Moving to New Braunfels: A Practical Newcomer’s Guide

The first thing to know about moving to New Braunfels is that the city sits in two counties. Your county decides where you register your car, where you register to vote and which appraisal district handles your homestead exemption. After that, most of the setup runs through New Braunfels Utilities and the City.

The rest is the fun part: two rivers, Landa Park, Gruene and a ten-day festival in November. Here’s how I’d walk a newcomer through it.

First, find out which county you’re in

The Texas State Historical Association describes New Braunfels as the Comal County seat and notes the city extends into Guadalupe County. The Guadalupe Appraisal District’s reappraisal plan lists the City of New Braunfels among the taxing units it serves.

The easiest way to check your address is your property tax statement or appraisal district record. Here’s where things are handled in each county:

Comal County

• Vehicle registration: Comal County Tax Office, 205 N Seguin Avenue, with substations in Bulverde and Canyon Lake
• Voter registration: Comal County Elections, 396 N Seguin Avenue
• Homestead exemption: Comal Appraisal District

Guadalupe County

• Vehicle registration: Guadalupe County Tax Assessor-Collector, 307 W. Court Street in Seguin, with a substation in Schertz
• Voter registration: Guadalupe County Elections, with offices in Seguin and Schertz
• Homestead exemption: Guadalupe Appraisal District

Your first-month checklist

1. Start utilities. New Braunfels Utilities provides electric, water and wastewater service, and NBU says City services like garbage and recycling appear on the same bill. NBU asks for start requests at least one business day ahead, along with an application and ID. A security deposit applies, though NBU says a soft credit check may waive it.
2. Check your providers. The City’s utilities page lists other electric, water and wastewater providers for some areas in and around town. It also notes CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas to many areas, but not all.
3. Set up trash. The City’s Solid Waste & Recycling division has a “Find My Garbage & Recycling Day” lookup and a start-service form.
4. Register your vehicles. Comal County’s tax office FAQ says a new Texas resident can operate a vehicle for thirty days after establishing residence or starting work here; after that, it must be registered in Texas. Its paperwork list includes an Application for Texas Title (Form 130-U) and your out-of-state title or registration. Guadalupe County asks you to bring valid photo ID. Call ahead to confirm the full list.
5. Get your Texas driver’s license. Comal County lists the Texas Department of Public Safety’s New Braunfels driver license office on Conrads Road. Its FAQ says that if you haven’t registered your vehicle in Texas yet, you must do that before a license can be issued, so do the car first.
6. Register to vote. Guadalupe County says registration takes effect 30 days after it’s received, and that you must re-register when you move to a new county. Comal County describes itself as a vote center county; check its elections page for where to vote.
7. File your homestead exemption. Comal Appraisal District says you can’t file before you qualify, and asks for the application (Form 50-114) between January 1 and April 30. Guadalupe Appraisal District requires a copy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID, with an address matching the property.

One detail on homesteads: Comal Appraisal District says that if you buy a home with a general homestead exemption, it normally stays for that tax year, and you file in your own name for the following year.

The rivers: Comal and Guadalupe

The Comal River runs about 2.5 miles, entirely within city limits. The chamber’s Visit New Braunfels site says it’s spring-fed and stays 70 to 72 degrees year-round.

The Guadalupe is the longer river. The City notes it runs from Kerr County to the Texas coast, with only part of it inside city limits. Upstream, Canyon Lake sits on the Guadalupe about twelve miles northwest of town.

Know the river rules before your first float. The City’s disposable container ordinance bans cans, plastic and glass bottles, zip-top bags, Styrofoam, cardboard, paper napkins and food wrappers on the Comal and on the Guadalupe inside city limits. Fines can reach $500. Reusable insulated cups, bottles, jugs and snap-top containers are the way to go.

The City also prohibits alcohol and open containers in city-owned parks, and its Guadalupe River access parks are open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Landa Park and Wurstfest

Landa Park is 51 acres, within walking distance of downtown, and open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s home to Comal Springs, which the City calls the largest springs in Texas and the North American Southwest.

Inside the park you’ll find:

• The Landa Park Aquatic Complex, including a historic spring-fed pool the City says stays at 72 degrees year-round
• Paddle boats on the lake and a miniature railroad
• An 18-hole public golf course
• The Panther Canyon Nature Trail
• An arboretum with more than 56 tree species

Landa Park is also where Wurstfest happens: a ten-day celebration of German culture on the banks of the Comal River. The 2026 dates are November 6 to 15. If you live, work or commute near the park, put those dates on your calendar now.

Gruene Historic District

Gruene sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River, with 15 walkable acres designated a National Historic District. Its history page says the district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as an entire district.

The anchor is Gruene Hall, built in 1878, which calls itself “Texas’ oldest continually operating” dance hall. Around it, shops and restaurants fill the original township buildings.

Getting around

TSHA places New Braunfels on Interstate 35, thirty miles northeast of San Antonio and forty-five miles southwest of Austin.

In town, the City’s Rio service is an on-demand shared van you book by app or phone. It runs seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

New Braunfels National Airport is a public-use, general aviation facility owned and operated by the City.

During heavy rain, the City pre-stages barricades at low-water crossings and posts road closures online. Don’t drive around them.

Settling in

New Braunfels has a lot going on, and the paperwork is easier once you know your county. If you’re still deciding where in or around town to land, reach out here and I’ll help you sort through it.