Most water wells in Fort Bend County need a permit

Pumping too much groundwater causes the land to sink slowly over time. This is called subsidence. Coastal areas near Fort Bend have sunk several feet since the early 1900s. Sunken land floods more easily and damages roads and buildings.

The Fort Bend Subsidence District was created by the Texas Legislature in 1989. It covers all of Fort Bend County. Most commercial and irrigation wells need an annual permit ($50 fee) and must file a yearly pumping report by January 31. Domestic wells serving only a single-family home with casing five inches or smaller drilled before 2015 are generally exempt.

If you plan to drill a new well or buy property with an existing well, check with the district first at fbsubsidence.org to confirm permit requirements.