Aransas County Property Records

Aransas County property records go back to 1840 and are kept by the County Clerk in Rockport, Texas. Records include deeds, mortgages, liens, oil and gas documents, and plat maps for this coastal Texas county. This guide covers the main portals and offices you can use to search for or obtain copies of Aransas County property documents.

Aransas County Clerk Office

Misty Kimbrough is the Aransas County Clerk. The office is at 2840 Hwy 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382, phone (361) 790-0122, fax (361) 790-0119. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Real property records span from 1840 through the present. The archive survived Hurricane Harvey in 2017 with records preserved.

Document types filed with the Aransas County Clerk include real property deeds and mortgages, liens, oil and gas records, assumed name (DBA) certificates, marriage licenses, and court records. The county's coastal location means waterfront property records and easement documents are common. Hurricane damage assessment records and flood zone considerations also appear in the file.

The Aransas County Clerk self-service portal at aransascountytx-web.tylerhost.net/web lets you search by grantor or grantee name, document type, date range, or instrument number. Document images are available as PDFs, with a watermarked preview free of charge.

You can also search Aransas County records through TexasFile. The index is free to search; document image downloads require a fee. Recording fees follow the standard Texas schedule: $25.00 for the first page, $4.00 for each additional page, and $0.25 per name beyond five. Certified copies cost $5.00. Mail requests go to: 2840 Hwy 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382.

Searching Aransas County Property Records

Aransas County is a coastal county with a large number of waterfront and near-water properties. When searching records here, it pays to check not just the deed records but also easement filings, flood zone maps, and any recorded deed restrictions or HOA covenants. These affect what you can do with the land and show up in the clerk's file.

Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the county clerk to be binding on third parties. Recording your deed promptly after a sale protects your title. For coastal properties in Aransas County, this is especially important because multiple ownership layers, including mineral rights, surface rights, and riparian rights, can exist on the same parcel.

The Texas General Land Office holds historical land grant records that may be relevant for Aransas County research, since the county has records going back to 1840. The Texas Legislature's statutes site at statutes.capitol.texas.gov provides access to the full Texas Property Code, including Title 3 on public records and Section 13.001 on the framework for recording instruments. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government resources at texasattorneygeneral.gov spell out your rights to access these records under the Public Information Act.

Aransas County Appraisal District

The Aransas County Appraisal District (ACAD) handles property valuations for the approximately 28,887 properties in the county. Ray Presley serves as Chief Appraiser. The office is at 11 Hwy 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382, phone (361) 729-9733, fax (361) 729-9750. Email: aransascad@gmail.com.

The ACAD property search portal is available at portal.trueautomation.com/86. You can search by owner name, property address, or ID. Online protest filing is available at the same portal. The deadline to protest is May 15 or 30 days after the notice was mailed, whichever is later. Standard Texas exemptions apply, including homestead, over-65, disability, and disabled veteran. The district also handles disaster-related temporary exemptions, which have been relevant following past hurricane damage to properties in the county.

Texas has no state property tax. Local taxing entities set their own rates based on the ACAD's appraised values. The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division at comptroller.texas.gov provides oversight, education, and resources for taxpayers statewide. If you think your value is wrong, file a protest with the Aransas County Appraisal Review Board by the deadline each year.

Coastal and Environmental Records

Aransas County's location on the Texas Gulf Coast means environmental factors play a bigger role here than in most Texas counties. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at tceq.texas.gov maintains permit records, enforcement actions, and contaminated site information for properties in the county. Before buying coastal property, it is wise to check TCEQ records for any environmental issues on or near the land.

Flood zone data is critical for Aransas County properties. Many parcels are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas. Flood zone determinations are not part of the county clerk's records but can be found through FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Deed restrictions recorded at the clerk's office may also address flood-related restrictions or building setbacks from the water. The Texas Historical Commission at thc.texas.gov maintains the Texas Historic Atlas if the property has potential historic significance. The TCEQ also maintains data on the RestoreTheTexasCoast project, which may be relevant for coastal properties affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Note: The Texas Real Estate Commission at trec.texas.gov lets you verify that any agent or broker involved in an Aransas County transaction holds a current, valid Texas license.

Nearby Counties

Property records are filed in the county where the land is located. For land near county borders, check adjacent counties as well.