Do You Need a Permit to Drill a Water Well in Texas?
Quick Answer
Wells in GCD counties need a district permit before drilling. Where no GCD exists, the driller must be TDLR-licensed and file a completion report.
Drilling a water well in Texas is regulated at two levels — the state driller licensing system and the local groundwater conservation district (GCD) permit system. Understanding which applies to your property prevents costly surprises before the rig shows up.
The Two-Track Texas Permit System
Texas doesn’t have a single statewide well drilling permit. Instead, the rules depend on your county:
| Your County Has a GCD? | What’s Required |
|---|---|
| Yes | GCD drilling permit before construction + TDLR-licensed driller + completion report to TDLR |
| No | TDLR-licensed driller + completion report to TDLR |
In counties with a Groundwater Conservation District (GCD), the district — not the state — is the primary permitting authority. The GCD reviews the application, evaluates spacing and production limits, and issues an approval before a single foot of borehole is drilled.
In counties without a GCD (Dallas, Kaufman, Rockwall, Hunt, Navarro, and Palo Pinto in our service area), there is no pre-drilling permit. The primary safeguard is the TDLR licensing requirement — every driller must hold a current state license.
Groundwater Conservation Districts in North Texas
The GCDs that govern our service area:
| GCD | Counties Covered |
|---|---|
| North Texas GCD | Collin, Cooke, Denton |
| Upper Trinity GCD | Wise, Parker, Hood |
| Red River GCD | Grayson, Fannin |
| Prairielands GCD | Johnson, Ellis, Somervell |
| Northern Trinity GCD | Tarrant |
| Middle Trinity GCD | Erath |
| No GCD (TDLR only) | Dallas, Kaufman, Rockwall, Hunt, Navarro, Palo Pinto |
What North Texas GCD Permit Fees Look Like
Permit fees are not standardized across Texas. Each Groundwater Conservation District sets its own fee schedule. Current residential well registration and permit fees across the North Texas service area:
| GCD | Counties | New Well Fee | Refundable Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Trinity GCD | Tarrant | $500 | $200 well report deposit |
| North Texas GCD | Collin, Cooke, Denton | $250 (under 17.36 gpm) | $250 driller log deposit |
| Upper Trinity GCD | Wise, Parker, Hood | $600 | $100 completion report deposit |
| Prairielands GCD | Johnson, Ellis, Somervell | $500 | — |
| Middle Trinity GCD | Erath | $200 deposit | Refundable on report receipt |
| Red River GCD | Grayson, Fannin | See current schedule | Registration required |
Most GCDs use a refundable deposit system to incentivize timely filing of the State of Texas Well Report. Submit the report within 60 days and the deposit is returned in full. For non-exempt wells (irrigation, commercial supply), application fees can rise to $750 or more, with hydrogeological report requirements adding $2,500 in some districts.
Your driller pulls the permit and pays the fee on your behalf as part of the project. Always confirm whether the quote includes permit fees or itemizes them separately.
Exempt Wells: Simplified Permitting
Texas Water Code Section 36.117 sets a statewide default: domestic and livestock wells producing less than 25,000 gallons per day are exempt wells — not subject to the same production permitting requirements as larger commercial or irrigation wells. In GCD counties, the district’s rule controls and may define the exemption differently.
For most homeowners drilling a domestic well, this means the GCD permit process is streamlined. However:
- Some GCDs still require a registration or notification filing for exempt wells
- Many North Texas districts define the exemption by use category and/or a pump-capacity test (17.36 gpm), not the 25,000-gallon volume
- All wells — exempt or not — must be drilled by a TDLR-licensed contractor
- A completion report must still be filed with TDLR within 60 days
After the Well Is Drilled
Once drilling is complete, your contractor must file a well completion report with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) within 60 days, per 16 TAC §76.70 — submitted through the state’s online well report system hosted by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). This report captures:
- Total depth and casing details
- Formation log (what was encountered at each depth)
- Static water level
- Estimated yield
This data becomes part of the public Texas Water Well Report database, which is searchable by property location. It is also an important record for future buyers of your property and for any required TREC Form 61-0 disclosure.
What We Handle for You
As a licensed Texas water well driller (TDLR #61234 DKMPW), we manage the permit application and post-construction reporting for every well we drill. We serve 19 counties in North Texas — call us to confirm the specific permit requirements for your property.