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Texas · South Texas · San Antonio Metro · #16 Most Populous County in the US
Bexar County, Texas
Government offices, property tax appeals, public records, courts, senior services, and local resources for San Antonio and Bexar County residents
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.
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Bexar County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
How do I protest my Bexar County property tax assessment?
File a protest with BCAD by May 15, or within 30 days of receiving your Notice of Appraised Value. You do not need a notice to file. Submit online at bcad.org, by mail to P.O. Box 830248, San Antonio, TX 78283, or in person at 411 N Frio St. Ownwell can manage the process and only charges if you save.
What happens to my value the year after I successfully protest?
Starting with the 2025 and 2026 tax years, BCAD will not increase your market value the following year if you successfully protested, unless you made improvements to the property such as new construction or a significant upgrade. This removes a common frustration where protesting only led to values bouncing back the next year.
What exemptions are available in Bexar County?
The standard homestead exemption removes $140,000 from school district taxable value following 2025 legislation. Homeowners 65 or older or with qualifying disabilities receive an additional $60,000. The over-65 school tax freeze prevents school tax from increasing even as values rise. Veterans with service-connected disabilities may qualify for partial or full exemption. File all exemptions at no cost with BCAD at 210-224-8511.
What is the 10-month property tax payment plan?
The Tax Assessor-Collector's Office offers the only 10-month payment plan in Texas, available to senior citizens, disabled persons, and disabled veterans. This lets eligible residents spread property tax liability across 10 monthly payments. Contact the office at 210-335-2251 to enroll.
What VA benefits are available for Bexar County veterans and seniors?
The South Texas Veterans Health Care System operates the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio, providing health care and long-term care to eligible veterans. The VA Community Living Center provides nursing home care for qualifying veterans, and VA Aid and Attendance benefits help cover assisted living or in-home care costs for eligible veterans and surviving spouses. Contact the VA at 210-617-5300 for eligibility.
Office: Bexar County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM) – 8130 Inner Circle, San Antonio, TX 78235 | (210) 335-0300 | Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM, closed county holidays
Alert App: ReadySouthTexas mobile app for emergency notifications
Non-emergency reporting: Unincorporated Bexar County – Sheriff’s Office Dispatch, (210) 335-6000; within San Antonio city limits – San Antonio Police Department, (210) 207-7273
Notes: Bexar County is Texas’s 4th-largest county and the 16th-largest nationally, with a population over two million – home to San Antonio, the state’s second-largest city. For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-10, I-35, I-37, and US-281 converge in San Antonio, the county seat
Transit: VIA Metropolitan Transit operates bus service throughout San Antonio and parts of Bexar County – confirm current routes directly for a specific address
Notes: A large, urban county with municipal services layered on top of county services throughout most of its area.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Bexar County Public Works Development Services – 1948 Probandt St, San Antonio, TX 78214; handles floodplain development permits, subdivision platting, and permit verification for unincorporated county land
Floodplain: A Floodplain Development Permit ($50 fee) is required for construction near the 100-year floodplain in unincorporated Bexar County; submit at least 45 days before the Permit Verification Form to avoid delays
Fire Marshal building permits: For projects requiring a Fire Marshal Building Permit, a Permit Verification Form (first two pages of that permit) must first confirm all required Public Works and Environmental Services permits, on-site drainage review, and – within 5 miles of a military installation – compliance with the Military Lighting Court Order
Within incorporated cities: Nearly two dozen municipalities exist within Bexar County (San Antonio plus roughly 20 smaller cities) – each handles its own building permits; contact the relevant city’s Development Services office rather than the county for anything inside city limits, including San Antonio itself
Notes: The military lighting restriction near Bexar’s several military installations (Joint Base San Antonio) is a genuinely specific requirement worth flagging for anyone building near a base.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Bexar County Military and Veterans Services Center – 1422 E. Grayson St, 4th Floor, Grayson Heights Building, San Antonio, TX 78208 | (210) HELP-VET / (210) 435-7838 | Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–12 PM and 1–5 PM, by appointment only
City of San Antonio Military & Veteran Affairs: (210) 207-7234, works with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) on veteran and military-family support
State VSO: Texas Veterans Commission – tvc.texas.gov
Notes: Disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected VA rating (or deemed unemployable) may qualify for a full residential homestead property tax exemption – apply through the Bexar Appraisal District.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: BiblioTech, Bexar County’s own library system – the first all-digital, bookless public library system in the United States, opened September 14, 2013. Four full branches plus a satellite location; the original BiblioTech is at 2214 Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78213. Patrons check out e-readers and access digital content rather than physical books; membership is free to county residents.
