Living Near Cleburne? The City's ETJ Reaches 2 Miles Out

An ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction) is a zone just outside a city. Cleburne's ETJ covers about 100 square miles surrounding the city. Inside the ETJ, the city can require you to plat land before subdividing it, and can abate some public nuisances. But there is no city zoning.

You do not pay city taxes in the ETJ, and you get county services, not city police, sewer, or trash. Water service depends on your utility district. The ETJ boundary could be annexed into the city later. If you are buying land near Cleburne, ask the county or city whether your parcel is inside or outside the ETJ. Contact Cleburne Public Works at 817-556-8869 for specifics.