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Houston, TX Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Code of Ordinances § 47-74
Full credit window
Repair leak within 30 days
Partial credit
1/4 rate at 30-60 days
Reduced credit
1/2 rate after 60 days
Application deadline
Within 6 months of repair

Summary

Houston ties your water bill relief directly to how fast you report and fix a line leak: full credit inside 30 days, shrinking credit after that.

Any residential, commercial, multifamily or outdoor customer ... may request an adjustment of any water bill showing excess usage due to a loss of water through an excusable defect in the customer's water line ... To apply for the adjustment the customer must file a sworn written application ... within six months of the repair of the excusable defect. ... if the customer repairs the leak within 30 days of receipt of a bill that first reflects the leak, the customer shall be billed only at their established rate ... with no additional charge for excess usage.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Under City Code Sec. 47-74, a customer whose water line has an excusable defect (not city-caused) can apply to Houston Public Works for a bill adjustment, but the amount depends on repair speed: fix it within 30 days of the first leak-reflecting bill and you pay only the average-usage rate with no excess charge; 30-60 days draws a one-fourth-rate excess charge; past 60 days it jumps to one-half rate. The sworn application is due within six months of the repair.

Violations & Fines

No fine for the leak itself, but delay converts into escalating excess-usage charges (1/4 rate at 30-60 days, 1/2 rate after 60 days) plus no bill relief if you miss the 6-month application deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report a leak to Houston Public Works?
There's no standalone duty to call it in, but you must file a sworn application within six months of repairing it to get any bill credit for the lost water.
What if I don't fix the leak quickly?
The credit shrinks the longer you wait: full relief within 30 days, a quarter-rate charge at 30-60 days, and a half-rate charge after 60 days.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Houston

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All Houston rules

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