Water well permits in the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District
Drilling a well in Gillespie County or around Fredericksburg? Here is how registration and permitting work, and how we handle it.
Gillespie County, including Fredericksburg, is covered by the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District (HCUWCD). They register wells across the county and manage the Trinity, Edwards-Trinity, and Hickory aquifers that supply the area.
A new well must be registered with the district before drilling. For an ordinary household well that is an inexpensive registration; larger irrigation use is what triggers a full permit.
What you need to know
- Register before drilling. A new well must be registered with the district before the well is drilled.
- Registration is inexpensive for household wells. The district charges a $100 registration fee for a new well.
- Irrigation over half an acre needs a permit. Domestic and livestock wells register; a well used to irrigate more than half an acre needs an operating permit.
- A 75-foot setback applies. New domestic wells generally must sit at least 75 feet from property lines and pollution sources such as septic systems.
- Your driller files the state report. We file the required State of Texas well report after completing your well.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Fredericksburg
Fast facts
- District: Hill Country UWCD
- Covers: Gillespie County
- New well: Register before drilling ($100)
- Permit if: Irrigating over 1/2 acre
District office: (830) 997-4472
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District before drilling is part of how we do every job in Gillespie 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 Gillespie County?
Most household wells need only to be registered with the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District before drilling, with a $100 registration fee. A full permit is required if the well will irrigate more than half an acre or is otherwise non-exempt. We handle whichever applies.
How much is well registration in the Hill Country district?
The district charges a $100 registration fee for a new well. We include it in handling your project.
How far from the property line does my well have to be?
New domestic wells in the district generally must be at least 75 feet from property lines and from pollution sources such as septic systems. We site your well to meet the setback.
Drilling a well in Gillespie County?
We know the HCUWCD rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.