Topic · Page 10
Home & Property
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
San Patricio County · Flood Zones
Check FEMA Flood Maps Before You Buy or Build
Parts of San Patricio County lie in FEMA flood hazard zones, which can affect your insurance costs and what you are allowed to build.
San Patricio County · Windstorm Insurance
Coastal Windstorm Insurance Is Available Through TWIA
San Patricio County is one of 14 Texas coastal counties where homeowners can get windstorm coverage through TWIA if private insurers won't cover them.
San Patricio County · Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Unincorporated Areas Require a Permit
If your San Patricio County property is outside city limits and has no public sewer, you need a state permit for your septic system.
San Saba County · Groundwater / Well Permits
Drilling a Water Well? Check the Hickory District First
Parts of San Saba County fall inside the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District, which regulates well drilling and requires registration of new wells.
Schleicher County · Water Wells
No Local Groundwater District Means Fewer Rules for Water Wells
Schleicher County has no local groundwater conservation district, so there are fewer local rules about drilling or pumping from a water well.
Scurry County · Oil & Gas / Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Matter Here — Oil Has Run Deep Since 1948
The Kelly-Snyder oilfield in western Scurry County is one of the most productive fields in Texas history, so mineral rights and surface-owner issues matter for anyone buying land here.
Shackelford County · Mineral Rights & Oil
Oil and Gas Has Been Produced in Shackelford County Since 1910
Shackelford County has a long oil and gas history, and buyers should understand that surface rights and mineral rights can be owned separately.
Shackelford County · Wildfire & Weather Hazards
Wildfire Is a Real Hazard in Shackelford County
Shackelford County sits in the Big Country region of West Texas, where dry conditions, wind, and drought can combine to create fast-moving wildfires.
Sherman County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Water wells here tap the Ogallala Aquifer — and need a permit
Nearly all water in Sherman County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, and the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District regulates who can drill a well and how much water they can use.
Smith County · Flood Rules
Smith County has a flood damage prevention rule for unincorporated land
Before you build in a low-lying area of Smith County, check whether your land is in a FEMA flood zone — county rules restrict development in those areas.
Smith County · Land Division
Smith County has subdivision rules for dividing unincorporated land
If you want to divide a tract in an unincorporated part of Smith County, county subdivision regulations apply.
Smith County · Building Rules
Unincorporated Smith County does not require a general building permit
Smith County's own records say there are no local building permits required for construction in unincorporated areas outside city limits.
Smith County · Septic / OSSF
You need a permit for a septic system in unincorporated Smith County
Any on-site sewage system — including a standard septic tank — requires a permit before you build or alter it in Smith County.
Somervell County · Major Employer
Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant is a major employer in Somervell County
Comanche Peak, a two-unit nuclear plant in Somervell County, is one of the county's biggest economic drivers.
Starr County · Flooding / FEMA Flood Maps
Check the flood map before you buy or build
Parts of Starr County along the Rio Grande and local drainage areas lie in flood zones — look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center before you buy or build.
Starr County · Septic Systems / OSSF
No city sewer? You may need a septic permit
Outside city limits in Starr County, you likely need an on-site sewage system — and that requires a permit in Texas.
Starr County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Starr County has its own groundwater district
The Starr County Groundwater Conservation District manages underground water use — contact them before you drill a well.
Stephens County · Mineral Rights & Oil
Stephens County Has a Deep Oil History — Know Your Mineral Rights
Stephens County experienced a massive oil boom in the 1920s, and buyers of land today should always ask whether the mineral rights are included.
Stephens County · Water Wells & Groundwater
Stephens County Is in Groundwater Management Area 6
If you plan to drill a water well in Stephens County, you may need a permit from the groundwater conservation district that covers your land.
Sterling County · Groundwater & Wells
Drilling a Water Well in Sterling County
Sterling County has its own groundwater district that requires new wells to be registered before you drill.
