Engineering Services Group

Helpful links

• Consent to Encroachment over City Easement (Form PW-9873C)

What is a Consent to Encroachment Application?

• Application to request consent to build, dig construct or erect a building, structure, edifice sign or other site improvement over and across a city easement or to request consent for an existing encroachment.
• It will be valid for the life of the improvements listed in the application and in no event longer than City shall own or hold the easement(s)

Submitting and approval?

• The applicant will be given the complete submittal package to submit for recordation with Harris County Clerk located at 201 Caroline Street, Houston, Texas 77002.
• Applicant must be either the current fee title owner of the property underlying the easement(s) or must have secured and attached with the application a notarized written consent from the fee title owner
• This may require a field investigation/inspection
• The applicant must submit a properly completed and notarized original form PW-9873C, exhibits, surveys and construction drawing.
• If an easement is designated as "Utility Easement" or not specifically designated otherwise the applicant will contact Center Point Energy and Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. to obtain letters of approval or no objection from these utility companies and any other parties having legal interest in the subject easement(s).

How do I Submit an Easement Encroachment?
You will need to provide:
• Complete Easement Encroachment Application
• Instructions for completing the Consent to Encroachment Over City Easement 
• Original Instrument if applicable
• Consent to Encroachment original document required
• Deed (If applicable)
• Survey, site plan
• For Signs: Complete dimension drawings.

Chapter 10, Article II Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Tx
(Information pulled from) https://www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/hpwua1008#about- 
statutory-authority

What is an Easement Reverter?

• This application is for use whenever it is determined that a recorded instrument contains verbiage which allows a public easement (storm sewer, water, water meter, or sanitary sewer) to revert to the previous owner or terminate, if the easement is no longer being used for the original purpose for which it was conveyed to the city.
• This application can be used to request the reverter/affidavit of multiple easements, so long as the easements are located within the same tract. For easements located in another tract, additional applications are required.

When do I Submit an Easement Reverter Application?

• If the recorded instrument does contain reverter/termination verbiage, and an active public utility line is not located within the easement.
•  If an applicant wants to revert the easement back to the owner.

 How do I Submit an Easement Reverter Application?

• This application must be completed and returned to the Utility Analysis Section (UAS) for it to review and determine if an active public utility is located within the easement. To contact UAS, please email: [email protected].

You will need to provide:

• Complete Easement Reverter Application
•  Original Instrument
• Deed
•  Survey
•  County Tax Authority
• All information must be complete on the application, including printed name, title, date, and signature. All related documents must be attached to the application.

Infrastructure Plan Review

• Residential Site Development – When a Master Meter is proposed to serve the entire development.
• Residential Site Development – With a Common Area or Driveway (2 or more single family residences sharing a common driveway.)
• WCR Letters that reference Extension Language –(Typically describes a water or sewer line that does not currently exist to serve their property or if existing line is to small) They must have infrastructure plan review so they can have the commitment letter reviewed. The customer must sign a letter stating they are going to extend the water or sewer lines so they can connect the proposed development.
• WCR Letters that reference needing a Private Utility Easement in order to connect to Water & Sewer. (This means the customer will need to have Infrastructure Review the proposed Private Utility Easement to make sure that if follows the legal guidelines for that agreement.

Joint Referral Committee (JRC)

A.   Developing and selling City property interests (fee or easement) for residential or commercial building projects often requires the relocation of City facilities, including street right-of-way and underground utilities, or approval of encroachments (existing buildings) into streets or alleys. In the City of Houston, such requests are processed by the Joint Referral Committee (JRC), which consists of representatives of the following departments: 

i.     Houston Public Works: City Engineer (Utilities, ROW/Traffic), Infrastructure and Development Services, Real Estate Services (coordinates as Chair for Houston Public Works Director), Transportation and Drainage Operations 

ii.    Planning and Development 

iii.   Legal 

iv.   Fire 

v.    Police 

B.   The JRC reviews all abandonment and encroachment (existing buildings into the ROW) requests to ensure continued mobility and adequate access to our water, wastewater, and storm sewer utilities. The work of the JRC is part of the important balance between facilitating growth and development, while safeguarding the City's ability to efficiently provide services to ratepayers and taxpayers. 

