For realtors
Where to find what you need, and how to bring us a client. The realtor and homeowner reference below is open — no email, no form — so you can send it straight to a buyer.
Guides, area by area
Sources for a lot in Aledo, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Weatherford, west Fort Worth, Benbrook and Granbury: adopted building codes, permits and platting, impact fees, water, wells and septic, floodplain, ETJ and school districts, and how to verify a builder, a trade or a contract. Every entry links to its source and shows the date it was last checked.
Not every area has an entry for every subject; each area shows its count.
Hand these to your client
Print them, or send the link. No email required.
The lot walk: what to look at in the hour you spend on the land
A field sheet for the hour you actually spend standing on a piece of land.
Download the PDF (4 pages, 173 KB): The lot walk: what to look at in the hour you spend on the land
Checked by Dale Proctor ·
The first thirty days after you close on land
Almost every delay at the start of a custom build traces back to something ordered late in the first month — a survey, a soil report, a septic test, a utility application.
Download the PDF (4 pages, 184 KB): The first thirty days after you close on land
Checked by Dale Proctor ·
Three builders, one page: a scorecard for the answers you get
Everyone hands you a list of questions to ask a builder. This is the other half — one page where three builders' answers sit side by side, with what a specific answer sounds like and what a vague one usually means.
Download the PDF (4 pages, 246 KB): Three builders, one page: a scorecard for the answers you get
Checked by Dale Proctor ·
What you pay while you build: the money before the house exists
The build price is the number everyone quotes. The one that surprises people is what leaves the account between closing on the land and moving in — deposits, soft costs, draws, interest on what has been drawn, and the months of paying for somewhere to live at the same time.
Download the PDF (6 pages, 265 KB): What you pay while you build: the money before the house exists
Checked by Dale Proctor ·
The order of decisions: what has to be chosen before what
Nobody tells you that choosing a bathtub is a framing decision, or that the fastest way to lose three weeks is to be undecided about one light switch.
Download the PDF (4 pages, 183 KB): The order of decisions: what has to be chosen before what
Checked by Dale Proctor ·
Aledo
6 sources
All 54 sources for Aledo, county, state and federal included
Adopted building codes
- City of Aledo — adopted building codes
aledotx.gov · 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code; adopted 2024-05-23, effective 2025-01-01, with regional council amendments.
- Last checked
Impact fees and connection costs
- City of Aledo — FY25-26 fee schedule
aledotx.gov · Carries tap, meter and permit fees. Impact fee amounts are not on it: the schedule refers to the Impact Fee Collection Rate Schedule, Ordinance 2022-154 (2022-03-24), whose amounts are not published online. Ask the city in writing.
- Last checked
School districts
- Aledo ISD — 2023 bond FAQs
aledoisd.org · The district's own FAQ on the 2023 bond. Bonds are how districts fund buildings and they reach the tax bill.
- Last checked
- Aledo ISD — demographic reports
aledoisd.org · The district's published demographer studies, which are where enrollment projections come from.
- Last checked
- Aledo ISD — growth committee report to the board, 2026-04-21
aledoisd.org · Additional high school space "may not be needed until around 2032-2033"; "growth has slowed in Aledo"; the committee recommended no bond package.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Aledo city, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
Willow Park
1 source
All 49 sources for Willow Park, county, state and federal included
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Willow Park city, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
Hudson Oaks
2 sources
All 50 sources for Hudson Oaks, county, state and federal included
Permits, platting and driveways
- City of Hudson Oaks — permits by type
hudsonoaks.com · Which permit applies to a new house, an accessory building or an accessory dwelling unit.
- Last checked
Area information
- City of Hudson Oaks — history of the city
hudsonoaks.com · Founded in 1978; the city states it provides municipal services without levying a property tax.
- Last checked
Weatherford
5 sources
All 53 sources for Weatherford, county, state and federal included
Adopted building codes
- City of Weatherford — code adoptions and amendments
weatherfordtx.gov · The city's landing page for adopted codes and its local amendments.
- Last checked
- City of Weatherford — Ordinance O2025-22, code adoption
weatherfordtx.gov · 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code, applying to all plans submitted on or after 2026-01-01.
- Last checked
Permits, platting and driveways
- City of Weatherford — residential permits
weatherfordtx.gov · The city's residential submittal list: completed application, site plan, construction drawings and proof of property ownership.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Weatherford city, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
- City of Weatherford — city history
weatherfordtx.gov · "Weatherford was established in 1858 and named after Thomas J. Weatherford, a Texas state senator."
