Bay City, Texas
Bay City is a city in Matagorda County on the coastal plain of the Gulf Coast, about 64 miles southwest of Houston, set on Bay Prairie between the bottomlands of the Colorado River and Caney Creek. It stands at the center of a long-established rice-growing region, and the South Texas Project nuclear generating station, one of the largest power plants in the state, lies southwest of town near the Colorado River.
Property here runs through the Matagorda 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 Matagorda County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Matagorda County notes
What to know around Bay City
Property Tax Basics
Two separate offices handle property taxes here
Matagorda County splits property taxes between two Bay City offices: the appraisal district sets values, and the tax assessor-collector takes the money.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead exemption cuts your school tax bill
Texas law requires school districts to exempt a set amount of your home's value from school taxes — but you must file to get it.
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.
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.
Wildlife Management Area
Matagorda Island is a wild, boat-only public hunting and fishing area
Matagorda Island WMA covers more than 56,000 acres of barrier island and marsh, and you can only get there by boat.
Hunting Regulations
Deer hunting in this county has a specific antler rule
Matagorda County has a four-deer bag limit, but only one of your two bucks can have a wide antler spread — check TPWD for current season dates.
Nearby
Places near Bay City
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Wharton County
12 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Brazoria County
39 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Jackson County
7 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Fort Bend County
58 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Calhoun County
12 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Colorado County
6 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Bay City
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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