Topic
Rules & Licenses
Texas has its share of paperwork — permits, licenses, septic and well rules, burn bans, and the things that trip people up in unincorporated areas. Here is help with the official stuff and where to confirm it.
Local Notes
Rules & Licenses notes
Anderson County · Assumed names
An Anderson County DBA Needs a Notary Before It Gets Recorded
A DBA is just a name, not a business license, and in Anderson County a sole proprietor records it at the courthouse for $23, signed in front of a notary, while an LLC files the same thing with the Secretary of State instead.
Anderson County · Weather hazards
Anderson County Gets Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
East Texas sees tornadoes, large hail, and strong straight-line winds each spring. The National Weather Service has tracked tornadoes in Anderson County going back to 1880.
Anderson County · Outdoor burning
Call the Sheriff Before You Burn Brush in Anderson County
A call can check the county burn ban, but a lifted ban does not by itself make an outdoor fire legal.
Anderson County · Marriage license
Plan Three Days Ahead for an Anderson County Marriage License
At the Anderson County Courthouse you book a marriage-license appointment, both of you show up with ID, and Texas law adds a 72-hour wait before you can actually marry, so a same-day courthouse wedding isn't a thing here.
Andrews County · Fire / Burn rules
Check Andrews County before you burn outside
Outside Andrews city limits, the county burn-ban page is only the first check. State rules and weather still matter.
Angelina County · Hunting / Licenses
Public hunting is available on national forest land in and near Angelina County
Hunters can use public land in the Angelina National Forest and at nearby Bannister WMA, but you need a valid Texas hunting license and usually a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit.
Angelina County · Wildfire / Burn ban
Wildfire and burn bans are a real seasonal risk in Angelina County
Pine forest, dry spells, and high winds make outdoor burning dangerous in Angelina County. The county can issue a burn ban when conditions call for it.
Aransas County · Short-term rentals
Short-Term Rental Registration in Rockport and Port Aransas
Rockport and Port Aransas both require short-term rental owners to register with the city and collect local taxes. This applies even if you list on a third-party platform.
Archer County · Hunting / TPWD
Hunting seasons and rules for Archer County
Archer County is in the North Zone for deer and turkey hunting. Hunters need to know the bag limits and antler rules before they go out.
Armstrong County · Emergency / Weather
Wildfire and Severe Storms Are the Main Weather Risks in Armstrong County
Armstrong County has serious risk from fast-moving grass fires and severe storms, including tornadoes. These are common hazards across the Texas Panhandle.
Atascosa County · Agriculture / Law
Texas Right to Farm law protects agricultural operations near new neighbors
Texas law protects farms, ranches, and feedlots from nuisance lawsuits when new residential development moves in nearby; Atascosa County's agricultural character makes this law relevant.
Austin County · Septic / Water
Rural Austin County septic systems run through county OSSF permits
Outside sewer service, Austin County septic work usually starts with the county OSSF permit process and the state septic rules.
Bailey County · Agriculture / Property tax
Ag Valuation Can Change a Bailey County Tax Bill
Texas lets qualifying farm and ranch land be taxed on its productive value instead of its market value. That can matter a lot on working Bailey County acreage.
Bastrop County · Short-term rental
City of Bastrop Requires Registration for Short-Term Rentals
Since April 2025, the City of Bastrop requires all Airbnb- and VRBO-style rentals to register with the city and pay hotel occupancy tax.
Bastrop County · Endangered species
The Houston Toad: Bastrop County Is a Core Stronghold
The federally endangered Houston toad lives mainly in Bastrop County's sandy soils and Lost Pines forest. Landowners should know what that means for their land.
Baylor County · Emergency / Weather hazards
Severe weather in Baylor County: tornadoes, hail, and extreme heat
Baylor County is in an active tornado and severe thunderstorm corridor. It has had 29 recorded tornadoes since 1950, including an EF3 near Seymour in April 2025. Large hail and extreme summer heat are also real hazards.
Bell County · Fire / Burn ban
Burn bans and outdoor burning rules in unincorporated Bell County
Bell County burn-ban status can change with weather. For unincorporated-area burning, check the county Fire Marshal page and use the burn line.
Bell County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules in Bell County
Bell County has different deer bag limits and antler restrictions depending on whether your land is east or west of Interstate 35.
