mitchell County in 1920, and active oil and gas production continues today, which matters if you own or are buying land here.
Montague County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas have been produced in Montague County since 1919
If you buy land in Montague County, mineral rights may already be severed from the surface, meaning someone else could own what is underground.
Montgomery County · Flood Risk
Flooding Is a Serious Risk Along the San Jacinto River
Parts of Montgomery County along the San Jacinto River and its tributaries face major flood risk, as Hurricane Harvey showed in 2017.
Montgomery County · Floodplain Permit
Floodplain Work in Montgomery County Can Need Elevation Paperwork
Montgomery County tells owners to contact Floodplain Administration when work touches a floodplain or a structure that has flooded.
Montgomery County · Land Subsidence
Groundwater Pumping Can Cause Land to Sink
Pumping large amounts of water from underground aquifers can cause the land surface to slowly sink — a process called subsidence.
Montgomery County · Development Permit
In Unincorporated Montgomery County, Moving Dirt Can Need a Permit
A Montgomery County development permit applies broadly in unincorporated areas, covering work that reshapes the land as well as work that puts up a building.
Montgomery County · Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe Docks and Bulkheads Need SJRA Permission
The San Jacinto River Authority licenses residential docks, boat slips, and bulkheads on Lake Conroe, so waterfront work is more than a backyard project.
Montgomery County · Water Supply
Montgomery County Is Shifting Away from Pumped Groundwater
A county-wide program is moving large water users toward surface water from Lake Conroe to reduce pumping from underground aquifers.
Montgomery County · Deed Records
Montgomery County Offers a Free Property Records Alert
The County Clerk runs a free alert that emails you when a document is recorded matching a name or property you are watching.
Montgomery County · Water Wells
Private Water Wells Are Regulated in Montgomery County
The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District oversees water wells in Montgomery County to protect the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
Montgomery County · 911 Address
Two Livable Structures Need Two Montgomery County Addresses
MCECD assigns and verifies physical addresses in Montgomery County, and each livable structure needs its own issued address.
Moore County · Groundwater / Wells
Contact North Plains GCD before drilling a Moore County well
Moore County sits inside the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, which requires approval before you drill any non-exempt water well.
Motley County · Water Rights
Groundwater in Motley County Is Managed by a Special District
If you plan to drill a water well in Motley County, you need to work with the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, which regulates how much water can be pumped.
Nacogdoches County · Water Wells
A Groundwater District Oversees Water Wells in Nacogdoches County
The Pineywoods Groundwater Conservation District regulates well drilling in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties, so get a permit before drilling a high-volume well.
Nacogdoches County · Flood Risk
Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Land Near Creeks or the Angelina River
Parts of Nacogdoches County sit in flood zones along the Angelina River and its tributaries, so look up your property's flood zone before you buy or build.
Navarro County · Flood Risk
Check FEMA flood maps before buying near the Trinity River
The Trinity River runs along Navarro County's northeastern edge, and low-lying land near rivers and creeks can carry significant flood risk.
Navarro County · Property Records
Navarro County will email you if something hits your property record
The County Clerk offers a free Fraud Notify subscription that alerts you whenever a document is recorded against your name or property in Navarro County.
Navarro County · Lake Area Zoning
Near Richland Chambers, Navarro County zones land it otherwise wouldn't
Within 5,000 feet of Richland Chambers Lake, Navarro County enforces a lakeshore zoning ordinance that rural land elsewhere in the county never sees, and you can only get a residence address there through a building permit.
Navarro County · Land Records
The chain of title to Navarro County land lives with the County Clerk
Deeds, liens, and deeds of trust on Navarro County property are recorded at the County Clerk, whose index runs online back to 1974.
Newton County · Flood Risk
Flooding risk along the Sabine River in Newton County
The Sabine River forms Newton County's eastern border, and large parts of the county have documented flood risk that affects property buyers and homeowners.
Newton County · Water Supply
Rural water and wells in Newton County
Much of Newton County is rural with no public water service, so many properties rely on private water wells regulated by the state.
Nolan County · Water & Wells
Nolan County has an active groundwater conservation district
The Wes-Tex Groundwater Conservation District regulates wells and water use in Nolan County — important if you plan to drill a well or buy rural land.
Nolan County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas are still active in Nolan County — mineral rights matter
Petroleum has been produced in Nolan County since 1939, and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates all oil and gas activity in the area.
Nueces County · Flood Planning
A regional flood plan guides how Nueces County manages flood risk
The Texas Water Development Board adopted a Nueces Regional Flood Plan that sets long-term strategies for reducing flood damage in the county.
Nueces County · Windstorm Insurance
Coastal properties in Nueces County may need windstorm insurance from a state pool
Nueces County is one of 14 Texas Gulf Coast counties where the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides wind and hail coverage when private insurers won't.
Nueces County · WPI-8 Certificate
Coastal structures need a windstorm certificate to get TWIA coverage
A WPI-8 certificate proves a building was inspected and met coastal windstorm building codes — without it, getting windstorm insurance in Nueces County is much harder.
Nueces County · ETJ and City Limits
Corpus Christi has land-use authority beyond its city limits
Corpus Christi controls development in an area outside its official city limits called the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), which can affect what you can build on nearby rural land.
Nueces County · Flood Zones
FEMA flood maps for Nueces County were recently revised
Revised flood maps covering Corpus Christi, Bishop, and unincorporated Nueces County show which areas face the highest flood risk.
Nueces County · Septic Systems
Rural properties outside city sewer service need a permitted septic system
Homes in unincorporated Nueces County that are not connected to a city sewer system must have an on-site sewage facility (OSSF), commonly called a septic system, permitted under state rules.