- Last checked
West Fort Worth
5 sources
All 42 sources for West Fort Worth, county, state and federal included
Adopted building codes
- City of Fort Worth — building and energy codes
fortworthtexas.gov · 2023 National Electrical Code effective 2023-03-01. Read on 2026-09-10 the page still described a 2026 NEC as proposed, with a stated effective date that has passed. Ask the city what it is inspecting to this month.
- Last checked
Impact fees and connection costs
- City of Fort Worth — current water and wastewater impact fees
fortworthtexas.gov · Published by meter size for the period beginning 2025-10-01. Read the amounts at the source; they change by ordinance.
- Last checked
- City of Fort Worth — how a water impact fee is assessed
fortworthtexas.gov · Fees are assessed on the date the plat was recorded and on the water meter size — so the meter your plumbing designer specifies has a price attached.
- Last checked
ETJ and unincorporated land
- City of Fort Worth — extraterritorial jurisdiction
fortworthtexas.gov · The city describes its ETJ as the unincorporated land within five miles of the city limits. Land in an ETJ is not in the city, and the city's subdivision rules can still reach it.
- Last checked
Area information
- City of Fort Worth — Public Improvement District 22, Veale Ranch
fortworthtexas.gov · Established 2023. The page describes a district designed to support approximately 6,000 single-family homes. A PID levies an assessment: check whether a parcel is inside one before an offer.
- Last checked
Benbrook
7 sources
All 44 sources for Benbrook, county, state and federal included
Adopted building codes
- City of Benbrook — codes and ordinances
benbrook-tx.gov · The 2018 International Code series and 2017 National Electrical Code local amendments, listed as in effect as of 2019-01-03.
- Last checked
Impact fees and connection costs
- Benbrook Water Authority — impact fee FAQs
benbrookwater.com · Defines the impact fee and the tap fee separately, and sets out the exemptions — including how an irrigation meter is treated.
- Last checked
- Benbrook Water Authority — impact fee schedule
benbrookwater.com · The authority's schedule by meter size, effective 2025-10-01.
- Last checked
- Benbrook Water Authority — impact fees page
benbrookwater.com · The authority's landing page, which links the fee schedule effective 2025-10-01. The page itself carries no amounts.
- Last checked
Water, wells and septic
- City of Benbrook — utilities: who provides what
benbrook-tx.gov · Water and sewer belong to the Benbrook Water Authority, which has its own elected board and is independent from the city. Gas is Atmos; the electric wires are Oncor's.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Benbrook city, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
- City of Benbrook — community profile
benbrook-tx.gov · "Benbrook is located adjacent to Fort Worth, in southwest Tarrant County. Interstate 20, Interstate Loop 820, and Benbrook Boulevard (U.S. 377) all run through it."
- Last checked
Granbury
2 sources
All 45 sources for Granbury, county, state and federal included
Adopted building codes
- City of Granbury — building permits and inspections
granbury.org · The city states it inspects to codes with the regional council's amendments, Option B. The page names no code edition; the edition has to be asked for.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Granbury city, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
Parker County
13 sources
The rules the state sets, under Texas
Permits, platting and driveways
- Parker County — subdivision and platting information
parkercountytx.gov · Platting forms, checklists and fees, through the county's platting department. Dividing land is handled here, not at the permitting counter.
- Last checked
- Parker County — subdivision regulations and construction standards
parkercountytx.gov · Adopted under Local Government Code ch. 232. Sets driveway width, driveway spacing by posted speed, and culvert sizing on the plat face. Most recent adoption printed in the document: 2024-10-28 — the file name says December 2025 and the document does not.
- Last checked
- Parker County Commissioner Precinct 1 — road requests and culvert permits
parkercountytx.gov · Road work requests, which roads the county maintains, and culvert permitting for Precinct 1.
- Last checked
- Parker County Commissioner Precinct 2 — driveway and utility permits
parkercountytx.gov · "No driveway or utility construction shall be allowed without first obtaining a permit from Precinct 2." Each precinct permits its own county roads.
- Last checked
- Parker County Permitting — what the department does
parkercountytx.gov · "Parker County does not issue building permits or certificates of occupancy." The department covers on-site sewage, development in special flood hazard areas, health and safety complaints, and stormwater.
