Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is the seat of Ellis County, on the Blackland Prairie farmland about 26 miles south of Dallas. It grew wealthy on cotton in the late nineteenth century, and that prosperity left a large stock of ornate Victorian homes and public buildings, including the elaborate Richardsonian Romanesque Ellis County Courthouse that anchors its downtown square.
Property here runs through the Ellis 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 Ellis County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Ellis County notes
What to know around Waxahachie
Property Tax Basics
Two different offices handle your property tax in Ellis County
The Ellis County Appraisal District sets your property value, but a separate Tax Assessor-Collector office sends the bill and collects the money.
Homestead Exemption
File a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill
Texas law lets homeowners who live in their home claim a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.
Ag Valuation
Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value
In Ellis County, qualifying farm or ranch land is taxed on what it can produce, not what it could sell for. That can cut the tax bill by a lot.
Vehicle Registration
Ellis County vehicles need an emissions test every year
Ellis County gasoline vehicles usually need an emissions test before registration renewal.
Septic Systems
You need a permit before installing a septic system in Ellis County
Homes outside city sewer service areas need an on-site sewage system, and Ellis County adopted its own rules for permitting and inspecting those systems.
Flood Risk
Check the FEMA flood map before buying property in Ellis County
Parts of Ellis County fall in FEMA flood zones. Check the flood map before you buy property near Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, or other local communities.
Nearby
Places near Waxahachie
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Waxahachie
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Ellis County notes
Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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