Notes: Bexar County does not otherwise operate its own physical-book library system – the City of San Antonio’s separate public library system serves city residents. BiblioTech was created specifically because the county, unlike the city, had no library system of its own, and County Judge Nelson Wolff championed the all-digital model to reach underserved areas quickly. This is genuinely unusual – most Texas counties this size run a conventional branch library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Alamo and the four other Spanish colonial Missions of San Antonio, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site; San Pedro Creek Culture Park, a linear park with murals, fountains, and historic markers stretching over two miles through downtown San Antonio, with free parking at several points along the trail
Notes: These are internationally significant, well-documented heritage sites – genuinely major, not filler.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Bexar Appraisal District (Bexar CAD) – handles property valuation, exemptions (including the disabled-veteran homestead exemption), and GIS parcel data for the county
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Bexar County Animal Care (serves unincorporated Bexar County only) – 5510 Duffek Drive, Kirby, TX 78219 | Animal Control Dispatch (report a stray): (210) 335-9000 | Intake inquiries: (210) 209-5687 | Business hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–4:30 PM
Notes: The county shelter houses 60 kennels and was created in late 2013 specifically to serve unincorporated areas. Within San Antonio city limits, strays are handled separately by San Antonio Animal Care Services, (210) 207-6000 – use the correct line depending on whether the address is inside or outside city limits.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Bexar County Solid Waste Program – 1948 Probandt St, San Antonio, TX 78214
Notes: As with building permits, actual household trash and recycling collection is handled at the municipal level throughout most of the county (San Antonio Solid Waste Management, or the relevant smaller city) rather than by the county directly for incorporated areas. Several private/regional facilities also serve the area, including Covel Gardens Landfill (WM) inside San Antonio. Confirm current arrangements with your specific city or, for unincorporated county land, with the county’s Solid Waste Program directly.
NOTES: Bexar County is the first of this next five-county batch (Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie) and by far the largest and most urban county tackled in this project so far. The most important structural point for a reader: Bexar County government and San Antonio city government are separate, and most day-to-day services (building permits, animal control, trash collection, libraries) split between “unincorporated county” and “inside a city” – always confirm which applies to a specific address before assuming county or city contact info is correct. BiblioTech’s all-digital library model is a genuinely distinctive, real innovation. 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 Bexar County
Bexar County is Texas’s fourth largest county by population and the sixteenth most populous in the United States, home to San Antonio and 25 other municipalities across 1,256 square miles of South Texas. San Antonio is one of the largest cities in the country and anchors a rapidly growing metro area that includes a substantial military presence – Joint Base San Antonio is among the largest military installations in the nation, encompassing Lackland Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph Air Force Base. County government is structured around a five-member Commissioners Court, with independently elected offices including the Tax Assessor-Collector, County Clerk, District Clerk, Sheriff, and District Attorney. Texas has no state income tax, making property taxes the primary funding mechanism for local schools, roads, and services.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Bexar County property taxes are assessed annually by BCAD. Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes carry significant weight – the effective rate in Bexar County runs approximately 2.1 percent of assessed value when all taxing entities are combined. The protest deadline is May 15 each year, or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later. Protests are filed with BCAD at 411 N Frio St or online through BCAD’s Help Center. BCAD also offers a text service at 844-461-2223 for common questions.
Starting with the 2025 and 2026 tax years, BCAD implemented a meaningful protection for property owners who successfully protest: if you challenge your valuation and get it reduced, BCAD will not increase your market value the following year unless you made changes to improve the property. This policy removes one of the most discouraging aspects of protesting, where properties often bounced back to higher values the very next year.
Exemptions are substantial following 2025 state legislation. The standard homestead exemption removes $140,000 from the taxable value for school district taxes. Homeowners 65 or older or with qualifying disabilities receive an additional $60,000. The school tax freeze prevents the school district portion from increasing for qualifying seniors. Military veterans with service-connected disabilities may qualify for partial or full exemption – particularly relevant given Bexar County’s large active-duty and veteran population. File exemptions with BCAD at 210-224-8511 at no cost.
OWNWELL CTA: Are you overpaying Bexar County property tax? BCAD reassesses every year and Bexar County ARB hearings have a high success rate for property owners. Ownwell analyzes your assessment, files the protest, and only charges if you save. The deadline is May 15.
