Topic · Page 4
Rules & Licenses
Local Notes
Rules & Licenses notes
Hidalgo County · Septic / OSSF
Septic Work Needs an OSSF Permit and Inspection
Texas calls septic systems OSSFs, and most construction, repair, or changes need a permit before the work is done.
Hidalgo County · Subdivision Rules
Splitting Land Outside City Limits Can Trigger County Subdivision Review
Hidalgo County's Subdivision Advisory Board reviews development outside city corporate limits for compliance with county subdivision rules.
Hidalgo County · Building Permits
Start Residential Building Questions With the County Planning Office
For unincorporated Hidalgo County projects, the Planning Department is the office to check for residential requirements, inspections, and utility clearance.
Hill County · Public Hunting Permit
You need a permit to hunt on Corps of Engineers land near Lake Whitney
About 18,000 acres of public hunting land around Lake Whitney in Bosque and Hill counties require a permit through recreation.gov.
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.
Houston County · County offices
Two addresses split Houston County's clerk, court, and tax errands
Clerk and court offices are at 401 E. Houston, while tax, elections, and several county administrators work at 401 E. Goliad.
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 Arrived in 1928, but Irion County's Surge Came Later
Irion County's first oil discovery came in 1928, but substantial production waited until the late 1950s and then climbed quickly.
Jefferson County · Short-Term Rental Rules
Beaumont Requires an STR Permit Before You List
Inside Beaumont, a home rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days needs an annual city permit and a hotel occupancy tax certificate before it is advertised.
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 Is Really an Oil-and-Gas Office
Despite its old name, the Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas activity, while private leases, easements, title, and royalty payments fall outside its authority.
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
A Burleson Address Can Be in Either County
Burleson crosses the Johnson-Tarrant county line, so the city name on an address does not settle which county handles the property record.
Johnson County · City Limits & ETJ
Cleburne's ETJ Is a Parcel-by-Parcel Line
Cleburne's extraterritorial jurisdiction can reach beyond city limits, but releases and nearby boundaries mean the answer depends on the parcel.
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
Kerr County issues marriage licenses at 700 Main Street. Plan for the usual 72-hour wait and ask about any absence or waiver before the visit.
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.
Lampasas County · Park planning
Gorman Falls and a Cave Tour Need Separate Planning
The rough Gorman Falls trail asks more than its mileage suggests, while every cave tour requires its own advance booking.
Lavaca County · Agriculture Law
Right to Farm protects qualifying Lavaca County operations, with limits
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.
Lavaca County · Outdoor Burning
The call to Lavaca dispatch is notice, not permission to burn
Lavaca County asks for a dispatch call before controlled burning, but the fire still needs a lawful TCEQ exception and safe conditions.
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 Was Found Here, and the Carcass Rule Is Statewide
Texas confirmed CWD in Lubbock County in 2021; current carcass-disposal rules apply statewide to harvested white-tailed and mule deer.
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 Is in Railroad Commission District 5
The Railroad Commission assigns McLennan County to District 5, and its public records can help identify wells and regulated operations near rural land.
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
A Waco stay of fewer than 30 consecutive days falls under the city's short-term-rental license program, with added permit steps in some zones or rental categories.
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.