Topic · Page 4
Rules & Licenses
Local Notes
Rules & Licenses notes
Hood County · Outdoor Burning
Burning Brush in Hood County Means a Form, Not Permission
Hood County's form only notifies the Fire Marshal; the burn must still fit a TCEQ exception and every condition that comes with it.
Hood County · DBA / Assumed Name
Filing a DBA in Hood County: One Form, Ten Years, Two Places to Sign
Sole owners and partnerships often file a DBA with the county. An LLC or corporation files with the state.
Hood County · Building Permits
Granbury Building Work Runs Through OpenGov
Inside Granbury, permits, uploads, inspections, and contractor registration run through the city inspection process.
Hood County · Road Access
That New Driveway Off a Hood County Road Needs a Culvert Permit
Road Operations has to approve the culvert type, size, and placement before a driveway crosses county right of way.
Hood County · Marriage License
The Hood County marriage license has its own calendar
An approved marriage course can reduce the current local fee, while state law controls the waiting period and its exceptions.
Hood County · Elections
Voting by Mail in Hood County Resets Every January
Age and qualifying sickness or physical condition can support an annual request; absence and jail eligibility apply to the election involved.
Hunt County · Burn Ban
Outdoor burning can be banned during dry conditions
During dry spells, Hunt County can restrict outdoor burning and points residents to local burn-ban information.
Hunt County · Weather Hazards
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are real risks here
Hunt County sits in North Texas, a region with a history of severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes, particularly in spring.
Irion County · Oil & Gas
Oil and Gas Activity in Irion County Is Regulated from San Angelo
Irion County falls under Railroad Commission District 7C, based in San Angelo, which oversees all oil and gas well activity in the county.
Jefferson County · Short-Term Rental Rules
Beaumont Requires a Permit to Run an Airbnb-Style Rental
In the City of Beaumont, renting a home for fewer than 30 days requires an annual STR permit and a hotel occupancy tax certificate. Advertising without one can bring a fine.
Jefferson County · Game Room Permit
Eight-Liner Game Rooms Outside Jefferson County's Cities Need a Permit
Jefferson County's 2025 game room rules require a county permit for any place with six or more amusement-redemption machines in unincorporated areas, with stiff penalties for running one without it.
Jefferson County · Oil and Gas Regulation
The Railroad Commission Regulates Oil and Gas Wells, Not Royalties
The Texas Railroad Commission permits and oversees oil and gas wells in Jefferson County, but it has no authority over lease terms or royalty payments — those are handled through courts.
Jim Wells County · Weather Hazards
Jim Wells storm planning starts inland, not at the TWIA counter
NWS Corpus Christi covers the county, while Jim Wells sits outside TWIA's coastal area and needs its own wind, hail, and flood coverage check.
Johnson County · City Limits
Burleson Sits in Both Johnson and Tarrant Counties
The city of Burleson straddles the Johnson-Tarrant county line, which means your address in Burleson may be in a different county than your neighbor's.
Johnson County · City Limits & ETJ
Living Near Cleburne? The City's ETJ Reaches 2 Miles Out
Cleburne has an extraterritorial jurisdiction, a 2-mile buffer outside city limits where the city can regulate how land is divided but does not provide full city services.
Johnson County · Wildlife Resources
TPWD Has a Wildlife Biologist Assigned to Johnson County
Texas Parks and Wildlife assigns a regional wildlife biologist to assist landowners in Johnson County with habitat management and wildlife questions.
Kaufman County · Water Wells
Check the latest groundwater map before drilling in Kaufman County
TWDB listed Kaufman County without a groundwater district in 2021, but current boundaries and state well rules still need checking.
Kaufman County · Livestock & Fencing
Kaufman County stock-law answers may live in old election records
Texas allows local stock-law elections, so the rule for loose livestock can depend on the exact area and the county clerk's records.
Kendall County · Burn Bans
Check Kendall burn-ban status before you burn
Kendall County's burn-ban page and Alert Center are the places to check because fire rules can change with drought and wind.
Kenedy County · Zoning and Land Use
Kenedy County Land Runs Through County Rules
Kenedy County is centered on Sarita and a small set of county, school, groundwater, and emergency-service taxing units, so land questions usually start with county and state rules.
