Buying land in Bastrop County? Here's what to check.

Where to look up the official record

The Bastrop Central Appraisal District keeps the tax record for every property: the owner, value, and any buildings on file. Search it here: https://esearch.bastropcad.org/. The county seat is Bastrop.

Good to know in Bastrop County

Who handles septic permits

Bastrop County Development Services permits septic systems, (512) 581-7176. Every new or changed system needs a county permit, whatever the acreage, and a new aerobic system needs a 2-year maintenance contract. Source

Water wells

The whole county is in the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District. Register a new well before it's drilled. A household well under 25,000 gallons a day needs no operating permit on a tract over 10 acres, and it has to sit at least 50 ft from the property line. Source

Splitting land

Dividing land usually needs a plat. Even when state law exempts a split, every lot must front a public road and get county 911 address, driveway and septic permits. Rural subdivision lots must be at least 1 acre and average over 2. Source

Houston toad country

Much of Bastrop County is Houston toad habitat. The county's Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan gives landowners a simple way to build or clear land there and stay within the Endangered Species Act. Source

Ag valuation

Bastrop CAD wants at least 5 animal units for grazing: about 15 acres of improved pasture or 25 of native pasture. Hay takes about 10 acres, and bees take 5 to 20 acres with at least 6 hives. Source

Good to know anywhere in Texas

Flood maps

FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer is the official flood map used for flood insurance. Zone A and AE areas are 'special flood hazard areas' where lenders usually require flood insurance. Source

County rules vs city rules

Texas counties generally can't zone land the way cities do. Land inside a city follows city zoning. Land in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) can fall under city subdivision rules. Deed restrictions and HOA rules can apply anywhere.

Legal access

A road on a map doesn't prove you have the legal right to use it. A title company can confirm whether the land touches a public road or has a recorded easement.

Septic systems

Every septic system in Texas needs a permit from the county or its authorized agent under TCEQ rules (30 TAC Chapter 285). Shallow rock, common in the Hill Country, often means a more expensive engineered system. Source

Property taxes

Appraisal districts set the value; each taxing unit (county, school district, ESDs) sets a rate. Agricultural or wildlife valuation can lower taxes on qualifying land, but changing the use later can trigger a rollback tax.

What a YallCheck report covers

• Is it in a flood zone? We check the official FEMA flood map for your land and how close the nearest flood area is.
• Can you legally drive to it? We find the road next to the land and tell you what still needs to be confirmed about legal access.
• Can you get water and a septic system? We check for a water utility, the local well rules, and whether the soil is hard for septic.
• Do the county records match the land? We pull the appraisal record: owner, value, taxes, exemptions, and any buildings or mobile homes on file.
• Is it over the Edwards Aquifer? Land over the aquifer can have extra building and septic rules. We check the state map.
• Is it under a city's rules? We check whether the land is inside a city or the area just outside one where the city can control subdividing (called the ETJ).
• Are there HOA or deed restrictions? We list the subdivision plats on file. Add our document read-through and we'll flag rules on rentals, mobile homes, animals, and more.
• Can you get electricity? We look up which electric company or co-op serves the area.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check with the county before you buy.