PARAGON
PARAGON
Acreage around Lake Travis, Spicewood, and the eastern prairie, inside Austin's home county.
Travis County land splits along the Balcones Escarpment. West of Austin, the Hill Country around Lake Travis, Spicewood, and the Pedernales River is wooded and hilly; east of the city, the Blackland Prairie around Manor and Del Valle is open farmland.
Large tracts are scarce and priced for their proximity to Austin. Western Travis County also carries the most land-use rules in this guide, including the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan and Edwards Aquifer protections over much of the county.
Only about a third of Travis County is inside a groundwater conservation district. The rest has no local district permit process, though state well rules still apply.
Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District
Covers about 21% of the county
Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Covers about 12% of the 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 Travis 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.
Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan: Travis County and the City of Austin run a regional plan covering endangered songbirds and cave species. Wooded tracts in western Travis County may need a habitat review before clearing.
Parts of Travis County fall under the TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, which can require an approved plan before construction or land clearing.
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.
Travis County is covered by more than one district: Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Some areas overlap, and which rules apply depends on the exact tract and the aquifer a well draws from. Confirm the district for the specific parcel and any permit conditions before closing.
Texas open-space (1-d-1) valuation taxes qualifying land on its agricultural productivity rather than market value. The Travis 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.
They can. Travis County and the City of Austin run a regional plan covering endangered songbirds and cave species. Wooded tracts in western Travis County may need a habitat review before clearing. Parts of the county are also under TCEQ Edwards Aquifer rules, which can require an approved plan before construction or clearing. An environmental consultant can tell you whether a specific tract is affected before you plan improvements.
Travis County is Austin's home county, so most land is within an hour of downtown. Large tracts are concentrated in the Hill Country west of the city around Lake Travis and Spicewood, and on the prairie to the east around Manor. Proximity to Austin is a major factor in land prices across the county.
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.