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Local Notes

Home & Property notes

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Collin County · Illegal Dumping

Report Illegal Dumping on Collin County Roads and Land

Collin County Public Works asks residents to report illegal dumping because dumped trash can create health, safety, and water-quality hazards.

Collin County · Land Use

Unincorporated Collin County Has Almost No Zoning Rules

Collin County does not zone most unincorporated land. But you still need permits to build, and city rules can apply if you are near a city limit.

Collingsworth County · Water Wells

A Groundwater District Regulates Water Wells Here

If you plan to drill a water well in Collingsworth County, you must work with the Mesquite Groundwater Conservation District first.

Collingsworth County · Weather Hazards

Severe Weather Is a Real Risk in Collingsworth County

Collingsworth County faces tornadoes, large hail, high winds, wildfires, and winter storms — the National Weather Service Amarillo covers this area.

Colorado County · Water & Wells

Colorado County Has Its Own Groundwater District

The Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District sets rules for water wells in the county. If you use a private well or plan to drill one, these rules apply to you.

Colorado County · Flood Risk

The Colorado River Runs Through the County — Flooding Is Real

The Colorado River cuts through Colorado County. Low-lying land near it and other waterways can flood.

Comal County · Groundwater & Wells

A Groundwater District Regulates Wells in Comal County

A Trinity Aquifer well needs district authorization before drilling or alteration, even when its later use is exempt from production fees.

Comal County · Edwards Aquifer

Building Near the Edwards Aquifer Has Extra Rules

Regulated work over the Edwards recharge, transition, or contributing zones needs TCEQ review before soil is disturbed.

Comal County · Flood Control & Water Supply

Canyon Lake Has a Working Waterline at 909 Feet

The 909-foot line separates GBRA's stored-water pool from the Corps-managed flood space above it.

Comal County · Jurisdiction & Land Use

City Limits, ETJ, and Unincorporated Comal County Are Not the Same

A New Braunfels address can still mean different rules depending on whether land is inside city limits, in the ETJ, or farther out in unincorporated Comal County.

Comal County · Flood Risk

The Guadalupe River Can Rise Fast — Know Your Flood Zone

FEMA maps identify Special Flood Hazard Areas, but a mapped line is only one part of a property's flood story.

Comal County · Septic Systems

You Need a Permit for a Septic System in Comal County

A site and soil evaluation comes before Comal County approves a new or altered on-site sewage system.

Comanche County · Groundwater

New Water Wells Require Registration with the Middle Trinity GCD

If you plan to drill a water well in Comanche County, you must register it with the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.

Concho County · Water Wells

Groundwater Districts and Well Rules in Concho County

Concho County groundwater is split by district boundaries, so the first well question is which local water district, if any, covers the tract.

Concho County · Mineral Rights

Oil and Gas Activity in Concho County

Concho County has active oil and gas production. The Texas Railroad Commission's District 7C office in San Angelo oversees it.

Cooke County · Groundwater & Wells

A groundwater district regulates water wells in Cooke County

Cooke County falls inside a local groundwater district, so rural well plans should start with district rules.

Cooke County · School Districts

Cooke County has eight school districts — your address determines yours

Eight separate school districts operate in Cooke County, each with its own tax rate, so the ISD for your specific address can meaningfully affect your property tax bill.

Cooke County · Flooding & Weather Hazards

Cooke County has experienced federally declared flooding disasters

FEMA has designated Cooke County for disaster assistance after severe storms and flooding, including a 2024 event with straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flood damage.

Cooke County · Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas

Oil and gas production has been part of Cooke County since the 1920s

Cooke County has had active oil and gas production since 1924, so mineral rights on any land purchase deserve careful attention.

Coryell County · County development

Cutting a New Driveway off a Coryell County Road? You Need a Culvert Permit

County-road driveways, mailboxes, utility trenches, fence clearing, and subdivisions run through Development and Permitting.

