Kendall County’s property tax picture is more complex than its headline rate suggests — and buyers who budget based on a single percentage without understanding the WCID, MUD, and city tax layers that stack on top of the base Kendall County and Boerne ISD rates are setting themselves up for a year-two carrying cost surprise that is both common and avoidable. Combined property tax rates in Kendall County typically range from 1.8% to 2.3% depending on exact location — a range wide enough to represent a $2,700–$4,500 annual difference on a $600,000 home. The base Kendall County rate is genuinely favorable compared to Bexar County alternatives. But the WCID and MUD layers that apply in many Boerne-area developments — including Esperanza, where the MUD-inclusive effective rate exceeds 2.5% — are the variables that most buyer-facing content in this market never addresses. This guide covers the complete Kendall County tax picture: what the taxing entities are, which communities carry additional assessment layers, how to verify your specific address, and how to capture every available exemption after closing.
Brock Bremmer | Real Estate Agent | eXp Realty | San Antonio Metro Area
Kendall County and Boerne Area Specialist
Also see: Property Taxes in Boerne | Living in Boerne | Cost of Living in Boerne
The Kendall County Taxing Entity Stack
The Kendall Appraisal District is responsible for collecting local property taxes levied by Boerne ISD, Comfort ISD, the City of Boerne, Kendall County, Kendall County WCID #1, Kendall County MUD #1, Miralomas MUD, and Cow Creek Ground Water Conservation District.
Every Kendall County property is taxed by some combination of these entities. The specific combination depends on which taxing district boundaries your address falls within:
- Kendall County base rate: The county-wide base levy — applies to all properties in the county regardless of location. Funds county government services, roads, and infrastructure
- School district: Either Boerne ISD or Comfort ISD depending on address. Boerne ISD’s maintenance and operations rate increased following the November 2025 voter-approved tax ratification election — the district’s first VATRE in its history, passed to address teacher compensation. Verify your school district at kendallad.org before finalizing budget calculations
- City of Boerne: Applies only to properties within Boerne city limits. Properties in unincorporated Kendall County — including many Boerne-area communities marketed as “Boerne” — do not pay the city rate. The city/non-city distinction meaningfully affects total rate
- Kendall County WCID #1: Water Control and Improvement District — applies to properties within the WCID boundary, primarily in northwest Boerne and surrounding development. WCID rates fund water and wastewater infrastructure and add meaningfully to the combined effective rate
- Kendall County MUD #1 and Miralomas MUD: Municipal Utility District assessments in specific development areas — funds water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure in newer developments
- Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District: Nominal additional levy — funds groundwater conservation management for the Trinity Aquifer
Rate Ranges by Location — What You’re Actually Paying
The variation between locations is substantial. A home in George’s Ranch pays roughly $1,345 more per year than an equivalent home within Boerne city limits, and $3,706 more than an unincorporated property. The practical rate landscape for Kendall County buyers:
- Unincorporated Kendall County (no city, no WCID/MUD): Base Kendall County + school district only — the lowest combined rate available in the county. Approximately 1.6%–1.8% effective in most unincorporated areas
- City of Boerne (within city limits): Kendall County + Boerne ISD + City of Boerne rate — approximately 1.85%–2.0% effective. The city layer adds the municipal services rate on top of county and school
- WCID areas (George’s Ranch and surrounding corridor): County + school district + WCID assessment — meaningfully higher than non-WCID addresses. The $1,345–$3,706 annual premium identified above reflects the WCID infrastructure levy
- MUD communities (Esperanza and similar developments): Combined effective rate in MUD communities can exceed 2.5%+ when all layers are included. Esperanza’s MUD-inclusive rate is the specific example most frequently cited in the Boerne market — buyers targeting this community must verify the complete tax stack, not just the Kendall County base rate
- Fair Oaks Ranch (Kendall/Comal county line): Some Fair Oaks Ranch addresses fall in Kendall County, others in Comal County — the county boundary runs through the community. Verify your specific lot’s county assignment at kendallad.org or comalad.org before budgeting
How to Verify Your Complete Kendall County Tax Stack
Address-level verification before making an offer is non-negotiable in Kendall County:
- Look up your property at kendallad.org — the Kendall Appraisal District’s online portal shows the complete list of taxing entities that apply to your specific address, the adopted rate for each entity, and your property’s assessed value. This is the authoritative source — not a Zillow estimate, not a listing description, not what the seller tells you
- Add up all taxing entity rates — Kendall County base + school district + city (if applicable) + WCID (if applicable) + MUD (if applicable) + Cow Creek GCD. The sum is your combined effective rate before exemptions
- Apply homestead exemption math — the standard state homestead exemption reduces school district taxable value by $140,000 as of 2026. Apply this reduction to the school district rate portion only, then add back the non-school entity rates at full assessed value. Your net annual bill after the homestead exemption is what you’ll actually pay
- Share with your lender — provide the verified combined rate to your lender before establishing escrow. Lenders who use Zillow tax estimates or county average rates rather than the property-specific rate will set up the wrong escrow from day one
Homestead Exemptions in Kendall County — File Immediately After Closing
Texas homestead exemptions reduce your taxable value and are not applied automatically — you must file. These exemptions are not automatic — you must apply through the Kendall Appraisal District.