Bell County · Agriculture / Law
Texas Right to Farm law protects agricultural operations in Bell County
Texas law limits nuisance lawsuits against farms that have been running for a year or more. This matters in Bell County, where suburbs and farmland sit side by side.
Bell County · Food Permit
Who issues your food permit depends on where you are in Bell County
Bell County retail food permits split at city lines: Killeen and Harker Heights issue their own, while the county health district covers the rest.
Bexar County · Alcohol Permit
Alcohol Permit Holders May Owe a Bexar County Fee
The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector is a TABC authorized agent and collects local county liquor permit fees from some permit holders.
Bexar County · Outdoor burning
Burn bans apply to unincorporated Bexar County during dry weather
Outdoor-burning rules cover unincorporated Bexar County. A local burn ban can make those rules tighter during dry weather.
Bexar County · Business Filing
DBAs Are Filed With the Bexar County Clerk
Bexar County assumed business name certificates are filed through the County Clerk's Assumed Name/DBA office.
Bexar County · Hunting / Fishing
Hunting and fishing licenses in Bexar County
Anyone hunting or fishing in Texas outside a state park boundary needs a valid Texas license from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Bexar County · Event Permit
Large Bexar County Events May Need a Mass Gathering Permit
Bexar County requires mass gathering permit applications to be filed with the County Judge at least 45 days before qualifying events.
Bexar County · Agriculture / Nuisance law
Look past the fence before buying beside a working farm
A rural-edge visit should include the neighboring land use, because Texas law can protect an established agricultural operation from later efforts to restrain it.
Bexar County · Fireworks Permit
Retail Fireworks Sites Need Bexar County Fire Marshal Review
Bexar County has a Fire Marshal application for retail fireworks sites and a fire-code fee schedule.
Bexar County · Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals inside San Antonio city limits need a permit
If you rent your home short-term inside San Antonio city limits, a permit is required; properties outside city limits in Bexar County do not need a city permit but still must collect hotel occupancy tax.
Bexar County · Agriculture / Land use
Texas right-to-farm law changes what neighbors can challenge
Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 251 can limit lawsuits meant to stop a lawful agricultural operation that has stayed substantially unchanged for at least a year.
Bowie County · Hunting / Licenses
Bowie County has an open spring turkey season and specific deer antler rules
Hunters in Bowie County must follow county-specific antler restrictions for white-tailed deer and a turkey season that only applies north of US 82.
Brazoria County · Food Permit
Food Businesses Need a Brazoria County Permit Before Opening
A restaurant, food trailer, or mobile unit in Brazoria County needs a county retail food permit before it can open, and that permit does not transfer with a sale.
Brazoria County · Livestock / Fencing
For Brazoria County Livestock Fences, Check the Local Stock Law
Texas stock-law rules can vary by county, precinct, road, and animal type, so Brazoria County landowners should verify the local record before assuming who must fence livestock in or out.
Brazoria County · Game Rooms
Game Rooms in Unincorporated Areas Go Through the Sheriff's Office
In unincorporated Brazoria County, the Sheriff's Office runs game room permitting, with a $500 application fee and an inspection process you must finish on a clock.
Brazoria County · Emergency services
In Unincorporated Brazoria County, Emergency Services Are Provided by Local ESDs
Outside city limits in Brazoria County, fire and emergency medical services are typically delivered by Emergency Services Districts funded through a separate property tax.
Brazoria County · Driveway Permit
New or Changed Driveways Need a County Culvert Permit
Cutting a new driveway off a Brazoria County road, or changing an existing one, requires a county driveway and culvert permit.
Brazos County · Food permits
Brazos County food businesses work with the Health District
Restaurants, stores, bars, and temporary food vendors in Brazos County permit through the county Health District.
Brazos County · Marriage license
Brazos County marriage licenses are a county clerk service
The Brazos County Clerk issues marriage licenses at the courthouse in Bryan, and Texas builds in a 72-hour wait before you can marry.
Brazos County · Wildfire / Burn ban
Burn bans and outdoor burning rules in Brazos County
The Brazos County Commissioners Court can issue burn bans during dry or high-fire-danger periods, and violating a ban can result in a misdemeanor charge.
Brazos County · DBA filing
File an assumed name certificate with the Brazos County Clerk
A sole proprietor or partnership doing business under a different name in Brazos County files a DBA with the County Clerk.
