Mineral rights can be owned separately from the land in Fort Bend County

Texas allows mineral rights and surface rights to be owned by different people. If prior owners sold or reserved the mineral rights, the current landowner may not control what happens beneath the surface. An oil or gas company with mineral rights can legally drill on your property after meeting certain legal requirements.

Fort Bend County has a history of oil and gas production going back to 1919. Some rural and suburban properties may have severed minerals. When you buy property, your title search should show whether minerals are included.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates oil and gas activity and maintains records of wells. If you want to know about past or current production near a property, search the RRC online well search at rrc.texas.gov.