Water well permits in the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District
Drilling a well in Kendall County or around Boerne? Here is how registration and permitting work, and how we handle the paperwork for you.
If your property is in Kendall County, including the Boerne area, your groundwater is managed by the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District (CCGCD). The district covers all of Kendall County, and it is the local authority you register or permit your well with before drilling.
Here is the part that surprises people: every well in the district has to be on file, and a new well must have its Certificate of Registration in hand before the drill rig ever shows up. Drilling first is a violation that carries a penalty. The good news is that for most rural homeowners this is a straightforward registration, not a full permit, and we take care of it as part of the job.
What you need to know
- Register before you drill. A new well needs a Certificate of Registration from the district before drilling begins. Drilling first can carry a penalty of up to $1,000 per day.
- Most household wells are exempt from permitting. A domestic or livestock well on a tract larger than 10 acres that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day (about 17 gallons per minute) is a statutory exempt well. You register it, but you do not need an operating permit.
- Smaller tracts or higher use need a permit. On 10 acres or less, or for production above the exempt limit, the well becomes a permitted well that needs an operating permit approved before drilling.
- Spacing rules apply. A typical low-capacity domestic well must sit at least 100 feet from other wells and 50 feet from property lines, with greater distances for higher-capacity wells, plus separation from septic systems.
- There is a registration fee. The district charges a $500 application fee to register and permit a new well. Wells drilled before May 17, 2005 can be registered with no fee.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Boerne
Fast facts
- District: Cow Creek GCD
- Covers: All of Kendall County
- New well: Register before drilling
- Exempt well: Over 10 acres, under 25,000 gal/day
District office: (830) 816-2504
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District before drilling is part of how we do every job in Kendall County. You drill once and you drill it right, on the record, the way the rules require.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to drill a water well in Kendall County?
You need to register the well with the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District and obtain a Certificate of Registration before drilling. Most household wells on tracts larger than 10 acres qualify as exempt and need only registration, not a full operating permit. Smaller tracts or higher-capacity wells need a permit approved before drilling. We handle whichever applies to your property.
Can I drill the well first and register it later?
No. In the Cow Creek district a new well must have its Certificate of Registration before drilling begins. Drilling first is a violation that can carry a penalty of up to $1,000 per day. We file the paperwork and wait for the go-ahead before we put a rig on your property.
How big does my property need to be for an exempt well?
For the statutory domestic and livestock exemption, the well generally needs to be on a tract larger than 10 acres and be incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day, with one exempt well per 10 acres. On smaller tracts the well is still allowed, but it is handled as a permitted well rather than an exempt one.
What does it cost to register a well with Cow Creek GCD?
The district's application fee for a new well registration or permit is $500. That is separate from the cost of the well itself. We include the district paperwork in handling your project so nothing gets missed.
Drilling a well in Kendall County?
We know the CCGCD rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.