Texas Counties / Land screening / Counties around Houston
County comparisonCounties around Houston: wells, valuation & septic
Rural counties within about two hours of Houston, where acreage is commonly bought for homesites, grazing, and recreation.
How to read this
9 of 12 counties have at least one reviewed layer. Highlighted cells differ from the most common answer in their column, which is usually where the decision turns.
| County | Groundwater | Agricultural valuation | On-site sewage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin County | Bluebonnet GCDReviewed 2026-10-12 | 10 ac improved pasture; 30–50 ac nativeReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
| Colorado County | Not yet researched | 10 ac for most land typesReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
| Grimes County | Bluebonnet GCDReviewed 2026-10-11 | Not yet researched | County environmental servicesReviewed 2026-10-11 |
| Liberty County | Not yet researched | Acreage standards are in scanned pagesReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
| Madison County | Not yet researched | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Montgomery County | Not yet researched | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Polk County | Not yet researched | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| San Jacinto County | Not yet researched | 15 ac cattle; 10 ac goats, sheep, hayReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
| Trinity County | Not yet researched | No tract minimum; 5 mother cowsReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
| Walker County | Bluebonnet GCDReviewed 2026-10-11 | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Waller County | Bluebonnet GCDReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Washington County | Not yet researched | Under 5 ac with a home will not qualifyReviewed 2026-10-12 | Not yet researched |
What each column means
- Groundwater
- Who regulates a well here, and what does a permit require? Conservation-district boundaries do not follow county lines. A district listed for the county does not establish the rule for a specific tract. Statewide starting point ↗
- Agricultural valuation
- What does the appraisal district require for 1-d-1 productivity valuation? Each appraisal district sets its own acreage and degree-of-intensity standards. Losing the valuation can trigger rollback taxes for prior years. Statewide starting point ↗
- On-site sewage
- Who permits a septic system, and what must be done before a permit? TCEQ delegates on-site sewage permitting to authorized agents. The permitting authority can be the county, a city, or a river authority. Statewide starting point ↗
Coverage
Counties appear whether or not a layer has been researched, so the gaps stay visible. An empty cell means no official source has been read yet, not that no requirement exists. Use the table to narrow a search, then confirm anything that matters with the office that regulates the tract.