- Last checked
Water, wells and septic
- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — district rules
uppertrinitygcd.com · The full rules, including definitions, registration, permits and exemptions.
- Last checked
- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — FAQs on wells
uppertrinitygcd.com · Well registration and the district's minimum spacing from property lines and from other registered wells.
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- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — maps
uppertrinitygcd.com · District tract size, observation wells and registered wells.
- Last checked
Floodplain
- Parker County — floodplain development permit instructions
parkercountytx.gov · Sets the freeboard, the No-Rise Certificate for a regulatory floodway, and the sealed Elevation Certificate. Read the requirements at the source.
- Last checked
- FEMA — preliminary flood maps for Parker County ready for public view
fema.gov · The 2025-02-03 announcement of the preliminary maps. Preliminary is not effective: which map governs a permit is a question for the county floodplain administrator.
- Last checked
ETJ and unincorporated land
- City of Fort Worth — extraterritorial jurisdiction
fortworthtexas.gov · The city describes its ETJ as the unincorporated land within five miles of the city limits. Land in an ETJ is not in the city, and the city's subdivision rules can still reach it.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Parker County, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
- TRERC — housing activity dashboard, Parker County
trerc.tamu.edu · Monthly county housing activity. Interactive: the figures render only in a browser, so take the latest month from the dashboard rather than from any summary of it.
- Last checked
Tarrant County
1 source
The rules the state sets, under Texas
Area information
- TWDB — Benbrook Lake
twdb.texas.gov · On the Clear Fork of the Trinity; impoundment began 1952-09-29; authorized for flood control, with navigation and recreation.
- Last checked
Hood County
7 sources
The rules the state sets, under Texas
Permits, platting and driveways
- Hood County Development — subdivision, floodplain and residential permits
hoodcounty.texas.gov · The county administers development, subdivision and floodplain regulations, and states it does not issue permits or perform inspections for residential construction or remodeling.
- Last checked
Water, wells and septic
- Hood County Environmental Health — on-site sewage facilities
hoodcounty.texas.gov · The permitting office for on-site sewage in unincorporated Hood County. A permit is required for all installation, modification and replacement.
- Last checked
- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — district rules
uppertrinitygcd.com · The full rules, including definitions, registration, permits and exemptions.
- Last checked
- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — FAQs on wells
uppertrinitygcd.com · Well registration and the district's minimum spacing from property lines and from other registered wells.
- Last checked
- Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District — maps
uppertrinitygcd.com · District tract size, observation wells and registered wells.
- Last checked
Area information
- Census QuickFacts — Hood County, Texas
census.gov · Population, households, income and housing. Read on 2026-09-10 the page served July 1, 2025 (V2025) estimates; the vintage in the URL is older than the vintage on the page.
- Last checked
- TWDB — Lake Granbury
twdb.texas.gov · On the Brazos River about 8.3 miles southeast of Granbury; the Brazos River Authority owns the lake.
- Last checked
Texas
34 sources
The state’s own sources are not tied to one area. They are listed once, in the library, by subject.
- Adopted building codes3 from the state
- Permits, platting and driveways1 from the state
- Water, wells and septic3 from the state
- Floodplain1 from the state
- ETJ and unincorporated land2 from the state
- School districts3 from the state
- Verifying a builder, a trade or a contract16 from the state
- Insurance4 from the state
- Area information1 from the state
Federal
2 sources
Floodplain
- FEMA — preliminary flood maps for Parker County ready for public view
fema.gov · The 2025-02-03 announcement of the preliminary maps. Preliminary is not effective: which map governs a permit is a question for the county floodplain administrator.
- Last checked
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search by address
msc.fema.gov · The federal map lookup. An interactive tool: it needs a browser and an address or parcel.
- Last checked
The field notes
The field notes are written from public sources. Each one names who checked it and where the facts came from, and each is made to be forwarded to a client.
Introducing a client
Use the same form as a client would and choose the realtor or partner option in step one. Say what you know about the land and how you would like to be involved.
Before your client writes on a lot
We will review a lot you are considering and advise on whether it is suitable, at no cost and before any agreement. That is a builder's opinion, not a survey, engineering, environmental, valuation, title or legal opinion.
Tell us about the land first
The form asks five questions about the project and the lot before it asks for your name. The first call is for fit: what the site needs, what you want, and whether we are the right builder for it. Dale reads every inquiry and answers within one business day.