Reviewed and updated October 7, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and October 1, 2026.
Houston, Texas, in Harris County, has about 2.4 million residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Houston is in the deed records of the County Clerk and its taxable value is set by the Appraisal District; what is built on it is a matter for the city. This guide says who keeps each record and where the page for each office is.
This guide covers deeds, assessed values, city permits and records, evictions and court cases, records requests, directory links and common questions.
Related guides: Houston public records, Harris County public records, Houston warrants, Houston inmate search, Houston criminal records, Houston court records, Texas arrest records and Texas inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Houston
Who owns a parcel in Houston and what it sold for are in the deed records of the County Clerk, with every lien or mortgage against the land.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Clerk's page at cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch (page title: Web Inquiry), phone 713-274-6390, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Houston
What a parcel in Houston is taxed on is the business of the Appraisal District, which also keeps the parcel maps. Texas property is appraised by a separate appraisal district, not a county assessor, and a homestead's appraised value for tax can rise no more than 10 percent a year.
SearchSystems opened and checked the Appraisal District's page at hcad.org/property-search/property-search (page title: Property Search | Harris Central Appraisal District), a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 403), so open it in a browser.
Permits and City Records in Houston
Building permits, zoning and code cases are the city's own. For Houston, SearchSystems opened and checked the city hall page at houstontx.gov/311/contact.html (page title: 3-1-1 Service Categories | About Houston 3-1-1), phone 713.837.0311, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The city clerk's page SearchSystems verified is at co.houston.tx.us/page/houston.County.Clerk (page title: Houston County, Texas), phone 936-544-3255, 414 East Pilar St. Nacogdoches, TX 75961, Friday 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Houston
An eviction is a court case in the County Courts and Justice Courts, and so is a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit, in the Harris County District Court; the court file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at jpwebsite.harriscountytx.gov/FindMyCase/search.jsp. That page belongs to a lower court, the County Courts and Justice Courts, not to the Harris County District Court.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the Texas Public Information Act a county office must answer a request within 10 business days, and it may charge the copy rates set by the Attorney General, plus labor for large requests.
More Official Property Records Pages for Harris County
The SearchSystems directory, online since 1997, lists official pages for Harris County. These property pages and recorded document pages from it were opened again on October 1, 2026 and each one still answers:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | La Porte, TX - Official Website (laportetx.gov)
- Harris County Clerk's Office County Civil Courts (cclerk.hctx.net)
- Harris County Property Records and Maps (records.harriscountytx.gov)
- Harris County A-Z | Harris County | Texas (harriscountytx.gov)
- Phone Directory (webapps.harriscountytx.gov)
- Texas | County Voter Registrar Directory (sos.state.tx.us)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Houston?
The County Clerk, at cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch, phone 713-274-6390. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Houston are filed there.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Houston?
The Appraisal District.
Where are evictions from Houston filed?
In the County Courts and Justice Courts. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in Texas?
Texas property is appraised by a separate appraisal district, not a county assessor, and a homestead's appraised value for tax can rise no more than 10 percent a year.
Is this the official Houston website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.