Water/Wastewater and Facilities

Developing and selling property 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 into streets or alleys. In the City of Houston, such requests are processed by the Joint Referral Committee (JRC). JRC consists of representatives from

• Planning & Development Department
• Houston Fire Department
• Legal Department
• Mayor’s Office
• Houston Police Department
• Houston Public Works (Office of the City Engineer, Real Estate Services, Transportation and Drainage Operations, and Infrastructure & Development Services)

Applications are accepted every Thursday, from 9 am to 12 pm, on the 19th floor of the Bob Lanier Public Works Building, 611 Walker, or may be submitted via the JRC online portal at Joint Referral Committee Forms and Portal. 

The Office of the City Engineer receives easement dedication documents (Form 584, Proof of Ownership, Metes & Bounds, Survey Exhibit) to create a public easement. 

What is an easement?  

• Area set aside for installation, operation, and maintenance of utilities by public and private utility operators. 

• The purpose of an easement is to protect Power and Right of Access to install, operate, and maintain utilities located on private property and to regulate the activities of others within the easement to ensure the safety of the public. 

What easements can I apply for through the Office of the City Engineer? 

• Water Line Easement 

• Sanitary Sewer Easement  

• Storm Sewer Easement 

• Right-of-Way Easement 

• Sidewalk Easement  

• Fire Hydrant Easement 

What easement can I NOT apply for through the Office of the City Engineer? 

• Water Meter Easement  

• For water meter easement, please apply through Taps & Meters Group. 

For more detailed information regarding Easement Dedications, please visit Easement Dedication. For application assistance, please schedule an appointment via the online bookings page.

The Facility group reviews water and wastewater treatment plants, water wells, lift stations, force mains, and re-claimed water line (non-potable water line) projects to ensure these projects follow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and national standards including but not limited to those of:  

• Infrastructure Design Manual  
• Engineering Design Manual for Submersible Lift Stations 
• Groundwater Plant Design Guidelines  
• City of Houston Code of Ordinances  
• City of Houston Standard Specifications and Standard Details  
• Rules and Regulations published by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)  

To discuss plan comments with your assigned reviewer, please schedule an appointment via the online bookings page.

The Office of the City Engineer reviews preliminary plats submitted through the Planning Department. According to the Infrastructure and Design Manual, Chapter 42 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, and rules published by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), we provide public utilities and easement comments on the CPC-101 form from the Planning Commission.               

For more information on how to submit plats, please visit the City of Houston Plat Tracker. 

The Office of the City Engineer reviews plans for drinking water distribution lines and wastewater collection systems.  

For COH Design and Construction Standards (IDM, Standard Details, Construction Specifications, Approved Products, etc):
Design and Construction Standards | Houston Permitting Center 

Please see the following memo clarifying the application of the City of Houston design standards and specifications for all water and wastewater projects located within the City of Houston city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction boundaries:Memo in PDF- Application of City Design Standards on Water and Wastewater Projects

For TCEQ Chapter 290 Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems:
Rules in PDF - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov 

For TCEQ Chapter 217 Design Criteria for Domestic Wastewater Systems:
Rules in PDF - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov 

To discuss plan comments with your assigned reviewer, please schedule an appointment via the online bookings page.