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

Where to look up the official record

The Hays Central Appraisal District keeps the tax record for every property: the owner, value, and any buildings on file. Search it here: https://esearch.hayscad.com/. The county seat is San Marcos.

Good to know in Hays County

Edwards Aquifer

Parts of Hays County are in the Edwards Aquifer recharge, transition, and contributing zones on the TCEQ map. Land in these zones can have extra rules for septic systems and development. Source

Septic permits

Hays County requires a septic (on-site sewage) permit for every system, no matter how many acres. It won't issue one on a tract that breaks the county subdivision rules. Aerobic systems need a maintenance contract. Source

Minimum lot sizes for septic

Hays County's septic rules set minimum lot sizes by aquifer zone and water source. For example, over the Edwards contributing zone with a private well: 2 acres for an advanced system or 3 acres for a conventional one (2017 rules copy, so check the current version). Source

Water wells

Several groundwater districts overlap Hays County, including the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and the Hays Trinity GCD. Which one applies depends on the exact spot and the aquifer. Many require well registration before drilling. Source

Old mobile homes on the record

Appraisal records sometimes still list mobile homes that are long gone. Manufactured homes have separate state title records at TDHCA. We check both. Source

Subdivision plats

Hays CAD posts scanned subdivision plats. Older plats sometimes have restrictions written right on them. 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.