Land near Wimberley.

Wimberley-area land: check watershed, floodplain, slope, water and septic

For land around Wimberley, start by identifying who has authority over the exact tract. The Census reference point for Wimberley falls in Hays County, but a city name, mailing address or map pin does not establish city limits, ETJ, county jurisdiction, utility service or what may be built. Compare the legal description, survey and appraisal account with current city and county maps, then ask the applicable planning office to confirm jurisdiction for the parcel and intended project.

Within City jurisdiction, Wimberley’s code includes watershed and stormwater provisions. It says City-submitted development plans and subdivision plats must follow the applicable article and other rules, and work in the regulatory floodplain must meet City and FEMA requirements. The City says new construction and most reconstruction or remodeling need a building permit. Commercial work and residential construction on slopes over 15% require site plan review before a City permit. These are City-specific statements; they do not automatically describe every tract near Wimberley.

For unincorporated Hays County land, the County’s process begins with city/ETJ status, platting, water and wastewater sources and possible environmental areas. County Development Services says development and OSSF permits apply in unincorporated areas, with other departments reviewing driveway, utility and fire matters depending on the project. Wimberley’s utility page lists PEC, Central Wimberley Wastewater System, Wimberley Water Supply Corporation and Aqua Texas for different services. Ask the provider for written confirmation of service, capacity, connection conditions and costs for the exact parcel. Use FEMA, county and city maps as screening tools, then verify floodway, drainage, watershed, slope, water, septic and access with the responsible agency and qualified professionals before budgeting or making an offer. The Rural Land Feasibility Planner organizes questions and estimates; it cannot determine jurisdiction, permits, service, buildability or system design.

Facts to help plan the next check

• Wimberley’s Chapter 9 code includes watershed provisions; development plans and subdivision plats submitted to the City must comply with the applicable article and other regulations. City code also requires applicable work in its regulatory floodplain to meet City and FEMA floodplain management regulations.
• The City of Wimberley says permits are required for new construction and most reconstruction or remodeling within City jurisdiction.
• The City requires site plan review before a City building permit for commercial projects and residential construction on slopes over 15%.
• The City utilities page identifies Central Wimberley Wastewater System as its public utility, names PEC for electric questions, and directs properties without private wells or septic to contact Wimberley Water Supply Corporation or Aqua Texas about water and wastewater service.
• Hays County’s development process asks applicants to establish whether a tract is in a city, city ETJ or unincorporated area, and to identify plat status, water and wastewater source, and environmental-zone considerations before permitting.
• Hays County says development and OSSF permits apply in unincorporated areas; its process lists separate county roles for development/floodplain, OSSF, driveway, utility and fire-marshal permits depending on the project.
• TCEQ identifies Cypress Creek as a water body in the Guadalupe River Basin located in the City of Wimberley; watershed-plan history is environmental context and does not by itself establish parcel-specific permit requirements.
• The Texas Water Development Board cautions that mapped public water-system service boundaries may not represent actual retail service areas and may omit public systems, so a map cannot confirm service to a particular tract.
• Hays County’s permit materials describe application and review steps for development and onsite sewage facilities; confirm current documents and fees with the responsible office.
• The City publishes development applications and FEMA provides effective flood-map search; those maps are screening sources and do not replace parcel-specific agency review.

Parcel-specific next checks

1. Match the marketing address to the deed, survey, legal description and appraisal account; confirm the actual county and whether the tract is inside Wimberley city limits, another ETJ or unincorporated Hays County.
2. Ask the City or County which office reviews the exact parcel and intended work; record the date, map layer and written response.
3. For City-jurisdiction property, check current Chapter 9 watershed and stormwater rules, regulatory floodplain requirements and whether the project needs City site plan review or a building permit.
4. If a proposed residential building site may be on a slope over 15%, ask Wimberley Permitting how the City measures the slope and what site plan documents are required.
5. Review effective FEMA flood maps and ask the responsible floodplain office whether a floodplain permit, elevation work or additional study applies to the actual site.
6. For unincorporated Hays County land, verify plat status and the current development, floodplain, OSSF, driveway, utility and fire-permit steps for the proposed work.
7. Contact PEC and the applicable water or wastewater provider; obtain parcel-specific written service availability, capacity, tap or extension requirements, timing and cost estimates.
8. If using a private well or onsite sewage facility, obtain available well logs and system permits/maintenance history, and request qualified site evaluation and testing for the planned use.
9. Check recorded plats, deed restrictions, access rights, easements and survey boundaries; confirm intended use with the relevant authority and qualified professionals.
10. Save dated source links, written agency and provider responses, map results and professional reports in the property due-diligence file.

Sources

• City of Wimberley Code of Ordinances — watershed and floodplain provisions ↗
• City of Wimberley — building permits and slope-based site plan review ↗
• City of Wimberley — forms and development applications ↗
• City of Wimberley — utility providers and service contacts ↗
• Hays County — development process, jurisdiction, platting and permits ↗
• Hays County — Environmental Health and unincorporated development/OSSF permits ↗
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality — Cypress Creek watershed location and context ↗
• Texas Water Development Board — public water service-boundary map limitations ↗
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality — OSSF homeowner information ↗
• FEMA — Flood Map Service Center ↗

Research checked 2026-11-06. Confirm current details for the exact parcel.

Open the related land tool ↗

Print or save this local checklist