DFW / North Texas
Dallas County, Texas
A porch-side guide to the county: the stories that give it a shape, practical local checks, and a few things worth knowing before they surprise you. Every note points to its source.
26 stories · 30 practical · 8 good to know
The practical part
Dallas County offices and deadlines
Appraisal district & tax office →
The Comptroller's official directory for Dallas County: who sets your value and who sends the bill.
Homestead exemption →
File Form 50-114 with the appraisal district. It is free. The regular deadline is April 30, and late filing is allowed for up to two years.
Protest your appraisal →
The usual deadline is May 15, or 30 days after your notice arrives, whichever is later.
Estimate a tax bill →
Model a bill from local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Start here
A little of what makes this place itself
Bachman Lake, Dallas County · City Lake
Bachman Lake Sits Beside Love Field with a Trail Around the Water
Bachman Lake is a 205-acre northwest Dallas city lake on the north side of Love Field, ringed by a trail with picnic areas, a pool, and water access.
Cedar Hill · State Park
Cedar Hill State Park Gives Dallas County Lake and Prairie Space
TPWD describes Cedar Hill State Park as a 1,826-acre state park on Joe Pool Lake with trails, camping, fishing, boating, and Penn Farm history.
Garland · County Preserve
Spring Creek Forest Preserves an Older Garland Woods
Dallas County describes Lee F. Jackson Spring Creek Forest Preserve as a wooded Garland preserve with paved and soft-surface trails along Spring Creek.
Practical Alligator Gar in the Trinity River Have Strict Bag Limits On the Trinity River from Dallas downstream, anglers may keep only one alligator gar per day, and it must be under 48 inches. Practical City of Dallas garage sales need an online permit The City of Dallas requires an approved garage-sale permit before items are placed out for sale. Good to know You Can Fish the Trinity River in Dallas, But Read the Advisories TPWD lists public access points for fishing along the Trinity River in Dallas, but fish consumption advisories are in effect for some stretches.
All 64 local notes
The full county shelf is mixed so stories and useful checks travel together. Use the filters when you need one kind.
Showing all 64 notes.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Bachman Lake Sits Beside Love Field with a Trail Around the Water Bachman Lake is a 205-acre northwest Dallas city lake on the north side of Love Field, ringed by a trail with picnic areas, a pool, and water access. Bachman Lake, Dallas County
- Practical Outdoors Alligator Gar in the Trinity River Have Strict Bag Limits On the Trinity River from Dallas downstream, anglers may keep only one alligator gar per day, and it must be under 48 inches.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Cedar Hill State Park Gives Dallas County Lake and Prairie Space TPWD describes Cedar Hill State Park as a 1,826-acre state park on Joe Pool Lake with trails, camping, fishing, boating, and Penn Farm history. Cedar Hill
- Practical Rules & Licenses City of Dallas garage sales need an online permit The City of Dallas requires an approved garage-sale permit before items are placed out for sale. Dallas, Dallas County
- Good to know Outdoors You Can Fish the Trinity River in Dallas, But Read the Advisories TPWD lists public access points for fishing along the Trinity River in Dallas, but fish consumption advisories are in effect for some stretches.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Spring Creek Forest Preserves an Older Garland Woods Dallas County describes Lee F. Jackson Spring Creek Forest Preserve as a wooded Garland preserve with paved and soft-surface trails along Spring Creek. Garland
- Practical Outdoors Trinity River Bottomland Drawn Hunts Are Available but Far from Dallas TPWD offers drawn hunts on Trinity River bottomlands, though these areas are in SE Texas (Liberty County area), not near Dallas County, and access can be limited by flooding.
- Stories & local character Outdoors The Santa Fe Trail Carries East Dallas to White Rock Lake Dallas Parks says the 4.7-mile Santa Fe Trail follows a former rail right of way from East Dallas toward White Rock Lake. East Dallas
- Practical Outdoors You Need a Texas Fishing License to Fish in Dallas County Any angler fishing in Dallas County waters needs a valid Texas fishing license issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- Good to know Home & Property The Trinity River Authority Manages Water Across the Basin The Trinity River Authority of Texas provides water treatment, flood planning, and basin coordination for municipalities including those in Dallas County.
- Stories & local character Outdoors The Trinity Skyline Trail Puts the River Beside Downtown Dallas Parks lists the Trinity Skyline Trail as an 11.6-mile hard-surface trail in the Trinity River floodway with downtown views. Dallas
- Practical Home & Property Building Near a Creek in the County Needs a Permit In unincorporated Dallas County, any construction inside a mapped floodplain requires a county floodplain development permit.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Trinity River Audubon Center Is a Public Door into the Forest Trinity River Audubon Center is a public nature center on 120 acres in the Great Trinity Forest, about eight miles southeast of downtown Dallas. Trinity River Audubon Center, Dallas County
- Practical Money & Taxes Extra Tax Break for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners If you are 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability, you get an additional $60,000 off your home's school-taxable value.
