Bastrop, Texas
Bastrop sits on the Colorado River in Bastrop County, about 27 miles southeast of Austin, at the edge of the Central Texas prairie where it meets the pine country. The town is best known for the Lost Pines, an isolated stand of loblolly pines that grows far to the west of the main East Texas pine belt and is preserved in Bastrop State Park. Its downtown along the river retains a long stretch of nineteenth-century commercial and residential buildings.
Property here runs through the Bastrop Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Bastrop County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Bastrop County notes
What to know around Bastrop
Property tax
Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill
If you own and live in your home in Bastrop County, you can apply for a homestead exemption that removes $140,000 from your school district taxable value.
Property tax
Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax — Know Which Does What
Bastrop Central Appraisal District sets your property value; the Bastrop County Tax Assessor-Collector sends your bill and collects payment.
Property tax / Agriculture
Agricultural Valuation Can Sharply Lower Your Land Tax
Land in Bastrop County actively used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on its agricultural production value rather than its market value.
Flood
Building Near the Colorado River Means a Floodplain Permit
Bastrop County requires a permit before you build in or near the 100-year floodplain, with stricter rules for structures inside the flood zone.
Water / Septic
Septic System Permit Required Outside City Sewer Service
Most rural land in Bastrop County has no public sewer. You need a licensed professional and a county permit before you can install a septic system.
Water / Wells
Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Regulates Wells
The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, created by voters in 2002, issues water well permits and oversees groundwater use in Bastrop and Lee counties.
Nearby
Places near Bastrop
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Travis County
65 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Lee County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Caldwell County
11 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Fayette County
7 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Williamson County
52 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Hays County
39 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Next steps for Bastrop
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