Sterling County · Mineral Rights & Oil Leases
Oil and Gas Activity in Sterling County
Oil was found in Sterling County in 1947 and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates all wells drilled there today.
Stonewall County · Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas Activity Is Regulated by RRC District 7B
Stonewall County has a long history of oil production, and all drilling and production activity is overseen by the Railroad Commission of Texas District 7B office in Abilene.
Sutton County · Groundwater & Wells
A local district regulates water wells in Sutton County
If you plan to drill a water well in Sutton County, a local district sets the rules and may require a permit.
Sutton County · Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and gas activity in Sutton County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
Sutton County has a history of oil and gas production. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates all wells and drilling in the area.
Swisher County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Drilling a Water Well in Swisher County Requires a Permit
Swisher County sits over the Ogallala Aquifer, and a regional district controls how much water landowners can pump.
Swisher County · Weather Hazards
Wildfire and Drought Are Real Risks in Swisher County
The dry, windy climate of the Texas Panhandle makes Swisher County prone to fast-moving wildfires and extended drought.
Tarrant County · Floodplain Permit
Building in a Flood Zone Requires a Free Permit in Tarrant County
Any work in a FEMA-designated flood zone in unincorporated Tarrant County — including placing fill — requires a free floodplain permit before you start.
Tarrant County · Flood Insurance
Flood Insurance in Tarrant County: What You Need to Know
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage — you need a separate flood insurance policy, available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program.
Tarrant County · Flood Infrastructure
Fort Worth Is Rerouting Part of the Trinity River to Reduce Flood Risk
The Central City Flood Control Project aims to protect over 2,400 acres of Fort Worth neighborhoods by rerouting a section of the Trinity River north of downtown.
Tarrant County · Oil and Gas Wells
How to Look Up Oil and Gas Wells Near Your Tarrant County Property
The Railroad Commission of Texas lets anyone search for active, inactive, and permitted oil and gas wells using a free online map.
Tarrant County · Winter Weather
Ice Storms Are a Real Hazard in Tarrant County
Tarrant County can experience damaging ice storms and freezing temperatures in winter, which can disrupt power, roads, and water pipes.
Tarrant County · Mineral Rights
In Tarrant County, Surface Rights and Mineral Rights Can Be Separate
Buying land in Tarrant County does not automatically mean you own the oil and gas underneath — mineral rights can be — and often are — owned by someone else.
Tarrant County · Hail and Storms
Large Hail and Severe Thunderstorms Hit Tarrant County Regularly
Tarrant County sees frequent severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding — often in spring and early summer.
Tarrant County · City Limits / ETJ
Living Outside Fort Worth City Limits Still Means City Rules May Apply
Fort Worth has one of the largest extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) in Tarrant County, so even some unincorporated properties near the city must follow Fort Worth's subdivision standards.
Tarrant County · Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Tarrant County Require a Permit
If your Tarrant County property is not on a public sewer, you need a county permit for any new or substantially changed on-site sewage system.
Tarrant County · Weather Preparedness
Sign Up for Weather Alerts Through the NWS Fort Worth Office
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth covers Tarrant County and issues forecasts, watches, and warnings for tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding.
Tarrant County · Oil and Gas
Tarrant County Sits on the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Formation
Much of Tarrant County overlies the Barnett Shale — one of the country's major onshore natural gas fields — and thousands of wells have been drilled in and around the county.
Tarrant County · Flood Risk
The Trinity River and Flood Risk in Tarrant County
The Trinity River and its forks run through Tarrant County, and flooding is a real risk — especially in low-lying areas near the river.
Tarrant County · River Authority
The Trinity River Authority Serves Tarrant County and the Broader Basin
The Trinity River Authority (TRA) is a conservation and reclamation district that manages water treatment, flood planning, and river basin coordination across the Trinity watershed, which includes Tarrant County.
Tarrant County · Weather Hazard
Tornado Risk Is Real in Tarrant County
Tarrant County sits in a region of North Texas with a documented history of tornadoes going back to the 1800s — spring is the highest-risk season.
