Fayette County — with La Grange as the county seat plus communities like Schulenburg, Flatonia, Weimar, and Fayetteville — has a strong mix of residential homes, ranch land, and historic properties. This guide was built from verified data at fayettecad.org in 2026 with every link tested. Whether you are a homeowner, new buyer, or rancher, here is everything you need to search, protest, and save.
01Fayette County Appraisal District Property Search
The official free search portal at esearch.fayettecad.org shows your 2026 appraised value, tax history, exemptions, improvements, and land details — no account needed, no fee, works on mobile and desktop.
Open esearch.fayettecad.org
Visit esearch.fayettecad.org — the official search portal. Free, no login required. Works on phone or computer.
Select your search tab — Owner, Address, ID, or Advanced
Use the tabs at the top of the page. Address is fastest for most homeowners. Owner is best for ranch portfolios or estate checks. Advanced gives you filters by legal description, area, or value range.
Enter your details — partial entries work
For address: type the street number and name, e.g., “111 Vail La Grange.” For owner: enter LASTNAME FIRSTNAME — partial names work. For property ID: enter the number from your appraisal notice or tax bill.
Click your parcel in results
Select your property to see full details: 2026 appraised value, taxable value after exemptions, land size, building improvements, and year-by-year value history.
Pro Tip: Check the value history tab — a 10%+ jump in one year with no improvements or permits is your strongest protest argument.Save your property record as PDF
Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) → Save as PDF. Keep your property detail page and value history tab. You need these for any protest filing or exemption application.
Best tip for buyers and ranchers
Before buying land or a home in Fayette County, use the Owner search at esearch.fayettecad.org to pull all properties the seller owns in the county. You’ll see their full valuation history, exemptions on file, and whether any ag valuation (1-d-1) is active — which can dramatically affect property taxes after a sale if you don’t reapply within the first year of ownership.
02Fayette CAD Contact Info, Address & Hours
| Item | Verified Details |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 111 S. Vail St., La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 836, La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Main Phone | (979) 968-8383 |
| Fax | (979) 968-8385 |
| inquiries@fayettecad.org | |
| Office Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM |
| Official Website | fayettecad.org |
| Property Search | esearch.fayettecad.org |
| Forms & Protest | fayettecad.org/forms |
| Exemptions Info | fayettecad.org/exemptions |
| County Tax Office (payments) | 979-968-3164 — Sylvia Mendoza, Tax Assessor-Collector |
| Tax Office Address | 143 N. Main St., Suite B, La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Tax Office Fax | 979-968-5840 |
03Fayette County Homestead & Property Tax Exemptions — 2026
Exemptions directly reduce your taxable value and lower your actual tax bill — without needing to protest. Apply free through Fayette CAD. Once your homestead exemption is approved, it stays permanently as long as you live in the home. Never pay any company to file this for you.
Removes $100,000 from your school district taxable value on your primary residence. Fayette County and other local taxing units may offer additional optional homestead exemptions up to 20%.
How to apply: Download Form 50-114 from fayettecad.org/forms or the Texas Comptroller at comptroller.texas.gov/forms/50-114.pdf. Attach a clear copy of your Texas DL/ID showing the property address. Mail to P.O. Box 836, La Grange TX 78945 or drop off at 111 S. Vail St. Deadline: April 30, 2026. Free — zero cost.Additional exemption amount plus a school district tax ceiling — once you turn 65, your school taxes freeze at the level they were when you first qualified and cannot increase.
When to apply: Apply the year you turn 65 — even if your birthday falls late in the year. The ceiling applies for the entire tax year. Same form (50-114) with Over-65 box checked.Same exemption amount and school tax ceiling as Over-65. Cannot claim both simultaneously — Fayette CAD applies whichever benefits you more. Requires SSA disability documentation.
Required docs: SSA disability award letter. Submit with Form 50-114. Call (979) 968-8383 to confirm current requirements.Partial exemption ($5,000–$12,000) based on VA disability rating. Veterans with 100% service-connected disability receive a complete property tax exemption on their primary residence.
Required docs: VA disability rating letter. Submit Form 50-114 with the Veterans section completed to Fayette CAD at inquiries@fayettecad.org.04How to Protest Your Fayette CAD Appraisal — 2026
If your 2026 appraised value is higher than what your property would actually sell for, you have the right to protest free of charge. Most reductions happen at the informal review stage without ever needing a formal ARB hearing.
Check your 2026 value and spot the jump
Search your property at esearch.fayettecad.org. Look at the value history tab. A jump of 10%+ in one year with no permits or improvements filed is your strongest argument. Note your market value and taxable value after exemptions.
