De Kalb, Texas
De Kalb is a city in Bowie County, in the Piney Woods of far northeastern Texas about 70 miles north of Longview. It lies in gently rolling timber and farm country near the Red River, within the Texarkana metropolitan area. The town is remembered as the birthplace of actor Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright on the television Western Bonanza and is buried in a cemetery there.
Property here runs through the Bowie 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 Bowie County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Bowie County notes
What to know around De Kalb
Property tax
Texas raised the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000
Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2025 that raised the mandatory school-district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, retroactive to January 1, 2025.
Property tax
You can protest your property appraisal every year in Bowie County
Texas law gives every property owner the right to challenge their appraisal each year by filing a protest with the Appraisal Review Board before the deadline.
Agricultural valuation
Timber and farm land can be taxed on productivity value, not market value
Under Texas law, land actively used for farming, ranching, or timber production can qualify for special appraisal, meaning it is taxed based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.
Property tax
Two separate offices handle appraisal and tax collection in Bowie County
The Bowie Central Appraisal District sets property values, while a separate Tax Assessor-Collector handles billing, so knowing which office to call saves confusion.
Septic / Water
Homes outside city limits in Bowie County likely need a septic permit
If your home has no public sewer, Texas law says you need a permitted septic system. Bowie County has a local office that issues those permits.
Flood
Look up your flood zone before buying property near the Red River or Sulphur River
Bowie County has significant river flood risk along the Red River and Sulphur River, and FEMA flood maps determine whether your lender will require flood insurance.
Nearby
Places near De Kalb
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Red River County
6 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Morris County
5 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Titus County
13 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Cass County
5 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Franklin County
4 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Camp County
4 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Next steps for De Kalb
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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