Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 21.043. LOST FIELD NOTES. (a) If the original field notes of an authorized survey are lost or destroyed, the owner or his agent may obtain a certified copy of the record from the county surveyor on making an affidavit of the loss or destruction and filing it in the office of…

Sec. 21.044. INCORRECT FIELD NOTES. (a) The commissioner shall have a plain statement of errors in any field notes submitted to the land office, together with a sketch of the map, forwarded by mail, or personally by the interested party, to the surveyor who made the survey, with …

Sec. 21.071. ADOPTION OF COORDINATE SYSTEMS. (a) The systems of plane coordinates which have been established by the National Oceanic Survey/National Geodetic Survey for defining and stating the positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth within the State of Texa…

Sec. 21.0711. ALTERNATIVE COORDINATE SYSTEMS. (a) The Texas Spatial Reference Center at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi established under Section 88.503, Education Code, may adopt a revised state coordinate system that may be used for purposes of this subchapter under the au…

Sec. 21.072. PURPOSE AND LIMITATIONS OF COORDINATE SYSTEMS. (a) The only purpose for adopting the Texas Coordinate System of 1927 and the Texas Coordinate System of 1983 is to recognize a system for use in the State of Texas to definitely ascertain positions on the surface of the…

Sec. 21.073. DIVISION OF STATE INTO ZONES. For the purpose of using a system, the state is divided into five zones: (1) the North Zone; (2) the North Central Zone; (3) the Central Zone; (4) the South Central Zone; and (5) the South Zone. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2357, ch. 871, ar…

Sec. 21.074. AREA WITHIN ZONES. (a) The area included in the following counties constitutes the North Zone: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, O…

Sec. 21.075. ZONE NAMES IN LAND DESCRIPTION. (a) As established for use in the North Zone, the Texas Coordinate System of 1927 or the Texas Coordinate System of 1983 shall be named, and in any land description in which it is used it shall be designated, the "Texas Coordinate Syst…

Sec. 21.076. DEFINITIONS. (a) For the purpose of precisely defining the Texas Coordinate System of 1927 and the Texas Coordinate System of 1983, the following definitions are adopted: (1) The Texas Coordinate System of 1927, North Zone, and the Texas Coordinate System of 1983, No…

Sec. 21.077. UNIT OF MEASUREMENT. The unit of measurement in this subchapter has the following values, based on the International Meter established by the National Bureau of Standards: (1) one meter = 39.37 inches exactly; (2) one U.S. survey foot = 0.3048006096 meter; (3) one va…

Sec. 21.078. TERMS "X COORDINATE" AND "Y COORDINATE". (a) The plane coordinate values for a point on the earth's surface, to be used in expressing the position or location of the point in the appropriate zone, of either system, shall consist of two distances, expressed in U.S. Su…

Sec. 21.079. LAND IN MORE THAN ONE ZONE. If a tract of land to be defined by a single description extends from one zone into another of the coordinate zones, the positions of all points on its boundaries may be referred to by either of the zones, the zone which is used being spec…

Sec. 23.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the General Land Office. (2) "Land office" means the General Land Office. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2367, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Sec. 23.011. ELECTION. (a) A county surveyor is elected to a four-year term as provided by Article XVI, Sections 64 and 65, of the Texas Constitution. (b) To be eligible to serve as a county surveyor, a person must be a registered professional land surveyor. Acts 1977, 65th Leg.,…

Sec. 23.012. RESIDENCE. The county surveyor shall reside in the county. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2367, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 23.013. BOND. The county surveyor shall execute a bond conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties of the office. The amount of the bond shall be fixed by the commissioners court and shall be not less than $500 nor more than $10,000. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2368, …

Sec. 23.014. DEPUTY SURVEYOR. (a) A county surveyor may appoint a deputy surveyor as he considers necessary. (b) The county surveyor shall administer the deputy surveyor's official oath and take his bond in the sum of not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, conditioned on the f…

Sec. 23.015. CHAIN CARRIERS AND MARKERS. (a) A county surveyor may employ persons 16 years of age or older as chain carriers or markers. (b) The county surveyor shall administer an oath to each of these employees to faithfully perform his duties in accordance with the instruction…

Sec. 23.016. OFFICE LOCATION. (a) The county surveyor's office shall be located in the courthouse or in a suitable building at the county seat. (b) Rent for an office outside the courthouse shall be paid by the commissioners court on showing that: (1) the rent is reasonable; (2) …

Sec. 23.017. ABOLITION OF OFFICE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. In a county in which the office of county surveyor was abolished by Chapter 315, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article 5298a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), the commissioners court may, when the court c…

Sec. 23.051. IN GENERAL. The county surveyor shall perform the duties required of him by law. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2368, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 23.0515. FIELD NOTES, PLATS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. (a) In a county in which there is a county surveyor, only the county surveyor may: (1) file and record field notes and plats of surveys made in the county and other documents required by law to be recorded in the county surve…

Sec. 23.052. SURVEYS ON WHICH PATENTS ARE TO BE OBTAINED. The county surveyor shall: (1) receive and examine all field notes of surveys made in the county on which patents are to be obtained; (2) certify to the same according to law; and (3) record the field notes in a book to be…

