Determine whether a new irrigation well in Texas requires a groundwater conservation district (GCD) permit before drilling.

Steps

1. Determine whether the well site falls within the boundary of an established groundwater conservation district, since Texas has no single statewide well-permitting authority — regulation is a county/district patchwork.
2. If within a GCD, contact that district directly to determine its specific permitting rules, since spacing, production limits, and permitted-use categories (irrigation vs. domestic vs. municipal) vary by district.
3. Confirm whether the intended irrigation use qualifies for any district exemption; note that the widely cited domestic/livestock exemption under Texas Water Code §36.117 (wells under 25,000 gpd on qualifying tracts) applies to domestic/livestock use, not landscape irrigation, so it should not be assumed to cover an irrigation well without checking the specific district's rules.
4. If the site is outside any GCD's jurisdiction, confirm the area is instead governed by the common-law rule of capture, under which no district permit exists to obtain.
5. Document the applicable permit conditions (allowed use, pumping limits) issued by the district before drilling and connecting the well to the irrigation system.