- Good to know Cars & Driving Check DriveTexas before traveling during storms TxDOT points drivers to DriveTexas and its travel line for road-condition information before storms, ice, or flooding in Dallas County.
- Stories & local character Outdoors White Rock Lake Gives Dallas an Urban Lake with Trails and Wildlife White Rock Lake is a 1,015-acre city lake about five miles northeast of downtown Dallas, with a long shoreline trail, piers, boating, and wildlife. White Rock Lake, Dallas County
- Practical Cars & Driving FM Roads Are State Highways Maintained by TxDOT Farm-to-Market (FM) roads in Dallas County are state-maintained highways, not county roads, even when they run through rural areas.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Fair Park Carries Dallas's Art Deco and State Fair Story Fair Park is a Dallas Landmark District, National Register property, and National Historic Landmark tied to the State Fair and the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. Fair Park, Dallas County
- Practical Money & Taxes Many Taxing Units Can Appear on One Dallas County Tax Bill Your Dallas County property tax bill can include charges from the county, a school district, a city, and multiple special districts.
- Good to know Home & Property Check FEMA's Flood Map Before You Buy FEMA maps show which Dallas County properties sit in a flood hazard zone, which affects insurance costs and mortgage requirements.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Lake Cliff Park Connects Oak Cliff to Amusement-Park and WPA History Lake Cliff Historic District includes an old Oak Cliff park landscape, early neighborhood structures, and city park features shaped by New Deal-era work. Lake Cliff Park, Dallas County
- Practical Home & Property Rural Dallas County Homes May Use On-Site Septic Systems Properties in unincorporated Dallas County that lack city sewer service may use on-site sewage facilities regulated by the county under TCEQ rules.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Rowlett Creek Preserve Gives Garland a Soft-Trail Network Dallas County lists Rowlett Creek Preserve as a 94-acre Garland preserve with 16 miles of soft-surface trails. Garland
- Practical Rules & Licenses Splitting Land Outside a City Requires County Approval If you want to divide land in an unincorporated part of Dallas County, you must follow the county's subdivision regulations.
- Good to know Home & Property Flood Insurance Is Separate from Your Homeowner's Policy Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Dallas County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Stories & local character Outdoors The Dallas Arboretum Adds Garden Color to White Rock Lake The Dallas Arboretum is a 66-acre display-garden destination on the shore of White Rock Lake in East Dallas. Dallas Arboretum, Dallas County
- Practical Rules & Licenses Start a Dallas County marriage license online Dallas County's marriage-license application starts online, then the order number follows you to the County Clerk's walk-in counter.
- Stories & local character Outdoors White Rock Creek Trail Links North Dallas Parks to the Lake Dallas Parks describes White Rock Creek Trail as a 9.2-mile trail that ties greenbelt parks to White Rock Lake. Dallas
- Practical Money & Taxes The Dallas County Tax Office Handles Your Property Tax Bill The Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector sends your property tax bill and collects payments for dozens of taxing units in the county.
- Good to know Rules & Licenses Outdoor Burning Rules in Dallas County Can Change Fast Outdoor burning in unincorporated Dallas County starts with a Fire Marshal permit, and a burn ban can stop the burn for the day.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Tenmile Creek Preserve Keeps Lancaster's Woods on the Map Dallas County describes Tenmile Creek Preserve as a 125-acre Lancaster preserve with wooded areas, meadows, creek land, and soft-surface trails. Lancaster
- Practical Home & Property Unincorporated Dallas County Has Its Own Rules Small patches of Dallas County lie outside any city, and building or developing there requires a county permit instead of a city permit.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Cedar Ridge Preserve Brings Escarpment Trails to Southwest Dallas Cedar Ridge Preserve is a roughly 600-acre natural area in southwest Dallas with about nine miles of trails over hill-country escarpment terrain. Cedar Ridge Preserve, Dallas County
- Practical Money & Taxes You Can Fight Your Appraisal Every Year If you disagree with DCAD's value of your property, you have the right to protest before the Dallas County Appraisal Review Board.
- Good to know Home & Property Tornadoes Are a Real Hazard in Dallas County Dallas County sits in tornado-prone North Texas, and the National Weather Service tracks more than 140 years of tornado records for the county.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Goat Island Preserve Shows the Rural Side of the Trinity Dallas County lists Goat Island Preserve as a 637-acre preserve in unincorporated southeastern Dallas County along the Trinity River Greenbelt. Southeastern Dallas County
- Practical Money & Taxes Changing Ag Land Use Triggers a Rollback Tax If you buy land with ag valuation and change its use, you may owe back taxes for the past three years.
