Stafford, Texas
Stafford is a city in Fort Bend County, on the southwestern side of the Houston metropolitan area just east of Sugar Land and about 15 miles west of downtown Houston. It sits on the flat coastal plain along the Southwest Freeway corridor and has developed into a dense mix of commercial, light-industrial, and residential development. The city grew from a small farming community into a compact suburban and industrial center along that corridor.
Property here runs through the Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Fort Bend County notes
What to know around Stafford
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property tax in Fort Bend County
The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.
Homestead Exemption
How to apply for a homestead exemption in Fort Bend County
Homeowners who live in their home as their main residence can apply with FBCAD to lower the taxable value.
Municipal Utility Districts
Many Fort Bend neighborhoods are inside a MUD
Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) are special taxing districts that built and now run water, sewer, and drainage in many subdivisions.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural land in Fort Bend can be taxed at a lower rate
Land used for farming or ranching may qualify for a lower tax value based on what it can produce, not what it would sell for.
Groundwater & Subsidence
Most water wells in Fort Bend County need a permit
The Fort Bend Subsidence District regulates groundwater wells to stop land sinking that makes flooding worse.
Flood Risk
Fort Bend County flood maps were updated after a major mapping project
Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Fort Bend County were revised after a five-year study; look up your address before you buy.
Nearby
Places near Stafford
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Harris County
64 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Brazoria County
39 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Waller County
13 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Austin County
6 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Wharton County
12 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Montgomery County
55 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Stafford
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Fort Bend County notes
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