Texas Porch

Groundwater & Subsidence

Most water wells in Fort Bend County need a permit

The Fort Bend Subsidence District regulates groundwater wells to stop land sinking that makes flooding worse.

Fort Bend County Home & Property

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.

Source to confirm: Fort Bend Subsidence District – FAQs

More Fort Bend County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property tax in Fort Bend County

The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.

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Homestead Exemption

How to apply for a homestead exemption in Fort Bend County

Homeowners who live in their home as their main residence can apply with FBCAD to lower the taxable value.

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Municipal Utility Districts

Many Fort Bend neighborhoods are inside a MUD

Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) are special taxing districts that built and now run water, sewer, and drainage in many subdivisions.

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Ag Valuation

Agricultural land in Fort Bend can be taxed at a lower rate

Land used for farming or ranching may qualify for a lower tax value based on what it can produce, not what it would sell for.

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