Coryell County · Military Presence

Fort Hood Drives the Local Economy

The large Army post on the county's edge is a major source of jobs, housing demand, and population in the area.

Coryell County · Floodplain permits

Near a Coryell County Creek? The Floodplain Administrator Gets a Say

Floodplain questions and development-permit forms run through the Coryell County Floodplain Administrator.

Coryell County · Septic permits

Septic Work in Rural Coryell County Is a Permit, Not a Handshake

Septic construction, repair, alteration, or extension in Coryell County needs an OSSF permit and inspection unless the system is grandfathered.

Coryell County · Subdivision rules

Splitting Off a Homesite in Coryell County Can Trigger a Plat

A family land split can still trigger Coryell County's 2021 subdivision rules before the deed is recorded.

Cottle County · Water Supply

Many Rural Properties in Cottle County Rely on Water Wells

Rural Cottle County buyers should check the well record and the groundwater district before treating water as a given.

Crane County · Climate & Water Supply

Crane County gets about 13 inches of rain a year — water is scarce

With roughly 13 inches of annual rainfall and high summer heat, Crane County is one of the drier parts of Texas — water supply and drought planning matter for any property here.

Crane County · Water / Groundwater

Crane County has no local groundwater conservation district

Crane County is in Groundwater Management Area 3, but TWDB does not list a Crane County groundwater conservation district, so private-well due diligence matters.

Crockett County · Water Wells

Groundwater in Crockett County Is Managed and Permit-Required

Crockett County has its own groundwater district, and if you drill a well you will need to deal with it.

Crockett County · Mineral Rights

Oil and Gas Has Shaped Crockett County for Decades

If you buy land in Crockett County, find out whether mineral rights are included — they may have already been sold off.

Crosby County · Groundwater / Wells

Drilling a Water Well Requires a Permit Here

Crosby County sits within the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, which requires permits before drilling new wells.

Culberson County · Water Wells

Drilling a water well in Culberson County requires a permit

The Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District regulates new wells, so you need to contact them before drilling.

Culberson County · Mineral Rights

Oil and gas activity exists in Culberson County — know your mineral rights

Culberson County has active oil and gas wells regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, so buyers should check whether mineral rights transfer with land.

Dallam County · Groundwater

Water Wells and the Ogallala Aquifer in Dallam County

Nearly all water in Dallam County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is managed by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District.

Dallam County · Wildfire Hazard

Wildfire Risk in Dallam County

Dallam County's wildfire risk comes from a High Plains mix: dry grass, low humidity, and wind that can move fire fast.

Dallas County · Floodplain Development

Building Near a Creek in the County Needs a Permit

In unincorporated Dallas County, any construction inside a mapped floodplain requires a county floodplain development permit.

Dallas County · Flood Zone / FEMA

Check FEMA's Flood Map Before You Buy

FEMA maps show which Dallas County properties sit in a flood hazard zone, which affects insurance costs and mortgage requirements.

Dallas County · Groundwater

Dallas County Sits Over the Trinity Aquifer

The Trinity Aquifer runs under Dallas County and much of North Texas, but most county residents rely on surface water, not wells.

Dallas County · Flood Insurance

Flood Insurance Is Separate from Your Homeowner's Policy

Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Dallas County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Dallas County · Septic / OSSF

Rural Dallas County Homes May Use On-Site Septic Systems

Properties in unincorporated Dallas County that lack city sewer service may use on-site sewage facilities regulated by the county under TCEQ rules.

Dallas County · Water Authority

The Trinity River Authority Manages Water Across the Basin

The Trinity River Authority of Texas provides water treatment, flood planning, and basin coordination for municipalities including those in Dallas County.

Dallas County · Severe Weather

Tornadoes Are a Real Hazard in Dallas County

Dallas County sits in tornado-prone North Texas, and the National Weather Service tracks more than 140 years of tornado records for the county.

