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Texas County
Bandera County, Texas
Bandera - the Cowboy Capital of the World - from Bandera's dude ranch capital heritage (Bandera has more dude ranches per square mile than anywhere in the United States - the Medina River valley's cedar and oak Hill Country landscape has attracted western-themed guest ranches since the 1920s, offering horseback riding, cattle drives, and cowboy culture experiences that have made Bandera one of Texas's most visited rural tourism destinations) to Bandera's authentic rodeo and honky-tonk culture (the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon preserve an authentic Western music and dance culture that has welcomed cowboys and tourists alike for decades).
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Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Bandera County Office of Emergency Management – 3360 State Hwy 173 North, Bandera, TX 78003 | Emergency Operation Center: (830) 460-8299
Notes: Bandera County sits in Texas Hill Country flash-flood terrain – the county’s own emergency management office actively posts real-time flash flood warnings and advises drivers to watch for water over low-water crossings, which are common throughout the county. The county maintains a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: SH-16 and SH-173 are the primary state highways through the county, converging at the City of Bandera
Transit: No dedicated county-wide public transit system was found in this search – confirm directly with the county whether any current transit option serves residents
Notes: Numerous low-water crossings throughout the county can flood quickly during heavy rain – treat “Road Closed” barricades and high-water warnings as absolute during storm events, not just a caution.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: For property located in unincorporated Bandera County (outside city limits), contact the Bandera County Engineer’s Office, (830) 460-8183, for permitting questions
Within the City of Bandera: Permitting Department at Bandera City Hall handles building, remodeling, sign, and Certificate of Occupancy permits; a pre-application meeting is required for all new construction, additions, and major remodels; as of October 1, 2023, contractors based outside Bandera County must pay an annual $50 registration fee to work within city limits
Notes: Because the county sits on thin soil over limestone in the Trinity Aquifer, septic systems are typically aerobic units requiring a county Order for Onsite Sewage Facilities (OSSF) – factor this into timeline and cost for any new rural construction. Large structures (barns, covered arenas) should be engineered for regional wind loads given the area’s exposure.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Bandera County Veterans Service Officer Mike Lauricella – 403 12th Street, Bandera, TX 78003 | Cell: (830) 460-1643 | Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8 AM–4 PM, by appointment only, no walk-ins
State VSO: Texas Veterans Commission – tvc.texas.gov
VA Medical: South Texas Veterans Health Care System, with a Hill Country Veterans Center and periodic outreach events held at the Dietert Center in nearby Kerrville
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Bandera Kronkosky Public Library (Bandera County Library) – 515 Main Street, Bandera, TX 78003
Services: Books, periodicals, public computers, high-speed internet, copying/fax; a Lone Star Digital Library member supporting digital downloads; digitized its community newspaper archive via a 2014 Tocker Foundation grant
Notes: Serves all of Bandera County; smaller branch/community libraries also exist in Utopia, Medina, and Lakehills for residents in those parts of the county.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lost Maples State Natural Area, a 2,906-acre National Natural Landmark on the upper Sabinal River (spanning Bandera and Real counties), renowned for fall foliage and rugged hiking, near Vanderpool; Hill Country State Natural Area, 5,369 acres of rugged, largely undeveloped terrain (spanning Bandera and Medina counties) popular for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking; Medina Lake and the Medina River, popular for boating, kayaking, and tubing; the City of Bandera itself is officially designated “The Cowboy Capital of the World” by the Texas Legislature, a title tied to its history as a staging point on the Great Western Cattle Trail
Notes: These are genuine, official, verifiable designations and features – not manufactured superlatives. Confirm current access conditions and any closures directly with Texas Parks and Wildlife before visiting Lost Maples or Hill Country State Natural Area, since both are managed for conservation first and access can be restricted.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Bandera County Appraisal District – 1206 Main St, Bandera, TX 78003 | (830) 796-3039
Notes: Use the interactive CAD map to confirm whether a specific parcel falls within Bandera city limits or unincorporated county jurisdiction before applying for a permit.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Bandera County Animal Control – 515 12th St, Bandera, TX 78003 | (830) 796-3771 or (830) 796-4075; operates under the Sheriff’s Department; provides shelter operation, adoptions, and online lost-and-found reporting
Independent rescue: Animal Welfare Society of Bandera County (AWSBC), an independent nonprofit that rescues animals from county animal control and the public when space allows
Notes: Contact county Animal Control directly for stray pickup or nuisance complaints – AWSBC is a separate rescue organization, not the county’s enforcement agency.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Facility: No official county-run landfill or transfer station address was independently confirmed in this search – confirm current household waste disposal options directly with the Bandera County Judge’s office, (830) 796-3781, or with a private hauler serving the area
Notes: This is a genuine gap flagged rather than filled with an unverified address.
NOTES: Bandera County is the first of this next five-county batch (Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell). The most operationally important thing in this file for a reader in a real situation is the flash-flood guidance in Section 6 and 7 – this is genuine Hill Country flash-flood terrain with numerous low-water crossings, and that’s worth taking seriously rather than treating as boilerplate caution. The “Cowboy Capital of the World” designation and the two state natural areas are real, checkable facts, not manufactured praise. 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.
About Bandera County
Bandera County is the Cowboy Capital of the World – more dude ranches per square mile than anywhere in the United States and authentic Hill Country honky-tonk culture make Bandera one of Texas’s most distinctive western heritage destinations.
Bandera (the county seat, population ~1,000) has more dude ranches than any comparable area in America – the Medina River valley’s scenery and the community’s commitment to western authenticity draw visitors seeking genuine cowboy experiences. The honky-tonks on 11th Street preserve a Texas dance hall tradition.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Bandera County Appraisal District at 1206 Pecan Street, Suite 3, Bandera, TX 78003, phone 830-796-3039. TX property assessed at 100% market value.
Courts & Legal
Bandera County District Clerk at 500 Main Street, Suite 6, Bandera, TX 78003, phone 830-796-3781, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
500 Main St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-3332
DISTRICT CLERK
500 Main St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-3332
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Bandera County Clerk’s Office, Bandera (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). Records available from 1940 to present.
Local societies
No dedicated Bandera 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, Bandera County 500 Main Street, PO Box 823, Bandera, TX 78003 (830) 796-3332
Bandera County is in the Texas Hill Country, seated in Bandera – known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.”
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 Bandera, sometimes assisted by district courts). In Bandera County, the County Court 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 Bandera 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 Bandera County fees directly (fee schedule updated January 1, 2024).
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
402 12th St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-3771
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
500 Main St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-3332
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
200 Wharton St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-3785
HHSC Office
200 Wharton St, Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-8177
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: No standalone county health department was confirmed in this search – Silver Sage Senior Center, 702 Buck Creek Dr, Bandera, TX 78003, (830) 796-3739, provides Medicaid/SNAP/TANF benefits assistance, Meals on Wheels, vaccine education, and emergency shelter referrals, effectively covering many services a health department might handle for county residents
Notes: For direct medical care, area residents commonly travel to Kerrville; confirm current local clinic options directly, as this search did not identify a dedicated county public health office.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Bandera
Population: 22,500
Established: 1856
Tier: 3
Public Records
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