Water well permits in the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1
Drilling a well in Mason County or the surrounding Llano Uplift country? Here is how the Hickory district handles registration, and how we manage it.
Mason County, plus parts of McCulloch, San Saba, Concho, Menard, and Kimble counties, is covered by the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, based in Brady. They manage the Hickory Aquifer, whose deep artesian zone supplies much of the Llano Uplift country.
The district's rule is easy to remember: file a Notice of Intent to Drill before you drill any well, exempt or not. For a normal household well that stays under the exemption limit, you then register the well and your driller files the well log within 60 days of finishing. We handle all of it.
What you need to know
- File a Notice of Intent to Drill first. Before drilling any well, exempt or permitted, you file a Notice of Intent to Drill with the district.
- Household wells register, they do not permit. A domestic or livestock well that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day (about 17 gallons per minute) is exempt from a permit but still must be registered.
- The well log is due within 60 days. After the well is completed, the driller's log and registration are filed within 60 days. As your licensed driller, we take care of that.
- Small lots can still qualify. A single well on a lot of 10 acres or less can be exempt if it serves up to four households for domestic use under the district's owner, relative, or employee rule.
- Mind the spacing and casing. Keep the well at least 50 feet from property lines and public roads and 100 feet from any concentrated pollution source such as a septic field, with the casing finished at least 18 inches above the ground.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Mason
Fast facts
- District: Hickory UWCD No. 1
- Covers: Mason County and parts of 5 neighbors
- New well: Notice of Intent before drilling
- Exempt well: Under 25,000 gal/day, log in 60 days
- Drought (June 2026): No mandatory drought-stage cutbacks in the current rules.
District office: 325-597-2785
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 before drilling is part of how we do every job in Mason 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 well in Mason County?
For a household well that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day, you do not need a permit, but you must file a Notice of Intent to Drill with the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 before drilling, register the well, and file the well log within 60 days. A higher-capacity well needs a permit issued before drilling. We handle whichever applies.
What is the Notice of Intent to Drill?
It is the form the Hickory district requires before any well is drilled, exempt or permitted. We file it for you before the rig goes to work.
How far does my well need to be from the property line?
At least 50 feet from property lines and public roadways, and at least 100 feet from a concentrated pollution source such as a septic field. We site your well to meet those distances.
What does it cost to register a well with the Hickory district?
The district does not post a homeowner registration fee in its rules, so we confirm the current amount with the district when we file your paperwork.
Drilling a well in Mason County?
We know the Hickory UWCD No. 1 rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.