- Standard homestead exemption: $140,000 reduction in school district taxable value (increased from $100,000 following Proposition 13 passage in November 2025). Applies to all Kendall County homeowners who occupy the property as their primary residence as of January 1. File Form 50-114 at kendallad.org — deadline is April 30, but late applications accepted through January 31 of the following year
- 10% annual appraisal cap: Once homestead exemption is filed, Kendall County is limited to increasing your assessed value by no more than 10% per year regardless of market appreciation. This cap is one of the most valuable long-term benefits of the homestead filing — it protects homeowners in rising markets from assessment increases that outpace their budget
- Over-65 additional exemption: Homeowners age 65 and older qualify for an additional $10,000 exemption from Kendall County, plus a $60,000 additional exemption from Boerne ISD. Combined with the standard homestead, a senior homeowner on a $500,000 property reduces their taxable value to approximately $330,000 for most entities
- Over-65 tax freeze: The City of Boerne, Boerne ISD, Comfort ISD, and Kendall County all offer tax freezes for over-65 homeowners — taxes are frozen at the amount paid in the qualifying year and cannot increase as long as the homeowner occupies the property. One of the most powerful senior tax relief mechanisms in Texas
- Disabled veteran exemptions: VA disability ratings of 10%–100% qualify for graduated exemptions — 100% disabled veterans receive a full property tax exemption on their primary residence statewide. File the disability verification with Kendall Appraisal District
Annual Tax Bill Examples — Kendall County
| Scenario | Home value | Rate | Annual bill (no exemption) | Annual bill (homestead) |
| Unincorporated (no WCID/MUD) | $500,000 | ~1.7% | ~$8,500 | ~$6,120 (est.) |
| City of Boerne | $500,000 | ~1.95% | ~$9,750 | ~$7,023 (est.) |
| WCID area | $500,000 | ~2.15% | ~$10,750 | ~$7,740 (est.) |
| MUD community (Esperanza) | $500,000 | ~2.5%+ | ~$12,500+ | ~$9,010+ (est.) |
Estimates use simplified homestead calculation — actual bill varies by specific entity rates. Verify at kendallad.org.
Protesting Your Kendall County Assessment
Every Kendall County homeowner has the right to protest their assessed value annually — and the protest process is worth pursuing when the appraisal district’s value exceeds what comparable homes have actually sold for:
- Protest deadline: May 15 annually, or 30 days after the Notice of Appraised Value is mailed — whichever is later
- Evidence that works: Recent closed sales of comparable properties (same neighborhood, similar sq ft, similar age and condition) that sold for less than your assessed value. Photos of condition issues. An independent appraisal if the gap is large enough to justify the cost
- How to file: Online at kendallad.org or in person at the Kendall Appraisal District office. Most protests begin with an informal review — a staff appraiser reviews your evidence and may settle without requiring an ARB hearing
- Success rates: Many San Antonio-area homeowners succeed by showing that the Kendall CAD appraisal exceeds what similar homes in Boerne have actually sold for recently. The protest process is worth attempting annually — a successful protest compounds across the 10% cap, protecting future years as well as the current one
Frequently Asked Questions: Kendall County Property Taxes
What is the property tax rate in Kendall County?
The combined property tax rate in Kendall County typically ranges from 1.8% to 2.3% depending on exact location. Properties within WCID or MUD boundaries, or within Boerne city limits, pay higher combined rates than unincorporated properties with no special district overlay. MUD communities like Esperanza can reach 2.5%+ when all layers are included. Verify your specific address at kendallad.org — the county average is not a reliable budget tool for any individual property.
How do I file a homestead exemption in Kendall County?
File Form 50-114 with the Kendall Appraisal District at kendallad.org. You must own and occupy the property as your primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year. The deadline is April 30, with late applications accepted through January 31 of the following year. The standard exemption reduces school district taxable value by $140,000 as of 2026 and applies the 10% annual assessment cap. File immediately after closing — every year you delay costs you the exemption benefit for that tax year.
What is a WCID and how does it affect my Kendall County property taxes?
A Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) is a special taxing district that funds water and wastewater infrastructure for specific development areas. In Kendall County, WCID #1 applies to properties in parts of northwest Boerne and surrounding developments. The WCID rate is assessed on top of the base Kendall County and school district rates — adding meaningfully to the combined effective rate. Properties in WCID areas pay $1,300–$3,700 more annually than equivalent properties outside the WCID boundary. Verify whether your specific address falls within the WCID at kendallad.org before closing.
Questions About Your Kendall County Tax Situation?
Brock Bremmer with eXp Realty verifies the complete tax entity stack for every Kendall County property before recommending an offer — including WCID, MUD, and city layers that most listing descriptions omit.
- 📞 Call or text: 210-501-5088
- 📧 Email: [email protected]
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Also see: Property Taxes in Boerne | Property Taxes in San Antonio | Property Taxes in New Braunfels | Esperanza Buyer’s Guide | Fair Oaks Ranch vs Boerne