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Home & Property
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
Donley County · Groundwater
Water Wells in Donley County Require a Permit or Registration
Donley County sits inside the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, which regulates new water wells and requires permits before drilling.
Donley County · Wildfire Risk
Wildfire Is a Real Hazard for Donley County Landowners
The Texas Panhandle can see dangerous wildfire weather, and Donley County has had fires large enough to qualify for federal disaster grants.
Duval County · Water & Wells
Duval County Has Its Own Groundwater District
Duval's groundwater district registers every well and requires an operating permit before drilling a well that can pump more than 25,000 gallons a day.
Duval County · Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and Gas Activity Is Long-Standing in Duval County
Duval County has produced oil and gas since 1905, so mineral rights questions are common when buying land here.
Eastland County · Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and gas activity in Eastland County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
If you own or are buying land in Eastland County, mineral rights may be separate from surface rights, and the Texas Railroad Commission oversees any active wells.
Eastland County · Water & Wells
Private water wells in Eastland County are subject to state rules
For Eastland County land with a private well, the useful state records depend on when the well was drilled and where the tract actually sits.
Ector County · Mineral Rights
In Ector County, Mineral Rights and Surface Rights Are Often Separate
Buying land in Ector County does not always mean buying the oil and gas below it.
Ector County · Flooding
Playa Lakes Create Flood Risk in Ector County
Shallow seasonal lakes called playa lakes dot Ector County; properties near them are more likely to flood after heavy rain.
Ector County · Septic Systems
Septic Systems Outside Odessa Sewer Need an Ector County Permit
Outside Odessa's sewer lines, septic work runs through Ector County Health Department permits and inspections.
Ector County · Water Supply
Water Is Scarce in Ector County — Know Your Source Before You Buy
Ector County water planning is provider-by-provider: Odessa, Ector County Utility District, Greater Gardendale WSC, and smaller systems do not all work the same way.
Edwards County · Groundwater & Wells
Before You Drill a Well in Edwards County, Call the Groundwater District
In Edwards County, a new water well starts with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District before drilling begins.
El Paso County · Flood Risk
El Paso County Now Has Its First Complete Digital Flood Maps
FEMA released revised preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for El Paso County, the first complete set of digital flood maps the county has had.
El Paso County · Weather Hazards
El Paso Faces Frequent Drought and Intense Summer Heat
El Paso County is one of the hottest and driest parts of Texas, with drought conditions present in most years and summer temperatures regularly above 100 degrees.
El Paso County · Water Conservation
El Paso Has Water Restrictions — Outdoor Watering Is Regulated
El Paso Water limits when and how much you can water outdoors, and those limits get stricter when drought conditions worsen.
El Paso County · Water Supply
El Paso's Water Comes from the Rio Grande and Two Underground Basins
El Paso Water serves hundreds of thousands of people using water from the Rio Grande and two large underground basins.
El Paso County · Unincorporated County
Living Outside City Limits in El Paso County Means No Zoning
If your property is in unincorporated El Paso County, outside any city, there are no county zoning rules and the county cannot issue building permits.
Ellis County · 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.
Ellis County · Weather Hazards
Ellis County sits in a hail-prone corridor of North Texas
Ellis County residents should treat hail as a real roof-and-car risk, especially during North Texas storm season.
Ellis County · Soil and Land
Ellis County sits on Blackland Prairie — clay-rich soil that swells and shrinks
The heavy clay soils of the Blackland Prairie that cover Ellis County expand when wet and shrink when dry, which can damage foundations and pipes.
Ellis County · 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.
Erath County · Flood Risk
The Paluxy and Bosque Rivers Can Flood Low-Lying Land
Land near the Paluxy and Bosque rivers in Erath County may sit in a FEMA flood zone, which affects insurance costs and building rules.
Falls County · Flood Risk
The Brazos River floods parts of Falls County
Property near the Brazos River in Falls County can sit in a high-risk flood zone, which affects insurance costs and mortgage requirements.
Fannin County · Flood Risk
Check the Flood Zone and the Road to a Fannin Property
FEMA maps show the mapped flood zone at an address, while Texas flood maps add useful context around the parcel and its route to town.
Fannin County · Weather Hazard
Fannin's Tornado Record Is Worth Reading Before Storm Season
The National Weather Service keeps a county-level tornado history for Fannin, while the county's CodeRED system sends warnings to registered phones.
Fayette County · Groundwater & Wells
Fayette County has its own groundwater district — it regulates wells
If you plan to drill a water well in Fayette County, you must work with the Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District. It sets the rules on permits and water use.
Fisher County · Agriculture
Cotton and Ranching Still Drive Fisher County's Agriculture
Fisher County has deep roots in cattle ranching and cotton farming, and agricultural land use affects how property is taxed and what restrictions may apply.
Floyd County · Water Supply
Your well water comes from a shrinking aquifer
Floyd County sits over the Ogallala Aquifer, a large but declining underground water source that supplies most wells and irrigation in the area.
Foard County · Water Supply
Foard County Is Served by the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District
Foard County is served by the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District, headquartered in Quanah, and the county falls within Groundwater Management Area 6.
Foard County · Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Have a Long History in Foard County
Foard County has produced oil since the 1920s, so buyers should ask about mineral rights and check Railroad Commission records before purchasing land.