Tarrant County · ETJ / Zoning
Unincorporated Tarrant County Is Mostly Inside City ETJs
Most unincorporated land in Tarrant County sits inside a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), meaning city subdivision rules apply even though you are not inside city limits.
Tarrant County · Water Supply
Where Tarrant County's Water Comes From
Most of Tarrant County's water supply comes from two East Texas lakes — Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers — managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Taylor County · Mineral Rights
Buying land does not always mean you own the minerals beneath it
In Taylor County and across Texas, mineral rights can be separated from surface rights, so a landowner may not own the oil or gas under their property.
Taylor County · Flood Risk
Check the FEMA flood map before buying property near Elm Creek
Parts of Taylor County along Elm Creek and other drainages carry FEMA flood zone designations; look up any address on the FEMA map before you buy or build.
Taylor County · City Limits & ETJ
Land just outside Abilene city limits may still be in the city's ETJ
Abilene's ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction) is a buffer zone just outside the city. Land in that zone must follow Abilene's subdivision rules even though it sits in unincorporated Taylor County.
Taylor County · Water Wells
You can look up water well records before buying rural land
Texas keeps a public database of water well records; you can search wells by location before buying land to understand what neighbors have found and at what depth.
Taylor County · Septic Systems
You need a permit before installing a septic system in Taylor County
Any property outside city sewer service in Taylor County that needs a septic system must get a permit and approved plan before construction begins.
Terrell County · Water Wells
Drilling a Water Well? You Need a Permit First.
Terrell County has its own groundwater conservation district, created by state law in 2011, that regulates new water wells.
Terry County · Groundwater / Water Wells
Water Wells and the Ogallala Aquifer in Terry County
Most rural land in Terry County gets its water from the Ogallala Aquifer. The South Plains Underground Water Conservation District regulates wells and water use in the county.
Throckmorton County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas has been part of Throckmorton County for over a century
Oil was discovered here in 1925 and the county still produces oil and gas, so check whether mineral rights are included when you buy land.
Throckmorton County · Weather & Hazards
Wildfire is a real hazard in Throckmorton County
Throckmorton County has been included in state wildfire disaster declarations, so homeowners and rural buyers should plan for fire risk.
Titus County · Where You Live Matters
City Limits vs. Unincorporated Titus County
Most land in Titus County is unincorporated, which means the county government — not a city — handles local services and some regulations.
Titus County · Minerals Under Your Land
Oil, Lignite, and Mineral Rights in Titus County
Titus County has a history of oil production and lignite coal deposits; if you buy land here, mineral rights may be owned separately from the surface.
Titus County · Rural Wastewater
Septic Systems in Titus County
Much of Titus County is rural with no sewer hookups, so many homes use septic systems regulated under state and local rules.
Titus County · Rural Water Supply
Water Wells and Groundwater in Titus County
Rural properties in Titus County often rely on private water wells, and the county sits over aquifers that have been studied by the Texas Water Development Board.
Titus County · Storms and Flooding
Weather Risks in Titus County
Titus County gets about 48 inches of rain a year and sits in a region where severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding are real seasonal risks.
Tom Green County · Mineral Rights
Buying Land Does Not Always Include the Mineral Rights
In Tom Green County, the person who sells you land may have already sold the oil and gas rights — a common situation in Texas oil country.
Tom Green County · Drought & Water
Drought Is a Long-Term Reality in Tom Green County
Tom Green County averages about 18 inches of rain per year and has experienced repeated droughts that affect water supply and well reliability.
Tom Green County · Oil & Gas Regulation
Oil and Gas Operations Are Regulated from San Angelo
The Railroad Commission of Texas office in San Angelo oversees all oil, gas, and pipeline activity in Tom Green County.
Tom Green County · Septic Systems
Rural Lots Outside City Limits Need a Septic Permit
If you build or add a home on rural land in Tom Green County, you need a permit for an on-site sewage facility before you can build.