Topic · Page 6
Home & Property
Local Notes
Home & Property notes
Henderson County · Rural development
A rural land split should start with Henderson County review
State law requires plats for many nonexempt divisions outside cities, while narrow exemptions depend on the exact tract and transaction.
Hidalgo County · Colonia Roads
Colonia Road and Drainage Work Has Its Own County Program History
Hidalgo County's Border Colonia Access Program page explains why colonia roads and drainage deserve extra due diligence.
Hidalgo County · Drainage Infrastructure
Drainage Districts Manage the County's Flood Channels
Hidalgo County's drainage districts are special government entities that operate and maintain the major canals and channels that keep floodwater moving.
Hidalgo County · Flooding
Flood Risk Is Relatively High in Hidalgo County
Federal data shows Hidalgo County carries a relatively high natural hazard risk, with flooding as a major concern.
Hidalgo County · Colonias
Hidalgo County Colonias Have a Self-Help Center Program
Hidalgo County's colonia self-help page names target colonias and lists housing and cleanup activities.
Hidalgo County · Windstorm Insurance
Hidalgo County Is Not in the State Windstorm Insurance Zone
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) does not cover Hidalgo County, so you must get windstorm coverage through a private insurer.
Hidalgo County · Irrigation
Irrigation Districts Deliver Water Across the County
A network of irrigation districts, some dating to the 1910s, delivers Rio Grande water to farms and communities throughout Hidalgo County.
Hidalgo County · Groundwater
Part of the County Has a Groundwater Conservation District
The Red Sands Groundwater Conservation District covers about 114 square miles in north-central Hidalgo County and regulates well drilling there.
Hidalgo County · Water Rights
Rio Grande Water Rights Are Managed by a State Watermaster
A state-appointed Rio Grande Watermaster controls who draws from the Rio Grande, including the many irrigation districts in Hidalgo County.
Hidalgo County · Land Records
Search Hidalgo County Land Records Through the Clerk
Hidalgo County land records are available through the county clerk's official records system.
Hidalgo County · Floodways
The Rio Grande Has a System of Engineered Floodways
A network of engineered floodways runs through the Lower Rio Grande Valley to carry overflow away from communities.
Hidalgo County · Record Alerts
Use Hidalgo County Clerk Records to Watch Property Filings
Hidalgo County Clerk records are available online, giving owners a practical place to watch for deeds, liens, and other recorded property documents.
Hill County · Flood Risk
FEMA released preliminary flood maps for Hill County in 2025 for public comment
In January 2025, FEMA invited Hill County property owners to review and appeal preliminary updated flood hazard maps before they take effect.
Hockley County · Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Production Has Shaped Hockley County Since the 1930s
Oil was discovered in Hockley County in 1937, and the county remains active oil country, so mineral rights, surface use agreements, and active wells can affect land you buy.
Hockley County · Groundwater
Water Wells in Hockley County Come from the Ogallala Aquifer
Most water in Hockley County is pumped from the Ogallala, a large but slowly depleting underground aquifer that feeds farms and rural homes across the High Plains.
Hood County · Flood Risk
Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Near the Brazos
A building-level FEMA map check can affect financing, insurance, and county floodplain review near Hood County waterways and Lake Granbury.
Hood County · Septic Permits
No City Sewer? Your Hood County Septic System Needs a Permit
Start a rural septic project with Hood County Environmental Health, then confirm that it is the authorized office for the address.
Hood County · Building Rules
Outside city limits, Hood County has no general house permit
A home outside city limits may not need a general county building permit. Septic, road, flood, and well rules still apply.
Hood County · Water Wells
Register the well first; the operating permit depends on the well
Upper Trinity requires registration before drilling, while an operating-permit exemption depends on the well and tract.
Hood County · Property Records
The clerk's index is a starting point, not a title search
The Hood County Clerk maintains recorded property instruments and a public index, but the office does not certify a complete lien or title search.
