Raw land isn't like buying a house. Before you make an offer on a lot or acreage, get answers to these five questions.
1. Water & sewer
Is there city water, or will you need a well? Is there a sewer line, or will you need septic? Septic systems (on-site sewage facilities, or OSSFs) generally need a permit, and new wells may need to be registered with the local groundwater district before drilling.
2. City limits or ETJ?
Zoning generally applies inside city limits, not in a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) or in unincorporated county areas. Under a 2023 state law (SB 2038), some ETJ owners can petition to be released. Always confirm the rules for a specific tract with the city and county.
3. Deed restrictions & HOA/POA
Recorded deed restrictions and HOA or property owners' association rules can limit what you build, how you use the land, and whether you can split it, even outside city limits. Get copies before you make an offer.
4. Flood zone
Look up the property on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov.
5. Survey & access
A survey helps confirm boundaries, easements, and legal access to a public road.
Looking at land in DFW? Send me a message or call or text me at 602-214-3584. Let's look at it together.
Sources
- SB 2038 (88th Legislature), ETJ release: capitol.texas.gov; Texas Local Government Code ch. 42: statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- OSSF permits: TCEQ
- Groundwater well reports: Texas Water Development Board
- Flood maps: FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- TREC Unimproved Property Contract: trec.texas.gov
Checked November 3, 2026.
General information only, not legal advice. Contract terms and local rules vary. Talk to a real estate attorney for legal questions about your situation.