Texas water wells: permit, or just registration?
Most household wells in Texas are exempt from permitting, but exempt does not mean unregulated. Here is the difference, in plain English.
The domestic and livestock exemption
Under Texas law (Water Code Section 36.117), a water well used solely for your own household, or for watering livestock or poultry, is generally exempt from needing a production or operating permit from a groundwater conservation district, as long as it is built so it cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater per day. That covers the large majority of single-family wells.
The test is about the well's capability, not how much you actually use. If the pump and equipment can physically produce more than 25,000 gallons a day, the well does not qualify, even if you only draw a little. Some districts set a lower ceiling, so the local rule always governs.
Exempt does not mean unregistered
This is the part people miss. Exempt means no operating permit, but you almost always still have to register the well with your district, and in most districts that registration has to happen before you drill. Separately, your licensed driller files a State of Texas well report (the driller's log) with the state after the well is finished. Exempt wells are generally not metered or charged production fees, but they still follow the district's drilling, construction, and spacing rules.
The 10-acre rule of thumb
Many districts tie the exemption to land: the well needs to be on a tract of roughly 10 acres or more, with one exempt well per tract. Subdividing into small lots, or putting several wells on one tract, can defeat the exemption. The exact acreage and well-count rules vary by district, which is one more reason local knowledge matters.
When you need a full permit
A well is not exempt, and needs an operating permit before drilling, if it is for commercial, irrigation, public water supply, or industrial use, if it can produce more than 25,000 gallons a day, or if you plan to sell the water. Permitted wells typically come with metering, production limits, spacing requirements, and fees.
New well, replacement, deepening, or plugging
It is not just one kind of permit, either. Drilling a new well, drilling a replacement well, deepening an existing well, and plugging an old one each have their own paperwork, and some properties fall under more than one district. Knowing exactly which permit your project needs, and filing it correctly, is part of what we do.
It varies by district, and we know the difference
Texas has more than 90 groundwater conservation districts, and each writes its own rules within the state framework. A few areas have no district at all. Find yours on our Hill Country district guide. Either way, we handle the registration or permit for your project, so you do not have to learn the rule book.
How we handle your permit, for you
Permitting is one of the most confusing parts of drilling a well. It does not have to be yours. Here is how we take it off your plate.
We find your district
From your address, your land size, and when the property was platted, we determine which district covers you and which permit your project needs. Some properties fall under more than one.
We spot the well and record GPS
Our crew locates the well so it meets the district's setbacks, typically at least 50 feet from property lines and 150 feet from septic, and records the exact coordinates the permit asks for.
We pre-fill the application
We complete the technical part of the permit with our driller and pump-installer license numbers, the well and casing depth, pump type, estimated yield, and a construction diagram.
You sign and submit
We send you the pre-filled permit with filing instructions and the district's contact information. You add your details and submit it with payment and proof of ownership, and we are with you the whole way.
In short: you should not have to learn a county rule book to get water on your land. That is our job, and it is included in how we do every well.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to drill a water well in Texas?
Most household wells do not need a full operating permit. A well used only for your home or livestock that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day is exempt under Texas Water Code Section 36.117. But exempt wells still have to be registered with the local groundwater district, usually before drilling. Commercial, irrigation, public supply, and high-capacity wells do need a permit.
What does exempt mean for a water well?
Exempt means the well does not need a production or operating permit from the groundwater district. It does not mean unregulated. You still register the well, usually before drilling, your driller files a State of Texas well report, and you follow the district's spacing and construction rules.
What is the 25,000 gallons per day rule?
It is the line between an exempt and a non-exempt well. If a well is built so it cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater per day, and it is used only for domestic or livestock purposes, it is generally exempt from permitting. The test is the well's physical capability, not your actual usage. Some districts set a lower limit.
Do I have to register an exempt well before I drill?
In most Texas districts, yes. Even an exempt household well must be registered with the district before drilling begins. We file that registration as part of your project, and we wait for the district's go-ahead before putting a rig on your property.
Planning a new well?
We register or permit your well with the right district, the right way, before we drill. Reach out for a free quote.