Dorchester, Texas
Dorchester is a small city in Grayson County, in the North Texas prairie country roughly 23 miles north of McKinney. It sits in the largely rural, agricultural belt of the Blackland Prairie north of the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The surrounding landscape is one of open farmland and small communities.
Property here runs through the Grayson 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 Grayson County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Grayson County notes
What to know around Dorchester
Property Tax Basics
Two Different Offices Handle Your Property Taxes
Grayson County splits property tax duties between two offices, and knowing which one to call saves you time.
Flood Insurance
Grayson County Got New FEMA Flood Maps in 2022
Updated flood maps for Grayson County took effect in September 2022, so your property's flood risk zone may be different than it was before.
Vehicle Registration
Many Grayson County renewals dropped the safety-inspection step
Noncommercial Grayson County vehicles no longer need a safety inspection before registration, and Grayson is outside the emissions-test county list.
Fishing Licenses
Lake Texoma Has a Special Fishing License That Covers Both States
Because Lake Texoma straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border, a special low-cost license lets you fish the whole lake without needing two state licenses.
Fishing
Lake Texoma Has One of the Few Self-Sustaining Striped Bass Populations in the U.S.
Lake Texoma's striped bass reproduce on their own in the Red River inlet, making it a well-known destination for freshwater striped bass fishing.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Zebra Mussels in Lake Texoma Mean You Must Drain Your Boat Before Leaving
Lake Texoma has established zebra mussels, an invasive species, so state law requires boaters to drain all water from boats, livewells, and bait buckets before leaving.
Nearby
Places near Dorchester
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Dorchester
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Grayson County notes
Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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