C.   The various transaction types available for processing through the JRC, and their respective descriptions, are referenced on the website below. Please read the descriptions carefully to determine the type of transaction required to accomplish your goal, as selecting the wrong transaction will delay the process. 

D.   If you need assistance, please call (832) 395-3139 or email [email protected]  to discuss your inquiry 

E.   To ensure prompt processing of your application, please follow all instructions attached to each application. 

F.    Applications are accepted in person every Thursday, from 9 am to 12 pm, on the 19th floor of the Bob Lanier Public Works Building, 611 Walker, or may also be submitted through the online portal. Accepted applications will normally be placed on the JRC’s Agenda for discussion on the second Tuesday following the application submittal and acceptance date. 

See website for further information:  

https://www.houstonpublicworks.org/joint-referral-committee 

Oil and Gas Well Permit

What is a well?

• A well includes and means any hole or holes, bore or bores, to any sand, formation, strata or depth, which is or are drilled, bored, sunk, dug or put down in the land for the purpose of either exploring for or ascertaining the existence of any oil, gas, liquid hydrocarbon.

 When Do I Submit a Permit for Oil and Gas Wells?

•  You are desiring to drill, complete and operate a well for oil or gas within the regulated area of the City
• You are exploring for or ascertaining the existence of any oil, gas, liquid hydrocarbon, or any of them, or for the purpose of producing and recovering any oil, gas, liquid hydrocarbon.

How do Submit a drilling Permit for Oil and Gas wells?

• You may submit a drilling Permit for Oil and Gas wells By emailing [email protected]
• In Person: Submit application at the HPC building located at 1002 Washington Ave., 3rd floor, Houston, TX 77002
• Mail to: Houston Public Works Impact Fee Administration Section P.O. Box 2688 Houston, TX 77252-2688

You will need to provide:

1.     Complete drilling Permit for Oil and Gas

2.    The date of the application.
3.   The name and address of the applicant and, if the applicant is a corporation, the state of 
incorporation, and if applicant is a partnership, the names and addresses of the general partners.
4.   The number of the drilling unit, the particular lot and block number or tract in the drilling 
unit on which the proposed well is to be located and the exact location of the proposed well by 
Lambert Coordinates.
5.   The type of the well, whether oil or gas, and the proposed depth
of the well.
6.   The proposed complete casing program of the well.
7.   The exact and correct number of square feet in the drilling unit over which the applicant
8.   A plat prepared by a duly licensed surveyor showing
9.   the exact location of the proposed well with respect to the drilling unit boundaries and with 
respect to the boundaries of the lot or block on which the applicant has secured the rights from 
the owner to drill.
10. designation of lots, blocks, or tracts owned or controlled by the applicant within the drilling 
unit, and
11. the distances from the well location to all parks, streets, alleys or other public property, 
residences, commercial buildings and structures situated within 400 feet of the well location.
12. A copy of Railroad Commission Form 1.

iii.   Each application shall be accompanied by the filing fee stated for this provision in the 
city fee schedule made payable to the City of Houston

iv.   Please allow for 10 business days for the request to be completed. Please direct all 
questions to 832-394-8996 or [email protected]
d.   After Approval
i.   Drilling shall begin within 90 days from the date of the permit, or the permit shall be 
forfeited; provided, however, such forfeiture shall not affect the right of the applicant to apply 
for another permit.
e.   Statutory Authority Chapter 31
https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=C OOR_CH31OIGAWE
Texas Administrative Code Section 1-69 https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.viewtac 
Texas Administration Code Section 1-206 https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.viewtac

Auxiliary Duties

• On Call Contracts
• No Objections
• Letter of Commitment
• Plat Review

Forms

• Easement Revert Application (IDS001)
• Content to Encroachment Packet (IDS002)
• Encroachment Application
• Encroachment instructions
• Drilling permit for Oil and Gas (IDS004)
   

Ordinances
Encroachment:

•  Chapter 10, Article II Code of Ordinances, City of Houston, Tx
•  Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 47, Article IV

Oil and Gas Statutory Authority:

▪     Chapter 31 of Houston Code of Ordinances "Oil and Gas Wells"
▪     Texas Administrative Code Section 1 - 69
▪     Chapter 23 of Houston Code of Ordinances "Lake Houston"
▪     Texas Administrative Code Section 1 - 206

Related Departments:
Impact Fee Administration

Taps & Meters

Water Well Permit