Foard County · Weather Hazard
Tornadoes Are a Real Risk in Foard County
Foard County has a documented tornado history going back over a century, including deadly storms and a recent strong tornado in 2022.
Fort Bend County · Access
Driveways and culverts on county right-of-way need review
Fort Bend County posts right-of-way, driveway, and culvert permit materials through Engineering.
Fort Bend County · Floodplain
Flood-prone work needs Fort Bend permit review
Fort Bend County says development in floodplain or flood-prone areas requires a development permit.
Fort Bend County · 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.
Fort Bend County · Neighborhoods
Fort Bend County has many large master-planned communities
Large planned communities like Greatwood, Sienna Plantation, and Sugar Creek are common in Fort Bend County and usually come with HOAs and MUD taxes.
Fort Bend County · Subsidence Risk
Land sinking from groundwater pumping made flooding worse in parts of Fort Bend County
Decades of heavy groundwater pumping caused parts of the Houston-Fort Bend area to sink, increasing flood risk.
Fort Bend County · Levees
Levee districts are part of Fort Bend flood protection
Fort Bend County's drainage materials include leveed-area criteria and levee improvement district resources.
Fort Bend County · Mineral Rights
Mineral rights can be owned separately from the land in Fort Bend County
In Texas, the owner of oil and gas beneath a property may be a different person from the owner of the land surface.
Fort Bend County · 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.
Fort Bend County · Drainage
New development gets Drainage District review
The Fort Bend County Drainage District reviews drainage reports, plans, and plats for new developments.
Fort Bend County · River Flooding
The Brazos River is the main flood threat in Fort Bend County
The Brazos River runs diagonally through the county and can flood widely after heavy rain, especially in low-lying areas near the river.
Fort Bend County · Development
Unincorporated Fort Bend projects may need a development permit
Fort Bend County Engineering issues development permits for unincorporated areas of the county.
Freestone County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas have shaped Freestone County since 1916
Freestone County has active oil and gas production, so when you buy land here, check whether the mineral rights are included or have already been severed.
Frio County · Water Wells
Frio County Has a Groundwater District That Regulates Wells
The Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District covers all of Frio County and requires permits or registration for most new water wells.
Gaines County · Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and gas production is a big part of life in Gaines County
Gaines County has active oil and gas production, so buyers of land here should know that mineral rights may be owned separately from the surface.
Gaines County · Groundwater & Wells
Water wells in Gaines County draw from the Ogallala Aquifer
Rural wells in Gaines County usually mean the Ogallala, plus tract questions for the water district and well driller.
Galveston County · Water Supply
Most of Galveston County Uses Public Water, Not Private Wells
Galveston Island and most developed areas use treated public water. Private wells are limited and often poor quality because of saltwater in the ground.
Galveston County · Flood Risk
Much of Galveston County Is in a High-Risk Flood Zone
A- and V-family zones mark the highest mapped flood risk, but the insurance rule follows the building, its loan, and the effective map.
Galveston County · Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Galveston County Need an OSSF Permit
TCEQ treats septic systems as OSSFs. Its 2024 report lists Galveston County Health District as the OSSF authorized agent for Galveston County.
Galveston County · Windstorm Insurance
TWIA Is the Coastal Windstorm Backstop in Galveston County
If private insurers will not write wind and hail coverage for a Galveston County home, TWIA may be a fallback. The home still has to meet TWIA rules.
Galveston County · Coastal Building Code
Windstorm Certification Protects TWIA Eligibility
A roof, window, addition, or repair can affect TWIA eligibility if the work misses the coastal inspection and certificate process.
Garza County · Water / Wells
Groundwater and water wells in Garza County
Garza County has its own Underground Water Conservation District that oversees well drilling and groundwater use in this dry West Texas region.
Garza County · Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas
Oil and gas activity in Garza County — what landowners should know
Garza County has had active oil production since 1926, so many properties here come with split mineral rights — meaning someone else may own what's underground.
Gillespie County · Water Wells
Groundwater in Gillespie County Is Managed by a Local District
If you drill a water well in Gillespie County, you must deal with the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District.
Gillespie County · Weather Hazards
Wildfire and Flash Floods Are Real Hazards in Gillespie County
Dry conditions and steep terrain make Gillespie County prone to both wildfires and sudden flash flooding.
Glasscock County · Mineral Rights & Oil Wells
Oil and gas wells are common here — you can look them up before you buy
Glasscock County sits in an active oil-producing area; the Railroad Commission has a free online map to see wells near any property.
Glasscock County · Groundwater Rules
You need a permit before drilling a water well in Glasscock County
The Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District requires a permit for any new well drilled in the county.
Goliad County · Water Wells
A groundwater district oversees water wells in Goliad County
If you plan to drill a water well on rural property here, the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District has rules you need to follow.
Goliad County · Mineral Rights
Oil and gas production has a long history in Goliad County
Goliad County has active oil and gas production, so if you buy land here, mineral rights are worth asking about.
Gonzales County · Water Wells
A Groundwater District Oversees Water Wells in Gonzales County
If you plan to drill a water well or buy rural land in Gonzales County, a local groundwater district has rules you need to know first.
Gonzales County · Flood Risk
The Guadalupe River Floods Hard in Gonzales County
The Guadalupe River runs through the county and can flood far beyond its banks — check FEMA maps before buying land near the river.