Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Texas County
Aransas County, Texas
Whooping cranes and Rockport Gulf Coast living - from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (the refuge across Aransas Bay from Rockport is the primary wintering ground for the world's only self-sustaining wild whooping crane population - the endangered birds migrate from Canada each fall to the refuge's coastal marshes, drawing birdwatchers from around the world to one of conservation's greatest success stories) to Rockport's Gulf Coast arts and fishing community (the city's protected harbor, sea-oat-covered barrier islands, and warm coastal climate have made Rockport one of the Texas Gulf Coast's most beloved small cities for sport fishing, birding, and coastal living).
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Aransas County Emergency Management – 308 N. Live Oak St, Rockport, TX 78382 | (361) 556-5307 | Fax: (361) 727-2043
Notes: Aransas County sits directly in the Texas hurricane belt on the Gulf Coast, and the City of Rockport (the county seat) uses a phased, time-based evacuation system tied to storm timing rather than a single blanket order: VOLUNTARY evacuation of special-needs residents, nursing home patients, home health care patients, and tourists/vacationers begins roughly 40 hours before 35 mph tropical-storm-force winds are expected; MANDATORY evacuation of the same groups plus mobile-home, waterfront/canal, and low-lying flood-prone residents follows at roughly 32 hours; a general mandatory evacuation of remaining residents follows at roughly 8 hours, tightening further for a Category 4–5 storm with a possible 20-foot-plus tidal surge. Primary evacuation routes run via SH 188 to I-37 or US 181, and SH 35 north or south. For an active emergency, call 911; for current evacuation status during a storm, follow official county and City of Rockport channels rather than assuming a fixed timeline applies to every event.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: SH 35 (business and bypass) and SH 188 are the primary routes through the county, both also serving as hurricane evacuation corridors
Transit: No dedicated county-wide public transit system was found in this search – confirm directly with the county or City of Rockport whether any current transit option serves residents
Notes: A relatively small (approx. 486 sq mi) Gulf Coast county built around Rockport, Fulton, and the barrier of Live Oak/Copano/Aransas Bays.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Floodplain Development Permit applications are processed through a Certified Floodplain Manager in county government (forms posted via the county Road & Bridge Department webpage); permit fees vary by location and review must go through Environmental Health as well
Within incorporated cities: City of Rockport Development Services/Building Department – 622 East Market Street, Rockport, TX 78382 (building/permitting divisions handle plats, rezoning, building permits, and certificates of occupancy); Aransas Pass Building Department (for the portion of that city in the county) – (361) 758-3111, option 3
Notes: Aransas County holds unusually direct zoning authority for a Texas county – Texas Local Government Code Chapter 231, Subchapter N grants the Aransas County Commissioners Court zoning authority in unincorporated areas within three miles of the Gulf shoreline or a bay, a power most Texas counties do not have, aimed at protecting the county’s inland bay system from disorderly coastal development. Because the county lies fully within the Texas windstorm insurance zone, most new construction also needs a WPI-8 windstorm certificate to qualify for wind/hail coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) – factor this into any coastal building project, and confirm current requirements directly, since floodplain non-compliance can jeopardize the county’s National Flood Insurance Program standing.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Aransas County Veterans Services – 2840 Highway 35 N, Rockport, TX | (361) 790-0154
State VSO: Texas Veterans Commission – tvc.texas.gov
VA Medical: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinics in nearby Corpus Christi, including locations at 4646 Corona Drive ((361) 854-9961) and 5283 Old Brownsville Rd ((361) 806-5600)
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Aransas County Public Library – 701 E. Mimosa St, Rockport, TX 78382 | (361) 790-0153
Notes: County-managed (not a city library), serving all of Aransas County.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, a 115,324-acre U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge (spanning Aransas, Refugio, and Calhoun counties) that is the primary wintering ground for the endangered whooping crane, whose population has recovered substantially since the 1940s; Goose Island State Park, a 321-acre Texas Parks and Wildlife property north of Rockport on St. Charles and Aransas Bays
Notes: Confirm current refuge and state park hours, seasonal crane-viewing windows, and any entry fees directly before a visit, as both vary seasonally and the refuge’s crane population is most visible in winter.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Aransas County Appraisal District (Aransas CAD) – 11 Hwy 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382 | (361) 729-9733 | Chief Appraiser: Ray Presley; GIS parcel map available via the district’s website
Tax Assessor-Collector: (361) 790-0160
Notes: Aransas CAD provides an online interactive parcel map in addition to standard property search.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Aransas County Animal Care Services – 872 Airport Rd, Rockport, TX 78382 | (361) 790-0151 (some listings show (361) 790-0151 or a related extension – confirm current direct line when calling)
Services: County-run shelter serving the City of Rockport, Town of Fulton, and unincorporated county areas; adoption fee $50 including first shots and spay/neuter
Notes: The Rockport-Fulton Humane Society and Adoption Center is a separate, independent nonprofit that also assists with animal welfare in the area – use the county shelter’s line for stray pickup and animal control matters, and the Humane Society for its own adoption/fostering programs.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Facility: Aransas County Transfer Station – 872 Airport Rd, Fulton, TX | Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (closed Sunday and Monday); does not accept hazardous waste; recycling drop-off available for paper, plastic, and glass
Notes: Register with Aransas County Environmental Health, (361) 790-0121, for the Free Trash Program allowing up to 5 bags of household trash per week at no charge. The Transfer Station is closed on major holidays – confirm current holiday closures before a trip, especially around storm season when hours can shift.
