US Land Life

Texas

Buying Rural Land in Johnson County, Texas

Johnson County -- Cleburne and the southern edge of the Fort Worth metro along US-67 and I-35W -- is genuinely growing fast, though not at Collin County's extreme pace. Its rural land runs under a single four-county groundwater district and the county's own Chapter 232 subdivision rules, both worth understanding before buying acreage on the fringe.

Fast Southern-DFW Growth, Cleburne Leading the Way

Case-by-case / verify locally

Cleburne, the county seat, grew 27.4% between 2020 and its most recent estimate, and Johnson County as a whole reached roughly 218,000 residents by 2025 -- about 17% growth from 2019 to 2024 and nearly 50% growth since 2010. That's real, sustained exurban pressure driven by DFW's southward expansion along US-67 and I-35W, though the county's unincorporated fringe has not (at least as of this research) converted to suburbia as completely as some counties directly north of Dallas. Confirm current city ETJ boundaries and any pending annexation directly with the nearest city before assuming today's unincorporated status will hold.

One Four-County Groundwater District Covers the Whole County

Generally favorable

Johnson County sits entirely within the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD), created by the 81st Texas Legislature in 2009 to jointly manage groundwater across Ellis, Johnson, Hill, and Somervell Counties. A new well generally needs a permit application submitted before drilling and a completion report filed afterward. Confirm current permit requirements, fees, and any exempt-well thresholds directly with PGCD before drilling.

The County's Own Subdivision Rules Apply Outside City Limits

Generally favorable

Johnson County has no general zoning authority over its unincorporated area, consistent with the statewide default, but has adopted its own Subdivision Rules and Regulations under Local Government Code Chapter 232, administered by County Public Works. Any division of land into two or more lots outside a city's limits or ETJ needs to go through that review before recording. Confirm current lot-size, road, and drainage standards directly with Public Works ((817) 556-6380) before planning a land split.

Environmental Health Handles Septic Permits Directly

Generally favorable

Johnson County Environmental Health serves as the TCEQ authorized agent for on-site sewage facility (OSSF) permitting countywide, handling site evaluations and inspections rather than routing through a TCEQ regional office. Confirm current fees (new-installation and repair permits vary by system type) directly with Environmental Health ((817) 556-6370) before budgeting a septic system.

Where the growth is, and what it means for a rural-looking parcel

Cleburne anchors Johnson County's growth, alongside Burleson and Alvarado on the county's northern edge closest to Fort Worth and Joshua nearer the geographic center -- land inside any of these cities' limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is governed by that city's own zoning and subdivision code, not this page. The county's population climbed to an estimated 218,000 by 2025, with Cleburne itself up 27.4% since 2020, reflecting DFW's exurban expansion pushing south along US-67 and I-35W into what was previously a more purely agricultural county. That pace is genuinely fast by national standards but has not (at least as documented in this research pass) produced the kind of near-total rural-to-suburban conversion of the unincorporated fringe seen in some counties immediately north of Dallas -- still, confirm ETJ status and any pending annexation directly with the nearest city before assuming a rural-looking parcel here will stay that way for long.

Groundwater: shared with three neighboring counties

Every parcel in Johnson County falls under the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD), a single district the 2009 Legislature set up to jointly manage groundwater across Johnson, Ellis, Hill, and Somervell Counties rather than giving each county its own separate district. In practice, that means a Johnson County landowner deals with the same district office, the same rulebook, and the same permit application and post-drilling completion-report process as a neighbor drilling a well across the Ellis County line -- worth knowing since the specific well yield, spacing, and exemption thresholds that apply depend on PGCD's rules rather than anything Johnson County itself sets independently. Confirm current permit requirements and any exempt-well thresholds directly with PGCD before drilling.

Subdivision and septic: county-adopted rules, handled by two county offices

Johnson County has no general zoning ordinance for its unincorporated area, but its Commissioners Court has adopted Subdivision Rules and Regulations under Local Government Code Chapter 232, administered by County Public Works (2 N. Mill St., Suite 302, Cleburne) rather than a standalone planning department. Any division of a tract into two or more parts outside city limits or ETJ needs to be checked against that process before recording a plat. Septic permitting runs through a separate office -- Johnson County Environmental Health holds TCEQ authorized-agent status for on-site sewage facility (OSSF) permitting, reviewing site evaluations and performing inspections directly. Confirm current subdivision standards with Public Works ((817) 556-6380) and septic requirements and fees with Environmental Health ((817) 556-6370) before planning a land split or a septic system.

Who to Call Before Buying Land in Johnson County

Johnson County has no general zoning ordinance for its unincorporated area, consistent with the statewide default. For a parcel inside Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado, Joshua, or another city's limits or ETJ, contact that city's own planning department instead of the county.

Subdivision & Land Development

Johnson County Public Works

Subdivision Rules and Regulations compliance and plat review for unincorporated Johnson County land.

Phone: (817) 556-6380Official website →

Environmental Health

Johnson County Environmental Health

On-site sewage facility (OSSF/septic) permits, site evaluations, and inspections -- Johnson County is a TCEQ authorized agent.

Phone: (817) 556-6370Official website →

Wells / Private Water

Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District

Well drilling permits, completion reports, and groundwater questions for any well in Johnson, Ellis, Hill, or Somervell County.

Official website →

Assessor / Property Tax

Central Appraisal District of Johnson County

Assessed value, property tax, and agricultural (ag/wildlife) valuation questions for a specific parcel.

Phone: (817) 648-3000Official website →

Recorder / Clerk / Land Records

Johnson County Clerk

Recorded deed, easement, plat, and land-record history for a specific parcel.

Official website →

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Sources

  1. Johnson County Public Works — Johnson County, Texas Government (accessed 2026-09)
  2. Subdivision Rules and Regulations of Johnson County, Texas — Johnson County, Texas Government (accessed 2026-09)
  3. Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District District Rules for Water Wells — Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District (accessed 2026-09)
  4. How many people live in Johnson County, TX? — USAFacts (US Census Bureau data) (accessed 2026-09)
  5. The old Texas map may show where growth goes next — HousingWire (accessed 2026-09)
  6. Central Appraisal District of Johnson County — Central Appraisal District of Johnson County (accessed 2026-09)

Last reviewed 2026-09