Pull comparable sales from the CAD search
Use the esearch portal to find 3–5 similar properties in Fayette County that sold recently below your appraised value. Print those records — appraisers respond best to data from their own system.
File protest first — deadline is firm. You can gather more evidence and upload it after filing. Never miss May 15 waiting for comps.Download and submit your Notice of Protest
Get the protest form at fayettecad.org/forms. Check both protest grounds: “Value is over market value” AND “Value is unequal compared to similar properties.” Always check both — you cannot add grounds after filing.
Submit by mail, fax, or in person
Mail to P.O. Box 836, La Grange TX 78945 · Fax: (979) 968-8385 · Or hand-deliver to 111 S. Vail St. Keep your submission confirmation or certified mail receipt as proof of timely filing.
Attend informal review with your printed evidence
Fayette CAD schedules an informal review first. Bring printed comparable sales, photos of any damage or deferred maintenance, and contractor repair estimates. Argue market value only — never argue how high your tax bill feels.
Request ARB hearing if informal review fails
If the informal review doesn’t produce a fair result, request a formal Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing. The ARB is independent from Fayette CAD. Bring three printed copies of your full evidence packet for the panel.
The one protest mistake that costs Fayette County homeowners
The most common error: arguing about how high the tax bill feels. Appraisers at Fayette CAD can only adjust market value — not the tax rates set by Fayette County, school districts, or other taxing units. Show up with printed comparable sales from the CAD’s own database showing similar homes sold below your value. That single move wins reductions far more consistently than any emotional argument.
05Fayette CAD vs. Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector
Fayette CAD does NOT collect your property taxes
Fayette CAD only sets property values and handles exemptions and protests. Your tax bill is sent and collected by the completely separate Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector (Sylvia Mendoza). Calling the wrong office wastes your limited protest window.
| Task | Who Handles It |
|---|---|
| Sets 2026 property market value | ✅ Fayette CAD — fayettecad.org · (979) 968-8383 |
| Processes homestead exemptions | ✅ Fayette CAD — fayettecad.org/forms |
| Handles protests and ARB hearings | ✅ Fayette CAD — 111 S. Vail St., La Grange TX |
| Maintains property search records | ✅ Fayette CAD — esearch.fayettecad.org |
| Sends and collects tax bills | ✅ Tax Assessor-Collector (Sylvia Mendoza) · 979-968-3164 |
| Tax Office address | 143 N. Main St., Suite B, La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Payment plans and deferral | ✅ Tax Assessor-Collector — completely separate from CAD |
06Key 2026 Deadlines — Fayette County Property Tax Calendar
| Event | Date | Consequence If Missed |
|---|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date | January 1, 2026 | Value is set — changes after this date do not affect 2026 |
| Appraisal Notices Mailed | April 2026 (approx.) | Your 30-day protest clock starts from mailing date |
| Homestead / Exemption Deadline | April 30, 2026 | Late apps accepted up to 2 years after delinquency date |
| Protest Filing Deadline | May 15, 2026 Critical or 30 days after notice — whichever is later |
2026 value is certified — no protest possible for current year |
| ARB Hearings | June–August 2026 | Fail to attend = protest dismissed with no reduction |
| Appraisal Roll Certified | By July 25, 2026 | Values finalized — taxing units use these to set their rates |
| Tax Bills Mailed | October–November 2026 | Contact Tax Office at 979-968-3164 if bill not received by Dec |
| Taxes Due Without Penalty | January 31, 2027 | Penalty and monthly interest begin immediately on Feb 1, 2027 |
07Your 2026 Action Checklist — Fayette County
08Official Fayette CAD Resources & Links — 2026
| Resource | What It’s For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette CAD Official Website | Main hub — news, forms, exemption details | fayettecad.org |
| Property Search Portal | Free search — value, history, exemptions, comps | esearch.fayettecad.org |
| Forms Page | Protest forms, exemption applications, all CAD forms | fayettecad.org/forms |
| Exemptions Info | Full exemption details and eligibility | fayettecad.org/exemptions |
| Homestead Exemption Form 50-114 | Official Texas Comptroller PDF — works statewide | Download PDF |
| Texas Comptroller — Fayette County | State info, all taxing units, full CAD directory | View Page |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Tax bills, payments, balances — Sylvia Mendoza | 979-968-3164 |
| Email Fayette CAD | General inquiries and exemption questions | inquiries@fayettecad.org |
09Frequently Asked Questions — Fayette CAD 2026
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