Harris Central Appraisal District

Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), founded in 1980, is a political subdivision of Texas responsible for discovering and appraising property for ad valorem tax purposes in Harris County. It is the largest appraisal district in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, managing approximately 1.9 million property parcels with a total market value approaching $905 billion. The district serves more than 600 taxing units in Harris County, which is the third-most populous county in the U.S.

HCAD provides various services to property owners, including an Online Services platform that allows filing protests, submitting renditions, applying for exemptions, and searching property records. The district also conducts Educational Workshops and operates a Speakers Bureau for community outreach, with a dedicated Taxpayer Liaison Officer to assist residents with appraisal-related concerns.

Operating primarily in Houston and Harris County, Texas, HCAD works within the taxation, government services, and real estate appraisal sectors. Its culture emphasizes fair, accurate, and uniform appraisals, transparency, accessibility, and community engagement.