NOTES: Aransas County is the fourth county completed in the Texas Round 3 redo. The single most important thing in this file for someone in a real situation is the hurricane evacuation timeline in Section 6 – this is a coastal county where storm timing genuinely matters, and the phased 40/32/8-hour structure is real, current county/city guidance rather than generic disaster-prep language. The county’s special coastal zoning authority (Section 8) is also a genuine and unusual feature worth noting for anyone planning construction near the shoreline. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision – and especially before or during an active storm.
About Aransas County
Aransas County is the Texas Gulf Coast’s whooping crane and Rockport fishing county – the globally significant whooping crane wintering ground and the city of Rockport’s coastal charm combine to make Aransas County one of Texas’s premier Gulf Coast destinations for birding, sport fishing, and waterfront living.
Rockport (the county seat, population ~10,000) is Aransas County’s governmental and tourism hub, a Gulf Coast city whose harbor, arts scene, and wildlife access draw visitors and retirees from across Texas and beyond.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Aransas County Appraisal District at 11 HWY 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382, phone 361-729-9733.
Courts & Legal
Aransas County District Court at 301 N. Live Oak Street, Rockport, TX 78382, phone 361-790-0100, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
301 North Live Oak St, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-0122
DISTRICT CLERK
301 North Live Oak St, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-0128
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Aransas County Clerk’s Office, Rockport (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). Records available from 1840 to present.
Local societies
No dedicated Aransas County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
County Clerk, Aransas County 2840 Highway 35 North, Rockport, TX 78383 (361) 790-0122
Aransas County is on the Texas Gulf Coast, seated in Rockport, known for seafood, oil production, tourism, boating, and bird watching.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Texas probate law is governed by the Texas Estates Code. Probate jurisdiction in Texas is split between statutory probate courts (in larger metro counties) and county courts (in smaller counties like Aransas, sometimes assisted by district courts). In Aransas County, the County Court at Law handles probate matters.
Small Estate Affidavit (Tex. Est. Code § 205.001) – available ONLY when the decedent died WITHOUT a will (intestate), the estate (excluding homestead and exempt property) does not exceed $75,000, and assets exceed debts. At least 30 days must have passed since death. The affidavit must list every asset and debt, establish the family history showing who the heirs are, and be sworn to by the heirs and two disinterested witnesses; a judge then reviews and approves it under § 205.003.
Independent Administration – used when a will exists (or all heirs agree) and the estate has debts; minimal court supervision after the executor is appointed. This is the most common and efficient path in Texas when available.
Muniment of Title – available when a valid will exists, there are no unsecured debts (other than a mortgage), and there’s no other need for a full administration; transfers title without appointing an executor.
Dependent Administration – required for complex, contested, or disputed estates; involves ongoing court supervision and approval of most actions.
Step 2: filing for administration
The personal representative (or an interested party) files an Application for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration, if intestate) with the Aransas County Clerk.
The original will (if one exists), a certified death certificate, and information about heirs and the proposed executor are included with the application.
The court holds a hearing and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative publishes notice to creditors and gathers, inventories, and appraises the estate’s assets.
The personal representative pays valid debts and expenses.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed.
What it costs
Filing fees in Texas typically run $250–$400 depending on the county; confirm current Aransas County fees directly.
Texas law allows a statutory executor fee of 5% of all sums actually received and paid out in cash, with specific exceptions. The court may also approve reasonable attorney fees paid from the estate.
Small estate affidavits typically cost $600–$1,900 total when factoring in filing and related fees.
Texas does NOT impose a state estate tax or a state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2650 Highway 35 North, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-0700
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
301 North Live Oak St, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-0122
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Public Health Department
809 East Mimosa St, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-0330
HHSC Office
1401 Enterprise Blvd, Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 790-5900
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Aransas County Environmental Health – 870 Airport Rd, Rockport, TX 78382 | (361) 790-0121 | Fax: (361) 790-0157
Notes: This office also administers the county’s Free Trash Program (residents can register for free disposal of up to 5 bags of household trash per week at the Transfer Station) – registration goes through this office, not the Transfer Station directly.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Rockport
Population: 24,000
Established: 1871
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Aransas County residents.
