Water well permits in the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District

Groundwater in Bandera County is managed by the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (BCRAGD). They register wells, set spacing and production rules, and protect the Trinity Aquifer that most of the rugged county depends on.

A new well must be registered or permitted with the district before drilling. Bandera's exemption rules are tied to your tract size and when the well is drilled, and the district has at times limited new permits in stressed areas, so it is worth confirming current requirements before you plan a well. We do that for you.

What you need to know

• Register or permit before drilling. A new well must be on file with the district before drilling begins.
• Exemption depends on acreage and date. Exempt domestic wells generally require a minimum tract size (5 acres for wells after September 2002, 10 acres for wells after September 2022), no existing well on the tract, and a capacity under 25,000 gallons a day.
• Production is limited per acre. The district caps annual production at roughly a quarter to a half acre-foot per acre, and wells are metered.
• Spacing rules apply. New wells must meet the district's spacing distances from other wells and property lines.
• Confirm current availability. Bandera has at times restricted new permits in stressed areas. We check the current rules with the district before siting your well.

See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Bandera