- Stories & local character Outdoors The Great Trinity Forest Gateway Opens a Different Side of Dallas The Great Trinity Forest Gateway and Horse Trail is a 250-acre Dallas metropolitan park on Dowdy Ferry Road with trails, fishing, a pier, a canoe launch, and a boat ramp. Great Trinity Forest Gateway, Dallas County
- Practical Cars & Driving Disabled parking placards go through the county tax office Dallas County residents use TxDMV Form VTR-214 and submit the application to the county tax office.
- Good to know Rules & Licenses Dallas County Enforces a Nuisance Code Outside City Limits If you live in unincorporated Dallas County, a county nuisance code prohibits junk vehicles, high weeds, and unsafe structures.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Freedman's Cemetery Marks a Deep North Dallas Community Story Freedman's Cemetery is an official Dallas landmark tied to the city's early African American community and the historic North Dallas neighborhood. Freedman's Cemetery, Dallas County
- Practical Cars & Driving Finish a private-sale title transfer at the tax office TxDMV says a vehicle bought in a private sale should be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Swiss Avenue Shows Dallas's Early Historic-District Architecture Swiss Avenue is a Dallas historic district with roughly 200 homes in revival, Prairie, and Bungalow styles, and the first local historic district designated in the city. Swiss Avenue Historic District, Dallas County
- Practical Cars & Driving How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Dallas County Dallas County residents renew registration through the Texas DMV after completing a required emissions inspection.
- Stories & local character History & Culture The Old Red Courthouse Is a Dallas Landmark from 1892 The 1892 Dallas County Courthouse, known as Old Red, was restored and rededicated as a history museum in 2007.
- Practical Rules & Licenses Irving Also Requires Short-Term Rental Registration The City of Irving requires annual registration for any short-term rental and charges hotel occupancy tax.
- Stories & local character History & Culture The Railroad Made Dallas County a Commerce Hub Two major railroads arrived in the early 1870s, transforming Dallas County from a farm settlement into a regional trade center.
- Practical Rules & Licenses Mobile food units need Dallas County health inspection Dallas County Health and Human Services permits mobile food units by appointment for health and safety inspection.
- Stories & local character History & Culture The THC Atlas Lists Historic Sites Across Dallas County The Texas Historical Commission's online Atlas database catalogs historic markers, cemeteries, and landmark sites across Dallas County.
- Practical Rules & Licenses Short-Term Rentals in Dallas Must Register with the City The City of Dallas requires all Airbnb-style rentals to register and collect hotel occupancy tax.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Cotton Once Drove Dallas County's Economy Dallas County was a major cotton producer by 1900, but the crop declined every year afterward as the county urbanized.
- Practical Cars & Driving Some title problems need a VTR-68-A inspection Dallas County's title page points certain assigned-VIN cases to the Sheriff's North Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Dallas County Has a Local Historical Commission The Dallas County Historical Commission (DCHC) advises the county on historic preservation and reviews applications for Texas historical markers.
- Practical Money & Taxes The Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Taxes Texas law requires school districts to exempt $140,000 of your home's value from school property taxes if you qualify.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Dallas County Has Its Own Preserve System Dallas County's Parks and Open Space Program lists 21 preserves totaling 4,166 acres across the county.
- Practical Money & Taxes Veterans with Disabilities Get a Property Tax Break Texas gives disabled veterans a property tax exemption based on their VA disability rating.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Dallas County Is One of the Most Diverse in Texas By 2014, Dallas County's population was roughly 39 percent Hispanic, 31.7 percent Anglo, and 23 percent African American.
- Practical Money & Taxes Who Appraises Your Property in Dallas County The Dallas Central Appraisal District sets the value of your property each year, and that value drives your tax bill.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Dallas County Was Created in 1846 Texas formed Dallas County on March 30, 1846, from parts of Nacogdoches and Robertson counties, and the city of Dallas became county seat after a close vote in 1850.
- Practical Cars & Driving Dallas County Cars Need an Emissions Test, Not Just Safety Under Texas's Two Steps One Sticker program, most Dallas County vehicles must pass an emissions inspection before renewing registration.
- Practical Money & Taxes Dallas County Offers Payment Plans for Overdue Property Taxes If you cannot pay your property tax bill in full, Dallas County has a payment arrangement program for qualifying owners.
- Practical Home & Property Dallas County Sits Over the Trinity Aquifer The Trinity Aquifer runs under Dallas County and much of North Texas, but most county residents rely on surface water, not wells.
- Practical Rules & Licenses Dallas County DBAs use the County Clerk Dallas County assumed-name applications may be completed online or at the County Clerk's research library computers.
- Practical Rules & Licenses Dallas County Has Multiple Courts for Property Disputes Dallas County has district courts and county courts that handle property, landlord-tenant, and real estate cases.
Nearby counties