Houston’s largest landowners include homebuilders carving out new suburbs and public entities managing flood zones and parks.
The top 10 landowners control about 2.6 percent of the metro, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The ranking was compiled based on an analysis of Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston and Chambers counties, calculating acreage totals from public property records and mapping data and ranking by parcel totals.
It offers a snapshot of the region’s most influential landholders shaping development patterns in and around the Houston metro.
Private developers dominate the landscape, with Camillo Companies leading the pack.
The Houston-based homebuilder owns 3,650 acres across six counties, supporting the development of 11,222 residential lots under its brands, including SimplyHome and Legend Homes.
Another major player, Arlington-based D.R. Horton, holds 3,490 acres. As Houston’s most active homebuilder in 2023, it led the region with 5,570 home starts and continues expanding in suburban communities.
Meanwhile, Colony Ridge controls nearly 15,000 acres, primarily in Liberty County. The firm, known for developing infrastructure-ready lots, remains a major driver of suburban sprawl despite facing scrutiny over its business practices.
Public entities are also prominent landholders. The City of Houston manages 31,530 acres, including major public assets like George Bush Intercontinental Airport, parklands and municipal facilities. The Harris County Flood Control District controls 26,000 acres for its role in flood mitigation efforts.
The role of public entities in flood mitigation is particularly crucial, the Bayou City’s low-lying topography and history of major flooding events making infrastructure and water management far more important to long-term development planning relative to most other Texas metros.
Harris County itself holds 30,130 acres, spanning government buildings, recreational spaces and major event venues like NRG Park.
Houston’s sprawl is driven by a mix of public investment and private development, with much of the metro’s expansion occurring along major growth corridors like Interstate 45, U.S. Highway 59 and the Grand Parkway.
Liberty County, where Colony Ridge dominates, is one of the fastest-growing exurban areas, driven by demand for affordable housing. Its population increased 25.5 percent from mid-2020 to last summer, Census data shows.
Meanwhile, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties continue to attract large-scale master-planned communities, fueled by population growth and proximity to Houston’s employment centers.
— Judah Duke
Read more
Johnson Development land buys keep Montgomery County growing
Starwood propagates another master-planned community
Houston metro rules the master-planned community game again