Brazos County · Hunting / Fishing
Hunting and fishing licenses for Brazos County
Anyone hunting or fishing in public waters in Brazos County needs a current Texas license from TPWD, and Brazos County has specific deer bag and antler restrictions.
Brazos County · Short-term rentals
Short-term rental rules in College Station
College Station requires an annual permit and monthly hotel occupancy tax filing for any home rented for fewer than 30 days at a time.
Brewster County · Ag / Wildlife tax valuation
Ranch land in Brewster County can qualify for ag tax rates through wildlife management
Texas lets some landowners keep open-space appraisal by managing land for native wildlife instead of livestock or crops.
Briscoe County · Wildfire / Fire safety
Wildfire Risk and Burn Bans in Briscoe County
Dry Panhandle wind and cured grass can make fire move fast in Briscoe County. Burn bans are current-condition rules, so check the county or Texas A&M Forest Service before outdoor burning.
Brooks County · Emergency / Weather hazards
Heat, Drought, and Wildfire: Brooks County's Main Weather Risks
Brooks County faces real risks from extreme heat, long droughts, and rangeland wildfire. Dry months cure the brush and make fire spread fast.
Brown County · Hunting
Deer and Turkey Hunting Rules in Brown County
Brown County hunters can take up to five deer per season with an antler restriction on bucks, and turkey hunting follows North Zone rules.
Burnet County · Invasive Species
Five Highland Lakes near Burnet County are fully infested
Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, and Travis carry TPWD's fully infested label, so moving a boat also means moving carefully.
Burnet County · Land Use / Water Quality
LCRA watershed review can begin below the permit threshold
Covered development in Burnet County's Colorado River watershed requires notice; larger paved area or land disturbance generally requires a permit.
Cameron County · OSSF / Septic
Buying Rural Land? Check If the Septic System Is Permitted
Texas requires a permit for any septic system, so if a rural property's system was never permitted, the new owner may face costs to bring it into compliance.
Cameron County · DBA
Filing a DBA in Cameron County Ends at the County Clerk's Counter
If your Cameron County business runs under a name other than your own, you file the assumed name (DBA) with the County Clerk after completing the online application.
Cameron County · Marriage
Marriage Licenses and Records Run Through the Cameron County Clerk
The Cameron County Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps certified copies of marriage and informal-marriage records going back to 1848.
Cameron County · Food Permit
Opening a Restaurant or Food Truck in Cameron County Means a Health Review
Restaurants and mobile food units in Cameron County go through the county's Environmental Health program before they can open.
Carson County · Oil & Gas / Mineral Rights
Carson County's 1921 Oil Discovery Still Matters in a Land Deal
Oil was struck on the 6666 Ranch in 1921, and Railroad Commission records make mineral ownership worth checking before a Carson County land purchase.
Clay County · Hunting / TPWD
Deer and turkey hunting rules for Clay County
Clay County falls under North Zone rules for deer and turkey, with specific bag limits and antler restrictions hunters must know before heading out.
Collin County · Emergency Preparedness
Collin County plans for weather before the sirens
Collin County's hazard-planning work and alert tools are the quiet side of storm season.
Collin County · Marriage License
Complete a Collin County Marriage License in Person
Collin County lets couples apply online, but both people must appear together at the County Clerk's office to finish the license.
Collin County · ETJ Platting
ETJ Land With Septic Still Needs County OSSF Review
A tract in a city's ETJ may go through city platting, but Collin County still reviews OSSF suitability when septic service is planned.
Collin County · Floodplain Review
Floodplain Building Requires County Engineering Review
Collin County floodplain rules require Engineering review and approval for development and new construction in any FEMA-designated floodplain.
Collin County · Food Permits
Food Permits Depend on Where You Operate
Collin County permits food service in unincorporated areas and several smaller cities, while other cities handle their own permits.
Collin County · Driveway Permits
New Driveways Onto County Roads Need a Culvert Permit
Collin County roadway standards require a culvert or driveway permit for residential and commercial driveways connecting to county roadways.
Collin County · Outdoor Burning
Outdoor Burning Rules Are Narrow in Unincorporated Collin County
A legal brush burn has to fit TCEQ exceptions, Collin County rules, and the current burn-ban status.