Disclaimer

1. Scope of the Site

county-cad.org/ publishes editorial directories of Texas Central Appraisal Districts, property-search portal walkthroughs, Texas-specific exemption procedures (residence homestead, over-65, disabled person, disabled veteran, surviving spouse, agricultural-use, timber, wildlife management), and ARB protest procedures across all 254 Texas counties. It does not provide property records, process exemption applications, file ARB protests, perform title work, or operate any government function.

2. FCRA Framework — The Most Important Limit

3. “Public Record” Does Not Mean “Open Licence”

Texas CAD property records are made publicly accessible by appraisal districts for civic transparency — to allow taxpayers to see how their property is valued, to allow comparison with similar properties, and to allow research and journalism. Public accessibility is not the same as commercial reuse permission. Many CAD portals have specific terms of use governing bulk download, commercial redistribution, or use in automated systems. Those terms apply when you access a CAD portal directly through links from this site. Texas confidentiality protections under Tex. Gov’t Code §552 (Public Information Act) and related statutes also apply: certain categories of property owners (judges under §552.117, peace officers, victims of family violence under various confidentiality programs) have specific protections, and many CADs maintain confidentiality programs in coordination with the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Our editorial content respects these protections.

4. Not a CAD or State Oversight Authority

county-cad.org/ is not a Texas Central Appraisal District, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Property Tax Assistance Division, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (which licenses property tax consultants), the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts, the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, the Appraisal Foundation, the IAAO, or any other government, professional, or regulatory body. We are an independent editorial publication. Every Texas property record is held by a Central Appraisal District; every assessed value is determined by the CAD’s chief appraiser; every ARB protest is heard by the Appraisal Review Board of the county where the property is located.

5. Not Legal Advice

Nothing on the site is legal advice. Texas property tax law is governed by the Texas Property Tax Code (Title 1, Subtitle E of the Texas Tax Code) and related statutes. If you are filing an ARB protest, taking a judicial appeal under Tex. Tax Code §42, dealing with a tax sale or tax lien, navigating a property dispute, or any other legal matter touching Texas property, consult an attorney licensed in Texas.

6. Not Financial or Tax Advice

Nothing on the site is financial advice, tax advice, real estate investment advice, or property tax planning advice. Decisions about whether to file an ARB protest, claim a homestead exemption, pursue agricultural-use valuation, restructure ownership, or invest in Texas property carry financial consequences. Consult a CPA, a TDLR-licensed Property Tax Consultant or Senior Property Tax Consultant (regulated under Tex. Occ. Code Ch. 1152), or an attorney for advice specific to your circumstances.

7. Not Title Work or a Title Search

Texas CAD records typically include the current owner of record, the assessed value, parcel boundaries, exemption status, and (sometimes) sale history. They are not a title search. Title searches require examination of the chain of title in the County Clerk’s office, plus searches of liens, encumbrances, easements, and judgments — work that is performed by title companies (regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance) and real estate attorneys. Do not rely on CAD data as a substitute for title work in any Texas real estate transaction.

8. Texas CAD Values Change Annually

1. Texas CADs reappraise annually. Most CADs perform some level of reappraisal each year; statute permits full reappraisal at least every three years (Tex. Tax Code §25.18). Major county CADs (HCAD, DCAD, TAD, BCAD, TCAD) generally reappraise more frequently.
2. Assessed value is not market value. Texas appraises at market value as of January 1 of the tax year, but the 10% homestead cap (Tex. Tax Code §23.23) limits the annual increase in taxable value on a homesteaded property to 10%. The cap can produce significant differences between market and taxable value over time.
3. Sale-price data may lag. Recent sales may not be reflected in the CAD record for several months after closing; CADs use deed records, MLS data (where available), and sales-disclosure forms (where applicable in some counties).
4. Exemptions affect taxable value, not market value. Residence homestead, over-65, disabled person, and disabled veteran exemptions reduce taxable value but the underlying market value remains.
5. Successful ARB protests change assessed value. The official record updates after the ARB hearing concludes and the certified appraisal roll is issued.
6. Reappraisal can be triggered by transfer, improvement, or change of use. Many Texas CADs reassess on transfer of ownership; new construction is added at full market value; change from agricultural to non-agricultural use triggers rollback taxes under Tex. Tax Code §23.55.

9. ARB Deadlines Are Unforgiving

10. Exemption Procedures — Reference, Not Personal Advice

Procedures we describe are general references to the published Texas exemption procedures. Whether you specifically qualify for residence homestead, over-65, disabled person, disabled veteran, surviving spouse, agricultural-use (1-d-1 open-space), 1-d agricultural-use, timber, wildlife management, conservation easement, or historic-property exemption depends on facts specific to your property, your residency, your military or disability status, and your land use. Consult the CAD or a Texas property tax professional for advice on your specific situation.

11. Third-Party Content and Links

The site links extensively to Texas Central Appraisal Districts, the Texas Comptroller PTAD, and (where directly relevant) Texas professional bodies. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, or privacy practices. A link does not imply endorsement.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, county-cad.org/ and its operators, editors, and contributors are not liable for any indirect, consequential, special, incidental, or punitive damages arising from your use of the site or your reliance on any content — specifically including but not limited to any missed ARB protest deadline, missed exemption application deadline, denied exemption, denied protest, real estate transaction loss, FCRA liability incurred from prohibited use, tax penalty, or any other loss connected to use of the site. Aggregate liability is capped at $100. See Terms of Service for the full liability framework, including the Delaware governing-law and AAA arbitration provisions.