Applications for Surface Water Rights and Ownership Changes
- Water Rights Application Process
- Water Right Applications Forms
- Temporary Permits
- Applications for Transfer of Water Rights Ownership
- Voluntary Abandonment
- Application Fees
- Pending Water Right Applications
- For More Information
- Where to Send Applications
Water Rights Application Process
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality evaluates each water right application to determine if it can be granted. This involves a review to ensure:
- the application is administratively complete, with all the information we need to evaluate it (according to Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 295
- technical requirements are met, such as water availability, conservation, and environmental aspects (see 30 TAC 288 , 297, and 298
The TCEQ will assign a project manager to coordinate with the technical and legal staff that reviews the application. This gives you one point of contact within the agency.
The Water Rights Permitting Team typically processes simple and uncontested applications within 300 days. In some cases, a public notice may be required, or a request for a contested case hearing may be received, which could increase the processing time.
To speed up the process, make sure your application is complete before submitting it. We encourage you to meet with permitting and technical review staff at TCEQ before applying. This helps alert you to potential problems or areas of concern where additional information is needed.
Water Right Application Forms
Use the following form(s) to register the use of state water for special purposes, or to request a water right, or modify an existing one. There may be fees associated with your request as described in the application form instructions.
For new appropriations of state water or amending existing water right permits, Applicants need to use the instructions below and complete and submit the following two forms:
- Instructions for Completing the Water Rights Permitting Application (TCEQ-10214a) PDF
- TCEQ Water Rights Permitting Application, Administrative Information Checklist (TCEQ-10214b) PDF and Technical Information Report, Water Rights Permitting (TCEQ-10214c) PDF
- Application for an Extension of Time to Begin or Complete Construction of an Authorized Project (TCEQ-10203) Word
or PDF - Dry Fire Hydrant Registration Application (TCEQ-10209) Word or PDF
- Mariculture Registration Application (TCEQ-10219) Word or PDF
Application for Temporary Permits
Temporary Permits are typically issued to use surface water for a short period of time.
- 10 Acre-feet or Less and One Calendar Year or Less (TCEQ-20425) Word or PDF Depending on the location of your proposed diversion, these temporary water use applications are processed by either the TCEQ Regional Offices or the Watermaster office for your area.
- More Than 10 Acre-feet or More Than One Calendar Year (TCEQ-10202) Word or PDF Submit these applications for temporary water use permits to the Water Rights Permitting Team.
Change of Ownership of a Water Right Form
If you acquire all or part of a water right, or property with an appurtenant water right, submit documentation and a Change of Ownership Form to the address below:
- $100 application fee, payable to TCEQ
Application for Voluntary Abandonment
If you no longer wish to retain ownership of a water right, and want to relinquish the water right back to the state, submit the following form to the address below. There is no fee for this process.
Pending Water Right Applications
Pending Water Right Applications . If you need to find out about the status of your application, click on the link above or see For More Information below.
For More Information
For more information, to find out about the status of your application, or for help filling out forms, please contact the Water Rights Permitting Team at 512-239-4691 or e-mail us at wras@tceq.texas.gov.
Where to Send Applications
Water Rights Permitting Team MC-160
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
PO Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087