Fort Bend County Property Tax Rate: 2025 Rates by Taxing Entity
Unlike neighboring Harris County, Fort Bend County has no hospital district -- saving homeowners roughly $0.19 per $100 that Harris County residents pay to Harris Health. That structural advantage helps keep Fort Bend's combined rate at approximately 1.84% of taxable value, or $1.84 per $100, for a typical Sugar Land homeowner paying taxes to Fort Bend ISD, the City of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, and the Drainage District.
A Fort Bend County homeowner with a home valued at $380,000 -- near the county median -- pays approximately $6,984 per year in total property taxes before exemptions.
Fort Bend County Property Tax Rates by Taxing Entity (Tax Year 2025)
Your Fort Bend County property tax bill is the sum of taxes levied by every taxing entity that covers your property. Here are the current adopted rates for the major entities serving a typical City of Sugar Land homeowner:
| Taxing Entity | Rate per $100 | Est. Tax on $380,000 Home | Share of Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend ISD | $1.0569 | $4,016 | 57% |
| Fort Bend County + Drainage | $0.4220 | $1,604 | 23% |
| City of Sugar Land | $0.3588 | $1,364 | 20% |
| Total (Typical) | ~$1.84 | ~$6,984 | 100% |
Important: Your exact rate depends on where you live in Fort Bend County. Fort Bend has one of the highest concentrations of Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) in Texas. If your property is in a MUD, you pay additional taxes that can add $0.17 to $1.00+ per $100, particularly in newer master-planned communities. Levee Improvement Districts (LIDs) and Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) may also apply.
Note on hospital district: Unlike neighboring Harris County, Fort Bend County does not have a county-wide hospital district. Harris County homeowners pay roughly $0.19 per $100 in hospital district taxes -- a cost Fort Bend residents do not have. This is one reason Fort Bend's total rate is lower than Harris County's.
Fort Bend ISD: The Largest Share
Fort Bend ISD accounts for roughly 57% of a typical Sugar Land homeowner's property tax bill. The tax year 2025 rate of $1.0569 per $100 reflects a significant 7-cent increase from the prior year's $0.9869. The rate breaks down as:
- Maintenance & Operations (M&O): $0.7869 per $100
- Interest & Sinking (Debt Service): $0.2700 per $100
The 7-cent M&O increase was implemented through "disaster pennies" -- the same state law provision Houston ISD used after Hurricane Beryl. Fort Bend ISD invoked this authority to close a $34.6 million budget shortfall without voter approval. The increase generates approximately $41.3 million, with $30.7 million going to salaries and benefits, $5 million to reserves, and $5.54 million returned to the state as recapture. This is a one-year temporary measure; the district may pursue a voter-approved tax rate election (VATRE) in 2026 to make the increase permanent.
Other Major School Districts in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County includes several school districts beyond Fort Bend ISD:
| School District | 2025 Rate per $100 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lamar CISD | $1.1469 | Flat for 3rd year; $3.1B in outstanding bond debt; voters approved $1.99B bond Nov 2025 |
| Katy ISD | $1.1171 | Flat for 2nd year; rate has fallen nearly $0.40 since FY 2018-19 |
Homeowners in Lamar CISD or Katy ISD pay a higher school tax rate than those in Fort Bend ISD, which raises their total effective rate above 1.84%.
How Fort Bend County Compares to Other Texas Counties
Fort Bend County's total property tax rate falls between the lowest suburban counties and the higher-rate major metros:
| County / City | Approximate Total Rate | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
| Collin County (Plano) | ~1.71% | $500,000 |
| Fort Bend County (Sugar Land) | ~1.84% | $380,000 |
| Montgomery County (Conroe) | ~1.91% | $335,000 |
| Harris County (Houston) | ~2.03% | $320,000 |
| Dallas County (Dallas) | ~2.22% | $350,000 |
Fort Bend County's rate is meaningfully lower than neighboring Harris County, driven primarily by the absence of a hospital district. However, Fort Bend homeowners in MUDs or LIDs can see their effective rate climb above 2.0% once those additional levies are included.
