Buying or selling a property with a well
A well changes what you ask in a home sale. You want to know the age of the pump and tank, the state well report, whether the well is registered with the district, and a recent water test. The first two questions below cover the paperwork. For testing, see well water testing in Montgomery County.
Rules that depend on when your well was drilled
The district's exemptions changed on January 1, 2026, and which rule applies depends on the date the well was completed. The questions on exempt status and lot size below explain the dates. The full picture of who regulates what is in the registration and permits guide.
Distances, lot size and neighbors
Distance rules come from three places: the district, the state driller rules and extension guidance. They agree on the 50-foot figure, and they differ for septic fields and animal areas. Check your plat before you pick a spot.
Everyday and end-of-life questions
Wells need little attention until they stop. The last questions cover what happens in a power cut, how to retire a well, and which license a pump swap needs. For the symptoms of a failing system, use the pump-not-working checklist.
Common questions
I am buying a house with a well. What should I ask for?
Ask for the well report, the ages of the pump and tank, receipts for past service, and a recent lab test. Ask whether the well is registered with the district. The district's FAQ says a buyer applies for a transfer of ownership if the well is registered, or for a new registration if it is not.
Where do I find the report for an old well?
Wells drilled after 2002 are reported through the Texas Water Development Board's Texas Well Reporting System. Older wells have reports held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The district may also have a record, and its public well map shows registered wells.
Is my older well exempt under the 2026 rules?
Often yes. Under the district's rules, a well completed on or before April 14, 2009 that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day and is used only for household or livestock use is exempt regardless of lot size. A well completed between that date and the end of 2025 with casing five inches or smaller is exempt on any tract. Check your completion date on the well report.
Does an exempt well need a meter?
No. The district's FAQ says exempt wells do not require a meter, while non-exempt wells must be metered at all times.
Can I water my lawn from my household well?
Lawn watering at a single-family house is within the district's exempt example. Irrigation as a business use, such as a hay field, is listed among non-exempt uses and needs a permit.
How far must a well sit from my property line and septic system?
The district keeps every new well at least 50 feet from the nearest property line, and the state driller rules list the same 50-foot setback. Texas AgriLife's Water Well Basics gives 50 feet from a septic tank, 100 feet from a drainfield, 150 feet from feed or fertilizer storage or an animal yard, and 250 feet from a manure stack.
Can I drill on a lot smaller than 1.5 acres?
Possibly. For wells completed on or after January 1, 2026 the exemption needs 1.5 acres, but lots recorded before December 1, 1986 are excused. The district's form also asks you to contact the Montgomery County Health Department for small lots. Ask both offices before you hire anyone.
Can I make my well deeper?
Changing the total depth is an alteration under the district's rules, and no one may alter a well without district authorization first. Raising the pumping capacity of an exempt well can end its exempt status.
What if the driller hits poor water?
The state lists a failure to notify the landowner within 24 hours when undesirable water is encountered as a violation. Ask in the contract who pays for a dry or unusable hole, and get it in writing.
What do I do with a well I no longer use?
Do not leave it open. The district bans open, uncovered or deteriorated wells, and TDLR says a landowner must cap or plug an abandoned well within 180 days of notice. Whoever plugs it files a plugging report within 30 days.
Why does my water stop when the power goes out?
The pump runs on electricity. The pressure tank holds a small reserve, only about a fifth of its volume is usable water, so a 42-gallon tank delivers roughly 8 gallons before it needs the pump again.
What yearly care does a well need?
Texas Water Resources Institute advises testing bacteria every year, keeping the well house clean, winterizing it in September or October, and servicing any filter on the maker's schedule.
Does a pump replacement need a driller's license?
The state issues separate driller and pump installer licenses, plus a combined one. Ask a pump installer to show a current pump installer or combination license, and look it up on the TDLR license search.
Does the state keep my well report private?
The owner may ask that the contents of a well report be held confidential, according to the state form. Ask the driller about it when you sign.
Sources
- Lone Star GCD: frequently asked questions
- Lone Star GCD Rules, effective January 1, 2026
- Lone Star GCD home page (public well map)
- TDLR: Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers program
- TDLR: license types for drillers and installers
- TDLR: penalties and sanctions for water well drillers and pump installers
- TDLR Well Report form 001WWD
- Texas A&M AgriLife: Water Well Basics
- Texas Water Resources Institute: How often should I get my well water tested?
- Penn State Extension: Using Low-Yielding Wells