Texas
Buying Rural Land in Kaufman County, Texas
Kaufman County -- Kaufman, Forney, Terrell, and Crandall, directly east of Dallas -- grew faster than any other county in Texas in the year ending mid-2025, as affordability pushes DFW's expansion east. Its unincorporated land isn't covered by any groundwater district at all, and the county issues its own septic permits with a specific acreage rule worth knowing before you buy.
The fastest-growing county in Texas, and what that means for rural land
Kaufman, Forney, Terrell, and Crandall anchor Kaufman County's growth, and land inside any of their city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is governed by that city's own zoning and subdivision code, not this page. What's genuinely remarkable about Kaufman County is the documented pace of that growth relative to the rest of Texas: multiple independent sources -- Census Bureau vintage population estimates, reported by outlets including WFAA and The Dallas Morning News -- put Kaufman County first in the entire state (and third nationally) for percentage population growth from June 2024 to July 2025, and describe the county as having grown by more than a third since 2020, the fastest of any Texas county in that period. That's driven explicitly by affordability: as land and housing costs rise closer to Dallas, growth is pushing east into Kaufman County specifically because it's where relatively affordable land is still available. For a buyer hoping for a stable rural or agricultural character, that means today's unincorporated parcel here is a reasonable bet to face annexation or ETJ pressure sooner rather than later -- confirm current status directly with the nearest city before counting on it staying rural.
Groundwater: no district at all covers Kaufman County
Where Collin County sits inside the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District and Ellis and Johnson Counties both fall under the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, Kaufman County is not covered by any of the four groundwater conservation districts serving the North Texas region. That leaves Kaufman County governed by Texas's default rule of capture with no local permitting layer on top of it: a landowner may generally pump as much groundwater as can be put to beneficial use, without a district-issued well permit and without district-enforced spacing rules protecting a well from a neighbor's heavy pumping. That cuts both ways for a buyer -- fewer permitting hoops to drill a well, but also no district backstop if a nearby high-capacity well affects your own well's yield. The county does host several small Fresh Water Supply Districts (special districts serving specific developments), which is a separate matter from groundwater regulation; confirm current groundwater-district coverage directly with the Texas Water Development Board before relying on this description for a specific parcel, since district boundaries can and do change through future legislation.
Subdivision and septic: the county administers both directly
Kaufman County has no general zoning ordinance for its unincorporated area, consistent with the statewide default, but has adopted Subdivision and Land Development Regulations under Local Government Code Chapter 232 (updated as recently as December 2025), administered by Development Services. On septic, Kaufman County holds TCEQ authorized-agent status for on-site sewage facilities, with Development Services reviewing applications directly rather than routing them through a TCEQ regional office -- the county's own published requirements call for a minimum of 1 acre of usable space to permit a system and a current maintenance contract on any aerobic treatment unit. Confirm current subdivision standards, septic fees, and site-evaluation requirements directly with Development Services (publicworks@kaufmancounty.net, 101 N. Houston St., Kaufman) before planning a land split or a septic system.
Who to Call Before Buying Land in Kaufman County
Kaufman County has no general zoning ordinance for its unincorporated area, consistent with the statewide default. For a parcel inside Kaufman, Forney, Terrell, Crandall, or another city's limits or ETJ -- an increasingly likely status given the county's growth rate -- contact that city's own planning department instead of the county.
Subdivision & Land Development
Kaufman County Development Services
Subdivision and Land Development Regulations compliance and plat review for unincorporated Kaufman County land.
Environmental Health
Kaufman County Development Services
On-site sewage facility (OSSF/septic) permits and inspections -- Kaufman County is a TCEQ authorized agent, requiring a minimum 1-acre usable-space standard.
Wells / Private Water
Texas Water Development Board
Confirming current groundwater conservation district coverage for a Kaufman County parcel -- as of this research, no district covers the county.
Assessor / Property Tax
Kaufman Central Appraisal District
Assessed value, property tax, and agricultural (ag/wildlife) valuation questions for a specific parcel.
Recorder / Clerk / Land Records
Kaufman County Clerk
Recorded deed, easement, plat, mineral document, and land-record history for a specific parcel.
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- Kaufman County leads Texas in population growth as affordability pushes expansion east — WFAA (Dallas) (accessed 2026-09)
- Kaufman County growth accelerates this decade, data shows — WFAA (Dallas) (accessed 2026-09)
- This North Texas county led the nation in population growth — The Dallas Morning News (accessed 2026-09)
- Kaufman County Subdivision and Land Development Regulations — Kaufman County, Texas Government (accessed 2026-09)
- On-Site Sewage Facilities — Kaufman County, Texas Government (accessed 2026-09)
- Groundwater Conservation Districts — Texas Water Development Board (accessed 2026-09)
- Kaufman CAD -- Official Site — Kaufman Central Appraisal District (accessed 2026-09)
Last reviewed 2026-09