LINK CLUSTER: How to protest your BCAD assessment, Homestead exemption Bexar County, Over-65 school tax freeze, Disabled homestead exemption, Veterans exemption, Disabled veteran exemption, Pay Bexar County property taxes, Search your BCAD appraised value, 10-month payment plan seniors, Unequal appraisal explained
Recommended
Are you overpaying Bexar County property tax? BCAD reassesses every year and Bexar County ARB hearings have a high success rate for property owners. Ownwell analyzes your assessment, files the protest, and only charges if you save. The deadline is May 15.
Public Records
Texas’s Public Information Act gives residents access to records held by Bexar County agencies. The County Clerk at 100 Dolorosa, basement level, maintains official public records including deeds, liens, plats, marriage licenses, and probate records. Court records are accessible through the Bexar County Justice Information Portal and Odyssey Portal. The District Clerk manages civil and felony criminal court records. Arrest records are maintained by the Bexar County Sheriff and by the San Antonio Police Department and other city agencies.
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Search Bexar County arrest and court records. TruthFinder aggregates publicly available arrest records, court filings, and background information for San Antonio and Bexar County residents.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Bexar County operates a large court system centered at the Bexar County Courthouse at 100 Dolorosa in downtown San Antonio and the adjacent Paul Elizondo Tower at 101 W Nueva. Civil and criminal district courts, Probate Courts, County Courts at Law, and specialty courts including DWI Court, Veterans Treatment Court, Adult Drug Court, and Mental Health Court operate across the courthouse complex.
Courts Directory
Court
Type
Phone
Address
Bexar County Courthouse
Civil district courts, probate, county courts
210-335-2011
100 Dolorosa, San Antonio
Paul Elizondo Tower
Criminal district courts, county courts
210-335-2011
101 W Nueva, San Antonio
Probate Courts
Wills, estates, guardianship, mental health
210-335-2238
100 Dolorosa, Basement, San Antonio
District Clerk Office
Civil, family, felony criminal records
210-335-2113
100 Dolorosa, San Antonio
County Clerk Office
Probate records, deeds, marriage licenses
210-335-2238
100 Dolorosa, Basement, San Antonio
Juvenile Justice Center
Juvenile matters
210-335-2462
235 E Mitchell, San Antonio
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Senior Services
Senior services in Bexar County are coordinated through Senior Services of Bexar County (210-477-3275), which provides Meals on Wheels, transportation, caregiver respite, senior centers, and home services for residents 60 and older. The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) also serves as the Area Agency on Aging for the broader region.
Bexar County’s large military and veteran population creates a distinctive senior care landscape. A significant number of seniors have access to Veterans Affairs health benefits and long-term care options through the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, which operates the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio. Veterans who qualify for VA care have access to nursing home and community care programs that civilian seniors do not.
The 10-month property tax payment plan available exclusively to Bexar County senior citizens, disabled persons, and disabled veterans is worth noting. Most Texas counties do not offer this option. Contact the Tax Assessor-Collector at 210-335-2251 to enroll.
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Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
100 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 335-2223
DISTRICT CLERK
100 Dolorosa St, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 335-2113
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Bexar County Probate Courts, San Antonio (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
San Antonio is home to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, a significant genealogical research center.
Local societies
San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society, confirmed local resource in a county of Bexar’s size.
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
Bexar County Probate Court No. 1 100 Dolorosa Street, Room 117, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 335-2542
Bexar County is in South Central Texas, seated in San Antonio, one of Texas’s largest and most populous counties. Bexar County has dedicated statutory Probate Courts (No. 1 and No. 2), plus County Courts at Law that share probate jurisdiction in some matters.
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 including Bexar) and county courts (in smaller counties). In Bexar County, one of the dedicated statutory Probate Courts handles the matter.
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 appropriate Bexar County Probate Court.
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 Bexar 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
200 North Comal St, San Antonio, TX 78207
(210) 335-6070
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
1103 South Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207
(210) 335-8683
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Metropolitan Health District
332 West Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 207-8876
HHSC Office
5911 Grissom Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238
(210) 207-4900
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) – 332 West Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78207 | (210) 207-8780 (general information line, 210-207-8780; confirm current department-specific lines when calling)
Services: Disease surveillance and control, restaurant/food permit inspections, clinical services, drinking water quality oversight, and public health emergency coordination for the county
Notes: Metro Health is a joint City of San Antonio/Bexar County public health agency – a substantial, standalone department reflecting the county’s urban scale, unlike many smaller counties in this project.
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.
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