Sec. 23.053. RECORD OF FIELD NOTES. (a) The commissioners court shall furnish the county surveyor all necessary books of record. (b) The county surveyor shall record in a well-bound book all the surveys in his county, with the plats that he may make, whether private or official. …

Sec. 23.054. RIGHT OF INSPECTION. At all times, any interested person, agent, or attorney may examine the books, papers, plats, maps, or other archives belonging to the office of the county surveyor on the payment of the fee set by law. In addition to the fees allowed by law for …

Sec. 23.055. BOUND RECORDS. If the commissioners court considers it necessary, it may order that the county surveyor's record be transcribed in good and substantial books by the county surveyor or special deputies sworn to make true copies of the record. For this service, not mor…

Sec. 23.056. LOST RECORDS. (a) If the maps, field notes, or other records of the county surveyor's office, or any part of them, are lost or destroyed, the county surveyor shall obtain from the commissioner a transcript of the lost records, certified to as required by law. (b) The…

Sec. 23.057. CUSTODY OF RECORDS IN ABSENCE OF COUNTY SURVEYOR; POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNTY CLERK. If a county does not have a county surveyor, the county clerk of the county: (1) is the legal custodian of the county surveyor's records; (2) shall take charge of all records, maps, …

Sec. 23.058. DELIVERY OF RECORDS TO SUCCESSOR. On removal from office or at the expiration of his term of office, the county surveyor shall deliver to his successor all records, books, papers, maps, and other things pertaining to his office. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2369, ch. 871…

Sec. 23.059. FAILURE TO SURVEY. If a county surveyor fails, neglects, or refuses to make a survey or have a survey made, within one month after the amount of lawful surveying fees are tendered to him by a person legally entitled to the survey, he and his sureties shall be liable …

Sec. 23.060. FEES FOR RECORDING AND ISSUING DOCUMENTS. (a) The fees for recording documents in the county surveyor's records, for issuing certificates, and for making certified copies are the fees provided by law. (b) The county surveyor is entitled to fees for all documents reco…

Sec. 31.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Appraiser" means a state-certified or state-licensed real estate appraiser who: (A) is employed by or contracts with the land office; and (B) performs professional valuation services completely and in a manner that is independent, i…

Sec. 31.002. EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION LAWS. (a) Unless the statute specifically states that the statute applies to the land office, the following statutes do not apply to the land office: (1) a statute that would require the land office to provide a notice o…

Sec. 31.011. LAND OFFICE ESTABLISHED. There shall be one General Land Office located in Austin, which shall register all land titles emanating from the state if not prohibited by the constitution. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2371, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 31.014. COMMISSIONER'S LIABILITY. The commissioner and a surety on a bond authorized under Chapter 653, Government Code, are responsible to any person who is injured by removal, withdrawal, or alteration of any record or file in the land office, unless the commissioner is ab…

Sec. 31.015. CHIEF CLERK. (a) The commissioner shall appoint a chief clerk. (b) The chief clerk may perform any of the duties of the commissioner if the commissioner is sick, is absent, dies, or resigns. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2371, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. …

Sec. 31.016. ABSTRACT CLERK. The commissioner shall designate one of his clerks as the abstract clerk and shall assign to him the special duty to correct the abstracts of patented, titled, and surveyed real property required to be kept in the land office to reflect errors, change…

Sec. 31.017. RECEIVER. With the consent of the governor, the commissioner shall appoint a suitable person to serve as receiver for the land office. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2371, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 285, Sec. 31(28), e…

Sec. 31.018. TRANSLATOR. (a) The commissioner shall appoint a translator who thoroughly understands the Spanish and English languages. (b) The translator shall take the official oath. (c) The translator shall translate into English any laws and public contracts relating to titles…

Sec. 31.019. SURVEYORS. (a) The commissioner shall appoint a chief surveyor and as many assistant surveyors as authorized by law. (b) The chief surveyor and the chief surveyor's assistant surveyors shall draw and complete county maps. (c) The chief surveyor and the chief surveyor…

Sec. 31.021. REIMBURSEMENT FOR NOTARY PUBLIC EXPENSE. The land office may reimburse an employee for the fees and costs of a bond that are required for appointment as a notary public if the employee provides notary public service as part of the employee's duties with the land offi…

Sec. 31.051. GENERAL DUTIES. The commissioner shall: (1) superintend, control, and direct the official conduct of subordinate officers of the land office; (2) execute and perform all acts and other things relating to public real property of the state or rights of individuals in p…

Sec. 31.0515. DUTIES RELATED TO THE ALAMO COMPLEX. (a) The land office shall: (1) employ staff necessary to preserve and maintain the Alamo complex and contract for professional services of qualified consultants; (2) commission as a peace officer an Alamo complex ranger who has b…

Sec. 31.052. CUSTODY OF RECORDS. (a) Books, accounts, records, papers, maps, and original documents relating to real property titles which are termed archives by law shall be the books and papers of the land office under the control and custody of the commissioner. (b) The commis…

Sec. 31.053. FILING PAPERS. (a) The commissioner shall adopt the most convenient method for filing papers and preserving records of the land office. (b) A list of all papers in each file shall be retained in the file. (c) Each employee who files a paper shall place his name on it…

Sec. 31.054. PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND REMOVAL OF PAPERS. (a) Any person who desires to examine any paper, record, or file must make a written request on a form and according to procedures prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may establish procedures as reasonably necessar…