Kerr County · Building Permits
Building Permits Inside the Kerrville City Limits
Inside Kerrville almost any real construction needs a city permit, and the permit should be pulled in the name of whoever does the work, not the homeowner.
Kerr County · Marriage Records
Getting a Marriage License in Kerr County
Both of you show up in person at the courthouse on Main Street, pay $81, and then wait 72 hours before anyone can marry you.
Kerr County · Short-Term Rental
Running a Short-Term Rental in Kerrville
Not every Kerrville house can legally be an Airbnb. Short-term rentals are only allowed in certain zoning districts, need a city permit, and have to pay hotel tax.
Kerr County · Certificate of Occupancy
The Certificate of Occupancy a Kerrville Business Needs
Before a Kerrville storefront can legally open, it needs a Certificate of Occupancy, a sign-off that comes only after Planning, Engineering, Building, and the Fire Marshal all clear it.
Kerr County · DBA / Assumed Name
Where a Kerr County DBA Actually Gets Filed
A sole proprietor or partnership files an assumed-name certificate with the Kerr County Clerk; an LLC or corporation files only with the Secretary of State in Austin.
Kerr County · Elections
Who Can Vote by Mail in Kerr County
Texas only lets you vote by mail for specific reasons (being 65 or older is the most common), and in Kerr County the request goes to the elections office inside the Main Street courthouse.
Lamar County · Fishing Regulations
There Is a Seasonal Alligator Gar Restriction on the Red River
During May, taking or possessing alligator gar while on the Red River in Lamar County is prohibited under TPWD rules.
Lavaca County · Agriculture Law
Texas Right to Farm law protects ag operations in Lavaca County
Texas law limits nuisance lawsuits against established farming operations, which matters in a rural county like Lavaca where farms and new residents can end up as neighbors.
Liberty County · Hunt Permits
Four Trinity River refuge hunts use TPWD draw permits
Archery, upland game, general gun, and muzzleloader hunts at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge go through the TPWD draw system.
Liberty County · Groundwater Wells
Private well checks in Liberty County start with state records
TWDB lists Liberty County as a no-district county for GMA 14, so private well due diligence starts with licensed drillers and state well records.
Limestone County · Hunting
Deer Hunting in Limestone County: Antler Rule and Doe Days
Limestone County has a 13-inch antler restriction on bucks, and antlerless deer can only be taken on private land by MLDP tag once December starts.
Lipscomb County · Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas Activity Is Regulated from the Pampa Office
If you own land or mineral rights in Lipscomb County, the Railroad Commission of Texas District 10 office in Pampa oversees oil and gas activity here.
Lubbock County · DBA
A Lubbock County DBA Is Public Notice, Not Name Protection
If your Lubbock County business operates under an assumed name, you file a DBA certificate with the County Clerk, but it's a public record, not a trademark.
Lubbock County · CWD / Deer Disease
CWD Has Been Found in Deer Here — Check Before You Move a Carcass
Chronic Wasting Disease was confirmed in a free-ranging mule deer in Lubbock County, which means there are rules about transporting deer carcasses out of the area.
Lubbock County · Right to Farm
Farming Operations Have Legal Protections Near Your Property
Texas right-to-farm law makes a late nuisance fight hard against a lawful agricultural operation that has been substantially unchanged for at least a year.
Lubbock County · Marriage
Get a Marriage License Through the Lubbock County Clerk
Marriage licenses in Lubbock County come from the County Clerk, where a 72-hour waiting period and a 90-day execution window set your timeline.
Lubbock County · Food Permit
Know Which Health Authority Permits Your Lubbock Food Business
Inside the city, the Lubbock Environmental Health Department permits restaurants and food businesses — but mobile food units move to a state DSHS permit on July 1, 2026.
Marion County · Public Hunting
Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area allows public hunting with a permit
The Caddo Lake WMA covers about 8,124 acres in Marion and Harrison counties and is open to hunters who obtain the required permit from TPWD.
Matagorda County · Oil and Gas
Oil and gas activity here is regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission
Matagorda County has a long history of oil and gas production, and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates all wells and operators in the county.
