Blog · September 25, 2026 · Texas land records
Texas Appraisal District (CAD) Maps Explained
Search for a parcel map in Texas and you will usually end up on a site with “CAD” in its name. That is the county appraisal district, the office that values property for local taxes and keeps the parcel map. Knowing how CADs work makes it much easier to research land anywhere in the state.
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What a CAD is
The State of Texas does not collect a property tax of its own. Local governments such as school districts, cities and counties levy it, and each county has an appraisal district that sets the values they tax. According to the Texas Comptroller, appraisal districts are led by a chief appraiser and value property as of January 1 each year. A board of directors governs the district. In counties under 75,000 people the local taxing units elect that board. In larger counties the taxing units elect five members, the public elects three, and the county tax assessor-collector sits on the board as an ex officio member.
The CAD is not the same as the county tax office. The CAD handles values, exemptions, special agricultural appraisal and protests. The tax assessor-collector sends bills and takes payments for the taxing units it serves. When you have a map or value question, go to the CAD.
What a CAD map shows
Most CADs publish a property search and an interactive map. You can usually click a parcel to see the property ID, owner, situs address, legal description, acreage, land and improvement values and exemptions. Many maps add subdivision lines, abstract or survey lines, school and city boundaries and aerial photos.
All 254 Texas counties have an official link in the Platbookmapper directory. Many rural and mid-size CADs use shared hosting: about 120 of the links point to BIS Consultants’ map service, and 58 use Prodigy CAD. Big districts, such as Dallas and Harris, run their own. Open the Texas hub to find your county.
Current map vs certified roll
CAD maps are updated through the year as land is split, combined or sold. Dallas Central Appraisal District’s help page says its property map is a contemporary map that reflects new and deleted parcels since the last certification, and it points users to separate data downloads that match the certified appraisal roll. That difference matters. A parcel you see on the map today may not match the value notice or last year’s tax bill.
Abstracts and surveys
Texas did not use the federal township and range grid. Rural land is described by original survey and abstract numbers, often tied to Spanish, Mexican, Republic of Texas or railroad grants, plus metes and bounds. A CAD legal description for a rural tract might read something like “A0123 J. Smith Survey, tract 4, 25.5 acres.” Turning on a survey or abstract layer helps you place a rural tract, and the abstract number is what you will use when searching deed records at the county clerk.
How to research a property
- Find the CAD. Search the county on our national map or directory, or look for “[county] CAD.”
- Search. Use owner, address or property ID. For rural land, the owner name is often faster than an address.
- Open the map. Click neighbors to see who owns adjoining tracts, and toggle aerial years to see clearing, ponds or new barns.
- Note the exemptions. Agricultural or wildlife valuation, homestead and other exemptions change the tax picture. Ask the CAD what happens to a special appraisal if use changes.
- Pull the deed. Use the volume and page or instrument number to get the recorded deed and plat from the county clerk.
A word on ag and wildlife valuation
Much of rural Texas is taxed on its productive value under agricultural or wildlife management use rather than on market value, and CAD records show when a tract has that special appraisal. It can make a big difference to the carrying cost of ranch land. The catch is that the valuation depends on how the land is used, and a change in use can bring an additional rollback tax for prior years. If you plan to build, subdivide or stop grazing, ask the CAD how the rules apply before you close, and ask the seller for the history of the ag or wildlife plan on file.
Who uses CAD maps
Hill Country ranch buyers use CAD maps to check acreage and ag valuation before touring. Builders around Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth check subdivision plats and city limits. Hunters looking for a lease can click neighboring tracts to find landowners. Investors compare values across a block before bidding. Our county guides for Travis, Williamson, Gillespie and Llano walk through specific CAD sites.
If you disagree with a value
The Comptroller explains that an appraisal review board of local citizens hears disputes over value and taxability, and it starts hearing protests around May 15. Keep printouts of comparable parcels and any map errors you spot, such as wrong acreage, and raise them with the CAD before the deadline on your notice.
CAD lines are for appraisal. They are not a boundary survey, and Texas land often has old surveys that disagree with each other. For fences, easements or purchases, order a survey from a Registered Professional Land Surveyor.
Frequently asked questions
What does CAD stand for in Texas property?
Central or county appraisal district, the local office that appraises property for taxes.
Is the CAD the same as the tax office?
No. The CAD sets values and exemptions; the tax assessor-collector bills and collects.
Why does the CAD map differ from my tax bill?
Many CAD maps are updated continually, while bills use the certified roll from an earlier date.
Are CAD maps accurate for boundaries?
They are approximate. Use a recorded plat or a survey by a Texas RPLS for boundaries.
Open the Platbookmapper county map Browse the county GIS directory by state
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey — especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.