Property Tax Resources · Matagorda County, Texas
Coastal Prairie rice farming and Gulf Coast industrial country — Matagorda County’s 1.22% effective rate falls on Bay City homeowners and agricultural landowners in one of Texas’s most productive rice-growing counties.
Sources: Population — U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 estimates; Effective Tax Rate & Avg Annual Bill — Ownwell (2024); Protest Success Rate — Texas Comptroller PTAD data, approximate.
🔴 2026 Protest Deadline: May 15, 2026 — or 30 days after your Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later. Miss this date and you waive your right to protest.
Matagorda County lies on the Coastal Prairie between Houston and Victoria, with Bay City as its county seat. The county is one of Texas’s most important rice-growing regions, with the Colorado River delta providing the water supply that irrigated rice farming requires. The county also hosts nuclear power generation at the South Texas Project and some petrochemical activity, giving its economy an unusual combination of agriculture and industrial energy.
At 1.22%, Matagorda County’s effective rate exceeds the national median. For rice farmers and coastal agricultural landowners, maintaining current productivity valuations is critical — Coastal Prairie land values influenced by Gulf Coast industrial activity can diverge significantly from what rice farming income supports. More than half of those who protested in 2024 achieved reductions. Your deadline is May 15, 2026.
Official CAD site — appraisal notices, exemption applications, and district contact information.
Search your property record, view current appraised value, and verify exemption status.
Matagorda County Appraisal District protest procedures, online filing portal, and deadline information for the current year.
Every taxing entity’s proposed rate, adopted rate, and public hearing schedule for Matagorda County.
Enter the date your Notice of Appraised Value was mailed to find your exact filing deadline.
Every taxing unit in Matagorda County must publish its proposed rate and hold a public hearing before adopting any rate exceeding the no-new-revenue rate. These meetings are open. Your voice is on the record.
| Taxing Entity | Type | Rate (2024 approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County | County | ~$0.42/$100 |
| Bay City ISD | School District | ~$0.90/$100 |
| Palacios ISD | School District | ~$0.88/$100 |
| City of Bay City | City | ~$0.38/$100 |
| Multiple Special Districts | Special District | Varies |
Rates shown are approximate 2024 adopted rates. Verify current rates at matagorda.countytaxrates.com.
Search your account at matagordacad.org. Know your Notice of Appraised Value and the deadline printed on it.
File online, by mail, or in person at Matagorda County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 1.270, Bay City, TX 77404. Deadline: May 15, 2026 or 30 days after your notice was mailed.
Recent sales of comparable properties, your purchase price, photos of condition issues, and repair estimates all strengthen your case.
Before your ARB hearing, a CAD appraiser may offer to settle. Review any offer carefully — you can accept or proceed to the formal hearing.
The Appraisal Review Board is independent of the CAD. Present your evidence clearly and concisely. Most hearings run 15–30 minutes.
Disagree with the ARB ruling? You may appeal to district court, binding arbitration, or SOAH (properties over $1 million).
“No person’s particular services shall be demanded, nor property taken or applied to public use, unless by the consent of himself or his representative, without just compensation being made therefor.”
— Section 13, Declaration of Rights, Republic of Texas, 1836
Matagorda County rice farmers and the coastal communities that support them have built a way of life tied to the land and the water in ways that few Texans understand. The founders of the Republic wrote that no property shall be taken without consent and just compensation. When industrial activity inflates land values beyond what rice farming income can support, the protest system is the mechanism for accuracy. Look up your value. File your protest. Coastal Prairie agriculture deserves fair assessment.
For informational and educational purposes only. Property-Taxes-Texas.com is a citizen advocacy and education resource. Nothing on this site constitutes legal, financial, tax, or appraisal advice. We are not attorneys, CPAs, or licensed appraisers. Consult a licensed Texas attorney, qualified financial advisor, or certified appraiser for guidance specific to your situation. Deadlines, rates, and statutes are subject to change — verify all details with your county appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller before acting.
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