Dallas County · Unincorporated Area / ETJ

Unincorporated Dallas County Has Its Own Rules

Small patches of Dallas County lie outside any city, and building or developing there requires a county permit instead of a city permit.

Dawson County · Oil, Gas & Mineral Rights

Oil and gas have shaped Dawson County for nearly a century

Dawson County has a long oil production history, and landowners here should understand that surface rights and mineral rights are often owned separately.

Dawson County · Groundwater / Water Wells

You need a permit before drilling a water well in Dawson County

The Mesa Underground Water Conservation District oversees the Ogallala Aquifer in Dawson County and requires a permit to drill a new well.

Deaf Smith County · Water & Wells

All water wells in Deaf Smith County tap the Ogallala Aquifer

Every drop of fresh groundwater under most of the county comes from the Ogallala, and a conservation district decides who gets to drill into it and how much they can pull.

Denton County · Development Permit

Building in unincorporated Denton County starts with a development permit

Unincorporated Denton County land needs a development permit for improvements, site work, and floodplain work.

Denton County · Construction Permits

Commercial and multifamily projects also need Fire Marshal review

In unincorporated Denton County, commercial buildings, public-access buildings, and multifamily housing of four or more units need a Fire Marshal construction permit on top of the development permit.

Denton County · Flood Hazard

Denton County has active FEMA flood maps that affect insurance and building

FEMA released preliminary flood maps for Denton County in June 2026, affecting areas along the Elm Fork Trinity River and its tributaries.

Denton County · Weather Hazard

Denton County sits in an active tornado corridor in North Texas

The National Weather Service tracks tornadoes in Denton County going back to 1880, and the county lies in an area where spring severe weather is a regular concern.

Denton County · Water Supply

Denton County's water supply planning is overseen by the state

The Texas Water Development Board coordinates regional water supply planning for Denton County as part of Region C, which covers the upper Trinity River Basin.

Denton County · City vs. County Rules

Many Denton County addresses are inside a city's planning zone, not the city itself

Texas cities have an extraterritorial jurisdiction (a buffer zone outside city limits) where they can regulate subdivisions and plats even if you pay county taxes.

Denton County · Groundwater Rules

Parts of Denton County fall under the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District

If your property uses a private well in parts of Denton County, groundwater conservation district rules may apply to drilling and use.

Denton County · Emergency Alerts

Sign up for NWS Fort Worth alerts to get weather warnings for Denton County

The National Weather Service Fort Worth office issues tornado, severe thunderstorm, and winter storm warnings for Denton County — sign up for alerts before storm season.

Denton County · Subdivision Plats

Splitting land in Denton County usually means a plat process

Dividing land in unincorporated Denton County typically requires a preliminary plat, engineering review, Commissioners Court approval, and a recorded final plat.

Denton County · Property Records

The Denton County Clerk records deeds and offers a property alert

The Denton County Clerk keeps the county's real property records and offers a property-alert tool that flags new recordings tied to your name or property.

Denton County · Septic Systems

Unincorporated Denton County homes without city sewer need a septic permit

Installing, repairing, or changing a septic system outside city limits in Denton County requires a permit from the county Environmental Health Division.

DeWitt County · Water Supply

Many Rural Properties in DeWitt County Rely on Private Water Wells

Outside city limits in DeWitt County, many homes draw water from private wells tapping the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers — and the county sits inside the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District, which regulates wells locally.

DeWitt County · Flood Risk

The Guadalupe River Brings Flood Risk to Parts of DeWitt County

The Guadalupe River runs through DeWitt County and has a history of flooding — check the official FEMA flood map before buying or building near it.

Dickens County · Water Wells

Dickens County Has No Groundwater Conservation District

Dickens County does not appear in TWDB's current groundwater conservation district list, so rural water homework starts with the tract, the old wells, and the geology under it.

Dimmit County · Water & Wells

A Groundwater District Regulates Wells in Dimmit County

If you drill a water well in Dimmit County, the Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation District has rules you must follow.