Hopkins County · Flood Hazard
A Hopkins flood check needs both the parcel and the road home
A FEMA parcel map answers one flood question, while the route and nearby low crossings answer another.
Hopkins County · Water Wells
A Hopkins well has no local groundwater-district desk
Hopkins County joins regional groundwater planning but currently sits outside a local groundwater conservation district.
Hopkins County · Land and Soil
Hopkins soil can change from wet alluvium to sandy upland
Official soil profiles near Sulphur Springs show why a broad prairie or post-oak label is not enough for one tract.
Howard County · Groundwater Rules
A Groundwater District Regulates Water Wells in Most of Howard County
Most of Howard County falls under the Permian Basin Underground Water Conservation District, which requires permits and spacing rules for new water wells.
Howard County · Flood Risk
Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Property in Howard County
Even in dry West Texas, low-lying areas near draws and creeks in Howard County can be in FEMA flood zones that affect insurance and building rules.
Howard County · Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Activity Is Common in Howard County, So Know Who Owns the Minerals
Howard County sits in the Permian Basin, where active oil and gas drilling is common, and mineral rights are often owned separately from the surface land.
Hudspeth County · Water Rights
A local district regulates groundwater pumping
The Hudspeth County Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 requires permits for most irrigation wells and tracks how much groundwater is pumped.
Hunt County · Mineral Rights
Check mineral rights even when Hunt County land looks like farm country
The Handbook lists gas, oil, and sand among Hunt County resources, and RRC records are the place to check well history.
Hunt County · Water Supply
Hunt County has a regional water supply plan on file
The Texas Water Development Board tracks water supply planning for Hunt County as part of the state's long-range water management system.
Hunt County · Private Wells
Private water wells follow state rules in Hunt County
Rural land in Hunt County may rely on a private well, and TWDB records put the county outside a local groundwater district.
Hunt County · OSSF / Septic
Septic systems outside city limits need a permit
A new or replaced septic system in rural Hunt County starts with the Health Department's OSSF permit process.
Hunt County · Flood Risk
The Sabine River and its forks flood parts of Hunt County
Most of Hunt County drains into the Sabine River basin, and bottomlands along those waterways carry flood risk that FEMA maps track.
Hutchinson County · Water Supply
Hutchinson County Draws Water from the Ogallala Aquifer
Hutchinson County sits in Ogallala country, and the Canadian River line helps decide which groundwater district you call about a well.
Hutchinson County · Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Are a Big Deal in Hutchinson County
In Hutchinson County, the land and the minerals under it may not come with the same deed. Check the title work before you assume oil and gas rights are included.
Irion County · Water Wells
A Local District Manages Groundwater in Irion County
If you plan to drill a water well in Irion County, you must deal with the Irion County Water Conservation District before you start.
Jack County · Mineral Rights
Bryson's Oil Strike Changed the Work, but Not the Population Slide
Oil found near Bryson in 1923 brought field work and Depression-era income, but it did not reverse Jack County's long rural population decline.
Jackson County · Windstorm Insurance
Jackson County is not in the TWIA windstorm insurance zone
Unlike its coastal neighbors, Jackson County is not covered by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, so you will need a standard private insurer for wind coverage.
Jasper County · Mineral rights
Oil and gas production has a long history in Jasper County
Jasper County has produced oil since 1928, so buyers of land here may encounter split estates where someone else owns the mineral rights beneath the surface.
Jeff Davis County · Water Wells
A local district regulates groundwater wells
Before you drill a well on rural land here, the county's own groundwater district may want a permit and a say in how it's built.
Jefferson County · Unincorporated Area Rules
Building Outside City Limits Requires a County Development Permit
Land outside any city's limits in Jefferson County is called unincorporated. You still need county permits to build there, and floodplain rules apply to much of the county.
Jefferson County · Windstorm Certificate
Buying a Coastal Home? Ask About the WPI-8 Certificate
Homes in Jefferson County built or modified after 1987 generally need a WPI-8 windstorm compliance certificate to qualify for TWIA coverage — missing one can block insurance or slow a sale.
