Reference
The full term list.
Precise language prevents expensive surprises. Here is what each term means on the San Antonio to Boerne corridor, and how it is established.
| Term | What it is | How it is established |
|---|---|---|
| Mailing address | The street address plus a USPS place name and ZIP. | Postal routing by USPS. Not a jurisdiction. |
| ZIP code | A postal delivery zone. | USPS. Can span cities and counties. |
| County | Bexar, Kendall, or Comal in the corridor. | Land records and the county surveyor's maps. |
| City limits | The corporate boundary of Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, or San Antonio. | Annexation ordinances and city boundary maps. |
| ETJ | Unincorporated land just outside a city's limits. | Texas Local Government Code and city maps. |
| School district | The district governing attendance for the address. | District boundary maps and property address. |
| Appraisal district | The office that values the property for tax purposes. | County of record; Bexar, Kendall, or Comal. |
| Taxing units | The entities that set rates on the appraised value. | Listed on the appraisal record and title commitment. |
| Utility districts | Water, sewer, drainage, and municipal utility districts. | Creation statutes and service-area maps. |
| HOA / POA | A private association with covenants, not a government. | Deed restrictions and association documents. |
| Subdivision plat | The recorded map of lots and streets. | County or city plat records. |
| Title commitment | The pre-closing report of everything that encumbers title. | Title company research during the sale. |
Process
How to verify a property in seven steps.
- 01
Write the address down
Use the exact street address from the sales contract, including any lot or unit number. Vague descriptions produce vague answers.
- 02
Open the appraisal district record
Search Bexar County Appraisal District (bcad.org), Kendall County Appraisal District (kendallad.org), or Comal County Appraisal District (comalad.org) by address. This fixes the county and the legal description.
- 03
Read the taxing units
The appraisal record lists every entity that taxes the property: county, city, school district, and special districts. This is the jurisdiction stack in one screen.
- 04
Check city boundaries
Compare the parcel against the City of Boerne, City of Fair Oaks Ranch, or City of San Antonio boundary and annexation maps, or call the city planning office to confirm city limits versus ETJ.
- 05
Verify the school district
Use the serving district's boundary lookup with the full property address. District offices confirm the assigned campus.
- 06
Confirm utilities
Ask the seller, read the seller's disclosure, and confirm water, sewer, and electric providers for the tract. Districts vary by location.
- 07
Read the title commitment
During a sale, the title commitment lists every taxing jurisdiction for the legal description. It is the single most reliable summary of where a home sits.
Corridor Patterns
Where the corridor surprises people.
- Boerne addresses in Bexar County. Sablechase carries Boerne mail while sitting on Bexar County land outside any city.
- San Antonio addresses on Bexar County land. Stonewall Ranch keeps San Antonio mailing addresses while its records sit entirely in Bexar County.
- One city, three counties. Fair Oaks Ranch's limits cross Bexar, Kendall, and Comal, so the appraisal district answer can change home by home.
- Address, county, and district rarely align. The same ZIP can hold homes in two counties, and one school district can serve homes in both.
| Community | Address says | County says |
|---|---|---|
| Sablechase | Boerne, 78015 | Bexar County |
| Balcones Creek | Boerne, 78006 | Bexar County |
| Stonewall Ranch | San Antonio, 78256 | Bexar County |
| Arbors at Fair Oaks | Fair Oaks Ranch area, 78015 | Bexar County |
| Fallbrook | Boerne area, 78015 | Bexar County |
Questions about verification
What does ETJ stand for?
Extraterritorial jurisdiction. It is unincorporated land just beyond a city's corporate limits where the city has limited authority, mostly over subdivision platting and annexation, but no city zoning or city property tax. Boerne's ETJ extends roughly one mile beyond its city limits.
If a home is outside city limits, does the county handle everything?
Broadly yes. County government, county roads, and the county sheriff's office cover unincorporated areas, though specific services vary by precinct and by agreements. Verify law enforcement, permitting, and road maintenance for the exact property with the county offices.
Why is the title commitment the best single document?
A title commitment, prepared by a licensed title company during the sale, lists every taxing jurisdiction that can claim the property: county, city, school district, and special districts. It is the most reliable snapshot of the jurisdiction stack for the specific legal description.
Can two sides of the same street be in different school districts?
Yes. Attendance boundaries follow district maps, and those maps do not follow streets. This is why the school question must be answered with the property address, not the neighborhood name.