Water well permits in the Medina County Groundwater Conservation District
Drilling a well in Medina County, around Hondo, Castroville, or Devine? Here is how registration works, and how we handle it.
Groundwater in Medina County, including Hondo, Castroville, Devine, and D'Hanis, is managed by the Medina County Groundwater Conservation District (MCGCD). They register wells and set the spacing rules across the county.
A normal household well is treated as an exempt well here: you file a one-time registration, and the district asks that the application and payment be in hand before drilling begins. We take care of that for you. One important note for Medina County: if your property sits over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, your well also falls under the separate Edwards Aquifer Authority, and we sort out which rules apply.
What you need to know
- A household well is a one-time registration. Domestic and livestock wells file an Exempt Wells Registration, not an operating permit. The registration fee is $10.
- Register and pay before drilling. The district asks that your well registration and payment be received before drilling can begin.
- Stay under 25,000 gallons a day. An exempt well cannot be equipped to pump more than 25,000 gallons a day. Higher use, or irrigating fields, makes it a non-exempt well that needs a construction permit ($250) and an operating permit ($250).
- Mind the setbacks. A well must sit at least 50 feet from the nearest property line and 100 feet from a septic system. Drilling closer than 50 feet to a line takes a notarized waiver from the adjoining landowner.
- Edwards recharge zone wells also answer to the EAA. If your land is over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, the Edwards Aquifer Authority regulates that well too. We confirm which authority covers your property.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Hondo
Fast facts
- District: Medina County GCD
- Also: Edwards Aquifer Authority (recharge-zone wells)
- New well: Register + pay before drilling
- Exempt registration: $10
District office: (830) 741-3162
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Medina County Groundwater Conservation District before drilling is part of how we do every job in Medina 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 household well in Medina County?
For a domestic or livestock well, you file a one-time Exempt Wells Registration with the Medina County Groundwater Conservation District rather than an operating permit, with a $10 fee, and the registration and payment should be in before drilling. Higher-use or irrigation wells need a construction permit and an operating permit. We handle whichever applies.
What does well registration cost in Medina County?
The exempt domestic well registration fee is $10. A non-exempt well needs a construction permit ($250) and an operating permit ($250). We confirm the current amounts when we file.
How far does my well have to be from the property line and septic?
At least 50 feet from the nearest property line and at least 100 feet from a septic system. To place a well closer than 50 feet to a property line, the adjoining landowner signs a notarized waiver. We site your well to meet the rules.
My property is over the Edwards Aquifer. Who regulates my well?
Wells in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone fall under the Edwards Aquifer Authority in addition to the county district. We determine which authority covers your specific property and handle the right paperwork.
Drilling a well in Medina County?
We know the MCGCD rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.