Frequently Asked Questions

There are new home FAQs that seem to top every list.

Of course, there are the basics, like home prices and future amenities. But, to us, there are so many questions that go unasked – ones that can truly help shape your idea of your future home. Our new home FAQs have you covered, see below to learn more about what Riceland will have to offer.

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Homes

Who are the home builders at Riceland?

We have four premier home builders at our community including: Chesmar Homes, David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes and Perry Homes. You can learn about each builder by visiting our builder page.

What is the price point?

Coming Soon

Will the development really bring 4,000 new homes to Mont Belvieu?

Over the next 20-25 years, at final build out, Riceland will deliver approximately 3,900 single family residences over +/-1,450 acres.

Riceland is a long-term development that is dedicated to bringing quality and focused growth to Mont Belvieu that is on pace with what the city has historically seen over the past decade.

Community

What is a “master-planned community”?

A Master-Planned Community (MPC) is typically a large acreage, mixed use residential development.

While this type of development is typically focused on single family homes, it will also generally include retail and commercial developments as well. MPCs are largely known for the community amenities they deliver to the residents living within the development, but also, as in Riceland’s case, to the greater community. Overall, developments like Riceland seek to establish building and aesthetic standards that will control pace and quality, through planning the development growth, over the large acreage and an extended development timeline.

Master planned communities like Riceland typically focus on four main areas:

Amenities: Riceland will offer residents some exclusive amenities like Outdoor park and pavilion and Clubhouse building with splash pads and pools. Mont Belvieu residents living outside of the development will be able to enjoy Riceland’s fish camp, walking trails, green spaces, and the new Town Center. All these amenities help create a sense of community by encouraging families and neighbors to spend time together without needing to travel across town or away from home.

Lifestyle: One of the most important components of an MPC is the lifestyle! Riceland will enhance and preserve Mont Belvieu as our hometown. Riceland will have weekly hometown events in the greenspace and festival street as well as local restaurants that fit in with the agricultural history of the area.

Neighborhoods: Planned communities like Riceland are unique because they include a mix of distinctive neighborhoods and home designs. The availability of styles and types of homes found within Riceland will ensure that homebuyers can find the perfect place to meet their needs and lifestyle.

Multiple Uses: One does not simply live in a master-planned community. Many master-planned communities also include shops, restaurants, services and more; this provides convenience for residents that’s critical in today’s busy world. Riceland residents will have access to the developing Mont Belvieu Town Center and the city’s Eagle Pointe Recreation Complex.

What is the benefit of a master-planned community?

A MPC like Riceland severely limits uncontrolled development and growth within its boundary.

Initially, they always include robust amenities for the MPC residents and the greater community. Secondly, they allow growth to happen at a planned pace. This means the City of Mont Belvieu, Barbers Hill ISD and the greater community can plan for and integrate this growth as it happens – thus limiting reactionary and emergency expansions of municipal and school services

Where will Riceland be located within Mont Belvieu?

Located in the heart of Mont Belvieu, Riceland represents 90%+ of the developable land within the city limits.

Riceland will build out over the next 25 years with the initial focus being on the areas surrounding the intersection of Eagle Dr. and FM 565.

Mont Belvieu has a nice hometown feel. Will this change that?

Not at all. In fact, the intent is to preserve and enhance that hometown feel that residents know and love.

Riceland is being developed with a specific theme, one that boasts the deep historical connections in the area. As one of the fastest growing areas in the country, it’s deeply important to us, as well as our partners at City of Mont Belvieu, to preserve our hometown as the inevitable development occurs.

What’s the story behind “Riceland”?

The direct ancestors of the landowner family, who are still involved in the development, came to this region in 1824—still Mexico at the time—and have farmed many parts of what is now Riceland. Along with its land-owner partners, we created The Riceland Master Planned Community with one goal in mind: to preserve what makes Mont Belvieu so special – offering residents a neighborly, hometown feel to enjoy for years to come.

What is the connection between Riceland and the City’s new downtown/town center?

One of Riceland’s amenities to benefit the Community is a re-establishment of Mont Belvieu’s historical hometown center – which, being located on the salt dome and the city’s current industrial footprint to the west - was lost due to safety regulations 30+ years ago. To replace what was lost to history, Riceland’s goal is to recreate a central ‘Hometown Texas’ location for Mont Belvieu to serve as the heart and the hub of the city.

Schools

What school district will Riceland be zoned to?

Riceland schools are zoned to BHISD.

You can learn more about our schools on our schools page.

What schools would my child be going to in BHISD?

Early Childcare/Elementary

Barber Hills Early Childhood Center
Barber Hills Elementary School South
Barber Hills Elementary School North

Middle

Barber Hills Middle School North
Barber Hills Middle School South
Barber Hills Intermediate School South
Barber Hills Intermediate School North

High

Barber Hills High School

HOA

What are the HOA dues?

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What is the tax rate?

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Are my tax dollars being used toward the Riceland development?

No, the City of Mont Belvieu will spend zero dollars on the Riceland development itself.

Riceland has partnered with the City, and will contribute to new commercial, retail buildings and amenities in the Town Center.

Will the City’s utility system be able to handle the additional needs?

Yes. As of January 2023, the City’s Public Works and Engineering Department estimates that the current water and wastewater system can handle an additional 1,000 homes before there would be any concern about capacity.

However, the City of Mont Belvieu is already working on expanding the system. There are several projects underway that ensure the utility system stays well ahead of demand until city’s full build-out.

Who is paying for the development of Riceland?

Developers are paying for Riceland’s construction directly.

In the future, Riceland will be reimbursed for a portion of some of those development costs by the Municipal Utility District (MUD), which will only affect property owners within Riceland.

What is a MUD?

A Municipal Utility District is a special purpose district heavily regulated by the State of Texas.

Traditionally, these districts allowed the financing of development in unincorporated areas that lacked utility services or a municipality – As opposed to incorporated areas, like The City of Mont Belvieu where growth in the public infrastructure services is traditionally funded and operated by the City or Municipality and its taxpayers. Riceland MUDs do NOT fit the traditional model for MUDs. In Riceland, we have “In City MUDs”. These are unique and not like any other MUDs in the greater area of Chambers and East Harris Counties. They do several very positive things for the City, the current city tax payer, and Riceland.

First, it allows the growth of the public infrastructure to occur WITHOUT the city and the CURRENT city taxpayer paying for $1 dollar of that construction. 100% of the cost is on the developer and any future reimbursement of any portion of those costs rests 100% on any property owner who purchases land (residential or commercial) within the Riceland MUD. Riceland does NOT include any current property owners within the City (residential or commercial) outside the Developer itself – Even if you own property that is next door or touches Riceland, you are not in the MUD.

Second, the Riceland MUD’s are not developing any separately owned treatment plants – this means once construction is complete, The Riceland MUDs will own zero physical assets – all of the infrastructure is turned over to the city ownership at completion. Future Riceland residents will purchase their utilities from The City of Mont Belvieu. This is a benefit because once any future reimbursements are complete, the MUDs dissolve and go away forever as they will have no assets to operate and maintain. Thus, the City of Mont Belvieu gets all of the expansion of it's public utility infrastructure and roads within Riceland at no cost to the City and its taxpayers.

Third, any future reimbursement depends on the Developers ability to deliver value within the MUD – so the Developer is motivated to deliver an amenity package and residential development quality to achieve any reimbursement for the public infrastructure portion. This allows the developer to use additional funding to add to the amenity package and public areas within the development.

What are the HOA dues in this community?

Community HOA Dues: $1,200 annually
Canal District HOA Dues: $90/month

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