How Fort Bend County Property Tax Rates Have Changed
Fort Bend County's tax rate has been on a downward trend, but rising property values have pushed actual dollar amounts higher:
| Year | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| 2022 | County rate dropped from $0.4532 to $0.4512; residential values surged |
| 2023 | County rate cut to $0.4389; average homestead values crossed $383,000 |
| 2024 | County rate dropped to $0.4220; Sugar Land voters approved $350M bond (all 5 propositions) |
| 2025 | Fort Bend ISD invoked disaster pennies for 7-cent increase; Lamar CISD voters approved $1.99B bond; homestead exemption rises to $140,000 |
While the county rate has dropped 7% over five years (from $0.4532 to $0.4220), the actual dollar amount paid by the average homestead has grown 67% -- from $1,095 in 2020 to approximately $1,836 in 2025 -- driven entirely by rising property values.
How Your Fort Bend County Property Tax Bill Is Calculated
Your bill is the sum of each entity's rate applied to your taxable value -- appraised value minus exemptions. Here's how that works for a Sugar Land homeowner with a $380,000 home and the $140,000 homestead exemption:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Appraised value | $380,000 |
| Less: School homestead exemption (SB 4 / Prop 13) | -$140,000 |
| Taxable value (school) | $240,000 |
| Fort Bend ISD tax ($240,000 x 1.0569%) | $2,537 |
| Fort Bend County + Drainage ($380,000 x 0.4220%) | $1,604 |
| City of Sugar Land ($380,000 x 0.3588%) | $1,364 |
| Total estimated bill | $5,505 |
Don't overlook: The $140,000 school exemption takes effect in 2026 under SB 4 (Proposition 13) and only reduces the ISD portion. Sugar Land's separate 15% homestead exemption and Fort Bend County's own exemptions stack on top for additional savings on those entities' portions. Your final bill depends on which entities tax your property and what exemptions are on file. Learn more about how appraised value, assessed value, and taxable value work.
Why Your Fort Bend County Property Tax Bill May Be Higher Than Expected
Even if tax rates stay flat or decrease, your bill can increase for several reasons:
Rising Appraisals
The Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) revalues all properties annually. While nearly 60% of Fort Bend County homeowners saw a decrease in their appraised value for 2025, the county-wide average residential value still increased 1.9%. Over the longer term, the average homestead appraised value has grown from $241,696 in 2020 to over $416,000 in 2024 -- a 72% increase in just four years.
Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs)
Fort Bend County has one of the highest concentrations of MUDs in Texas, particularly in master-planned communities. Established MUDs typically levy $0.17 to $0.36 per $100, while newer districts with heavy infrastructure debt can exceed $1.00 per $100. If your property is in a MUD, your total tax rate may be significantly higher than the 1.84% figure above.
Fort Bend ISD Disaster Pennies
Fort Bend ISD's 7-cent rate increase for tax year 2025 was implemented under a state law provision allowing districts to raise rates without voter approval after a declared disaster. This added approximately $266 per year to the average homeowner's school tax bill. The increase is designated as temporary, but the district may seek voter approval in 2026 to make it permanent.
Voter-Approved Bonds
Lamar CISD voters approved nearly $2 billion in bonds in November 2025 -- structured with no anticipated tax rate increase, but financed through the district's existing high I&S rate of $0.48. Sugar Land voters also approved $350 million in bonds in November 2024, which could add up to 5 cents to the city rate over five to seven years.
How to Lower Your Fort Bend County Property Taxes
Fort Bend County homeowners have two levers to pull: maximize your exemptions and challenge any overvaluation by FBCAD.
1. File for Homestead Exemption
Apply for your homestead exemption if you haven't already. Beginning in 2026, the school district exemption rises to $140,000 under SB 4 (Proposition 13), saving a typical Fort Bend ISD homeowner roughly $1,479 per year in school taxes alone. Sugar Land offers a 15% homestead exemption on top of that, and Fort Bend County provides its own exemptions as well.
The filing deadline is April 30, and you can file up to two years late to claim retroactive savings.
2. Protest Your FBCAD Appraised Value
While nearly 60% of Fort Bend homeowners saw their appraised values decrease for 2025, the county-wide average still rose 1.9%. If your home was not among those that received a reduction -- or if the reduction didn't go far enough -- protesting your Fort Bend County property tax appraisal gives you the opportunity to present sales data or condition evidence to FBCAD. Review your Notice of Appraised Value when it arrives in April or May and file before the deadline.
Get Help With Your Fort Bend County Property Tax Protest
With Fort Bend ISD's disaster penny increase and average homestead values up 72% since 2020, a professional review of your FBCAD valuation can uncover savings you might miss on your own.
Ballard Property Tax Protest represents homeowners across Fort Bend County. We handle the entire protest process -- from filing to informal hearings to ARB representation -- and you only pay if we reduce your appraised value.
No reduction, no fee.