Jefferson County · Septic and OSSF Rules
Jefferson County Environmental Control Issues Septic Permits
If your Jefferson County property cannot connect to city sewer, you need a permitted septic system, and in this county the permit comes from Jefferson County Environmental Control, not the city or the state.
Jefferson County · Air Quality
Jefferson County Meets Federal Ozone Standards, But Heavy Industry Is Present
The Beaumont-Port Arthur area meets the 2015 federal ozone standard. But the county has major petrochemical plants and refineries that TCEQ monitors.
Jefferson County · Coastal Windstorm Coverage
Jefferson County Requires Special Windstorm Insurance
Jefferson County is a first-tier coastal county. Standard home insurance often does not cover wind and hail here. You may need a separate policy through TWIA.
Jefferson County · Flood Risk
Much of Jefferson County Is in a Flood Zone
Jefferson County sits on the Gulf Coast with major rivers and marshes, and large portions fall inside FEMA-designated flood zones where lenders require flood insurance.
Jim Hogg County · Groundwater
Your Water Well Falls Under the Brush Country District
Jim Hogg County has no public water in rural areas, so most properties rely on private wells regulated by the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District.
Jim Wells County · Mineral Rights
A Jim Wells drilling map does not show mineral ownership
Surface and mineral ownership may be severed; deeds and leases answer that question, while the RRC map shows wells and permits.
Jim Wells County · Water Wells
Brush Country's well boundary uses Alice's 2009 city limits
The district covers mapped Jim Wells land outside Alice's January 1, 2009 limits and the older Kenedy County district boundary.
Jim Wells County · Flood Risk
Jim Wells County's effective flood maps date to August 2017
Map the building, not only the parcel: a secured structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area can trigger federal insurance rules.
Johnson County · Water & Wells
A Groundwater District Protects Johnson County's Water Supply
The Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District manages groundwater in Johnson County. If you plan to drill a well, you need to know the rules.
Johnson County · Agriculture
Farming and Ranching Are Still a Big Part of Johnson County
Johnson County has thousands of farms and ranches, and agriculture shapes land use, property tax rules, and road culture throughout the county.
Johnson County · Flooding & FEMA
Johnson County Flood Maps Were Updated in 2023
FEMA finalized new flood maps for Johnson County in 2023. If you are buying property near a creek or river, check the current map before you close.
Johnson County · Water Conservation
Johnson County Landowners Can Get Help Paying for Rainwater Harvesting
The Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District offers grants and rebates to help homeowners in Johnson County install rainwater harvesting systems.
Johnson County · Weather Hazards
Johnson County Sits in Tornado and Hail Country
Johnson County is in the heart of North Texas severe weather territory — tornadoes, large hail, and flash floods are real risks for anyone living here.
Johnson County · Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Under Your Land May Be Owned by Someone Else
In Texas the mineral rights under a property can be severed from the surface, and in Johnson County, which sits over the core of the Barnett Shale, that split is common and consequential.
Johnson County · Septic & Sewage
Outside City Limits? You Need a Permitted Septic System
Homes in unincorporated Johnson County that are not connected to a public sewer must have a permitted on-site sewage facility, and the county itself issues those septic permits.
Jones County · Mineral Rights
Oil, Gas, and Mineral Rights in Jones County
Jones County has a long oil and gas history, so if you are buying land here, find out whether mineral rights are included before you close.
Karnes County · Mineral Rights
Karnes County Sits in the Heart of the Eagle Ford Shale
Buy land here and the oil and gas a mile beneath your feet may already belong to someone else — the minerals were often sold off long before the surface.
Karnes County · Water Wells
New Water Wells in Karnes County Need District Approval
Karnes County is part of the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, which regulates well drilling and groundwater use.
Kaufman County · City Limits vs. ETJ
A Forney mailing address does not settle who reviews the land
ETJ land is outside city limits, and the current review path should be checked for the exact lot and project.