PARAGON
PARAGON
Highland Lakes ranch country around Burnet, Marble Falls, and Bertram.
Burnet County lies northwest of Austin, about 55 road miles to the county seat. The Colorado River's Highland Lakes — Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake Marble Falls — run along the western side of the county, while the east rolls toward the Bertram area's open grazing land.
The county mixes lake property, working cattle ranches, and recreational land. Parts of the county include habitat used by the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, including portions of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which can affect clearing plans on wooded tracts.
Nearly the entire county is inside one groundwater conservation district, which sets well registration and spacing rules.
Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District
Covers nearly the entire county
Surface water in Texas belongs to the state, so river or creek frontage does not by itself carry a right to divert water. Confirm any existing surface-water permits and well records as part of due diligence.
Texas open-space (1-d-1) valuation taxes qualifying land on its agricultural productivity instead of market value. In this county it is administered by the Burnet County appraisal district.
A buyer must apply in their own name, generally by April 30, to keep the valuation. Wildlife-management use requires land already under agricultural valuation and at least three of seven qualifying practices. Changing the land to a non-agricultural use triggers a rollback tax for the previous three years, according to the Texas Comptroller.
Burnet County does not have a county-wide habitat conservation plan. Federal endangered-species rules still apply to habitat on private land.
Burnet County is outside the TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program.
Hill Country ranches, working farms, and Texas acreage from Unlock MLS
Listings provided by Unlock MLS via IDX Broker. Paragon Realty Group, brokered by eXp Realty, LLC.
Yes. Nearly all of the county is inside the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District, which sets rules for well registration, spacing, and production. Before closing, confirm that existing wells are registered and ask the district about any permit conditions that would affect your plans for livestock, irrigation, or new homes.
Texas open-space (1-d-1) valuation taxes qualifying land on its agricultural productivity rather than market value. The Burnet County appraisal district administers it. A new owner must apply in their own name, generally by April 30, to keep it. Wildlife-management use requires land already under agricultural valuation and at least three of seven qualifying practices. If the land changes to a non-agricultural use, the Texas Comptroller describes a rollback tax for the previous three years.
Burnet County does not have a county-wide habitat conservation plan, but federal endangered-species rules still apply to habitat on private land. The county is outside the TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. For wooded tracts, ask an environmental consultant whether protected habitat is present before planning clearing or construction.
Burnet, the county seat, is about 54 road miles from downtown Austin. Drive times vary by route and traffic, and individual ranches can be well off the highway on county roads. Confirm road access and travel time to the specific property as part of your visit.
Information compiled from public agency sources and last reviewed 2026-10-16. District boundaries and rules change; confirm details with the agencies linked above. Paragon Realty Group, brokered by eXp Realty, LLC, does not provide legal, tax, survey, or environmental advice.