This section limits when subdivision plats and replats may be recorded or used in conveyance documents unless required approvals and attached documents are in place.
Sec. 12.002. SUBDIVISION PLAT; PENALTY. (a) The county clerk or a deputy of the clerk with whom a plat or replat of a subdivision of real property is filed for recording shall determine whether the plat or replat is required by law to be approved by a county or municipal authority or both. The clerk or deputy may not record a plat or replat unless it is approved as provided by law by the appropriate authority and unless the plat or replat has attached to it the documents required by Subsection (e) or by Section 212.0105 or 232.023, Local Government Code, if applicable. If a plat or replat does not indicate whether land covered by the plat or replat is in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality, the county clerk may require the person filing the plat or replat for recording to file with the clerk an affidavit stating that information. (b) A person may not file for record or have recorded in the county clerk's office a plat or replat of a subdivision of real property unless it is approved as provided by law by the appropriate authority and unless the plat or replat has attached to it the documents required by Section 212.0105 or 232.023, Local Government Code, if applicable. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a person who subdivides real property may not use the subdivision's description in a deed of conveyance, a contract for a deed, or a contract of sale or other executory contract to convey that is delivered to a purchaser unless the plat or replat of the subdivision is approved and is filed for record with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located and unless the plat or replat has attached to it the documents required by Subsection (e) or by Section 212.0105 or 232.023, Local Government Code, if applicable. (d) Except in the case of a subdivision located in a county to which Subchapter B or G, Chapter 232, Local Government Code, applies, Subsection (c) does not apply to using a subdivision's description in a contract to convey real property before the plat or replat of the subdivision is approved and is filed for record with the county clerk if: (1) the conveyance is expressly contingent on approval and recording of the final plat; and (2) the purchaser is not given use or occupancy of the real property conveyed before the recording of the final plat. (e) A person may not file for record or have recorded in the county clerk's office a plat, replat, or amended plat or replat of a subdivision of real property unless the plat, replat, or amended plat or replat has attached to it an original tax certificate from each taxing unit with jurisdiction of the real property indicating that no delinquent ad valorem taxes are owed on the real property. If the tax certificate for a taxing unit does not cover the preceding year, the plat, replat, or amended plat or replat must also have attached to it a tax receipt issued by the collector for the taxing unit indicating that the taxes imposed by the taxing unit for the preceding year have been paid. This subsection does not apply if: (1) more than one person acquired the real property from a decedent under a will or by inheritance and those persons owning an undivided interest in the property obtained approval to subdivide the property to provide each person with a divided interest and a separate title to the property; or (2) a taxing unit acquired the real property for public use through eminent domain proceedings or voluntary sale. (f) A person commits an offense if the person violates Subsection (b), (c), or (e). An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $10 or more than $1,000, by confinement in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both the fine and confinement. Each violation constitutes a separate offense and also constitutes prima facie evidence of an attempt to defraud. (g) This section does not apply to a partition by a court. Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3489, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 624, Sec. 3.09, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 570, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 583, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 812, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1382, Sec. 8, eff. June 19, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1126 (H.B. 2491), Sec. 26, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1154 (H.B. 3101), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 289 (H.B. 989), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 526 (H.B. 3680), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 574 (H.B. 2025), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.