Maverick County · Alcohol Permits
Alcohol Licenses Need City Certification in Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass says TABC issues alcohol licenses, but the City Secretary certifies local property status for city applications.
Maverick County · Building Permits
Eagle Pass Building Permits Go Through Planning
The City of Eagle Pass residential building permit application is issued through the Planning Department.
Maverick County · Home Business
Home Businesses in Eagle Pass Have a City Permit Form
The City of Eagle Pass Planning Department posts a home business permit application tied to home-occupation regulations.
Maverick County · Open Records
How to Request County Records in Maverick County
Maverick County takes public-records requests by email under the Texas Public Information Act, and being specific gets you a faster answer.
Maverick County · Marriage Records
Marriage Records Start With the County Clerk
In Maverick County, both the marriage license and any certified copy of the record come from the County Clerk in Eagle Pass.
Maverick County · Certificate of Occupancy
Some Eagle Pass Uses Need a Certificate of Occupancy
Eagle Pass uses a Planning Department certificate-of-occupancy application for occupancy or use that does not require a building permit.
Maverick County · DBA / Assumed Name
Where You File a DBA Depends on Your Business Type
A DBA filed by a sole proprietor or partnership goes to the Maverick County Clerk, but LLCs and corporations file their assumed name with the Texas Secretary of State.
McLennan County · Marriage
Getting Married in Waco? Plan Around the 72-Hour Waiting Period
The McLennan County Clerk issues marriage licenses, but Texas makes you wait 72 hours between the license and the ceremony unless you qualify for a waiver.
McLennan County · Oil and Gas Regulation
McLennan County Has Oil and Gas Activity Under RRC District 5
The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas drilling in McLennan County under District 5, headquartered in Henderson.
McLennan County · DBA
Opening a Shop Under a Business Name? File the DBA With the County Clerk
If you do business in McLennan County under a name that isn't your legal name, and you're a sole proprietor or general partnership, Texas requires an assumed name certificate, filed with the County Clerk.
McLennan County · Food Permit
Selling Food in McLennan County Means a Permit From the Health District First
Whether it's a brick-and-mortar restaurant, a taco trailer, or a single booth at a fall festival, the Environmental Health Division at Waco-McLennan Public Health is the office that permits and inspects it.
McLennan County · Short-Term Rentals
Short-Term Rental Rules Apply Inside Waco City Limits
The City of Waco regulates short-term rentals such as Airbnb-style properties within city limits; no county-level STR rules apply in unincorporated areas.
McLennan County · City vs. County
Where You Live in the County Changes What Rules Apply
McLennan County has several incorporated cities, each with its own ordinances, plus unincorporated areas where fewer local rules apply.
Medina County · DBA / Assumed Name
A DBA in Medina County: County Clerk or Secretary of State?
A Medina County DBA filing depends on the kind of business using the name.
Medina County · Marriage Records
Getting a Marriage License in Hondo: Be There Before 4
The Medina County Clerk stops issuing marriage licenses at 4 p.m. sharp, so an afternoon walk-in can leave you short.
Medina County · Building Permits
Near Hondo, check the map before you build
A Hondo-area tract may fall inside city limits, in the ETJ, or under county land rules.
Medina County · Elections
Voting by Mail in Medina County, and Why You Re-Apply Every Year
A Medina County annual ballot-by-mail application expires at the end of the calendar year.
Midland County · Water Well Rules
A Midland well question starts with whether a groundwater district exists
TCEQ says part of southeastern Midland County is in a state groundwater concern area, but that area is not inside a local groundwater district.
Midland County · Burn Ban
Midland County can ban outdoor burning when fire danger is high
The Midland County Commissioners Court can restrict outdoor burning in unincorporated areas when drought or wind conditions raise the fire risk.
Montgomery County · TABC License
An Alcohol License Means a County Wet-Dry Boundary Check
Before a new alcohol license returns to TABC, the County Clerk verifies that the exact location sits in a wet area.
Montgomery County · Fire Code
Commercial Fire Code Permits Go Through the County One Stop Permit Shop
Montgomery County has adopted the 2024 fire code, and commercial projects in unincorporated areas need fire-code review before they can open.