Utility Permitting Office
Austin Water's Utility Permitting Office helps contractors, developers and residents navigate water and wastewater permitting, meter installation and tap connections. We serve the building community from the Permitting and Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive.
We are available to answer general questions without an appointment at 512-972-1000, option 3, or by email at AWTaps@austintexas.gov. To schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, visit the Permitting and Development Center appointments page.
Our Services
- Providing information on existing water and wastewater connections
- Invoicing for water and wastewater tap connections, including septic cutovers
- Processing applications for temporary hydrant and truck-mounted water meters
- Inspecting and installing residential water meters
- Processing requests for commercial property water meter installations
- Passing 611 and 610 inspections for building and plumbing permits
General Resources
- New Service Connections
- New Water Meters
- Impact Fee Schedule — FY2026 (PDF)
- Detail Standards — 520-AW-01B (PDF)
- Current Standard Product List (PDF)
- General Requirements for Reclaimed Water Users (PDF)
- Spring 2025 Newsletter — Digital Commercial Meter Applications, Tap Plans and More
Applications
Applications for residential meters, commercial meters, reclaimed water service and Water and Wastewater Service Plan Verifications (WWWSPV) must be submitted through the Austin Build + Connect portal.
Step-by-Step Application Guides
- Commercial Meter Application Guide (PDF)
- Residential Meter Application Guide — English and Spanish (PDF)
- How to Schedule a Residential Water Tap Inspection (PDF)
WWWSPV Applications
A Water and Wastewater Service Plan Verification (WWWSPV) determines whether a meter purchase is required for your project. Submit through the Austin Build + Connect portal.
- WWWSPV Application Guide — English (PDF)
- WWWSPV Application Guide — Spanish (PDF)
- When and Why to Submit a WWWSPV — Instructions (PDF)
- WWWSPV Applicant Reference Guide (PDF)
If your WWWSPV indicates a Utility Plan is required, visit the New Water Service Connections page for more information.
Temporary Meters
As of July 1, 2025, all temporary truck and hydrant meter applications, renewals and read submissions must be completed through the online portal. PDF applications are no longer accepted.
New Applications and Renewals
Use the Temporary Meter Application portal for:
- New hydrant meter and truck meter applications
- Hydrant meter renewals (annual) and truck meter renewals (every five years)
Guides:
Monthly Truck Meter Read Submissions
Submit monthly truck meter reads through the Meter Read Submission portal.
For help with the portal, contact us at AWHydrants@austintexas.gov or call 512-972-1000, option 3, then option 2.
Residential Meter Inspections and Installations
Meter inspections are generally completed within 10 business days of the service request. Once a service request is assigned to a Meter Services Inspector, inspection is typically completed within three business days unless delays occur.
You can check the status of your residential water meter inspection or installation using the service request tracker on this page.
Tips for Successful Meter Installation
Before your inspection, make sure:
- The meter box is clean
- The wooden dowel spacer is sized properly and marked with the service address
- The angle stop and ball valves are in alignment
611 and 610 Inspections
611 Water Tap and 610 AW Temp Utilities one-time inspections appear in building and plumbing permits and must be passed by the Utility Permitting Office. To request that your inspections be passed, call 512-972-1000, option 3, or email AWTaps@austintexas.gov with the address and permit number.
For most permit types, once a water meter is installed, we complete the installation process within 24 hours. Allow until end of day after installation for inspections to be passed. If inspections are not passed within two business days of meter installation, contact us at the number or email above.
Criteria by Permit Type
Demolition and Relocation Building Permits
- If the structure had water or wastewater services, a plumbing permit for the purpose of "cap off water and wastewater" must be associated with the building permit and must have a status of Final before inspections can be passed.
- If the structure did not have water or wastewater services, contact us and we will pass the inspections.
New Subdivision Single Family Residential Building Permits
- You must have applied for your water meter, paid the permit fee and had the meter connected and installed.
Remodeled or Rebuilt Single Family Residential Building Permits
- If the remodel involves three bathrooms or fewer, a WWWSPV is not required and 611 and 610 inspections should not be included in your building permit. If they are, contact us and we will pass them.
- For larger remodels, complete a WWWSPV to determine whether a meter purchase is required. You must apply for and have the meter installed before inspections can be passed.
Single Family Residential Plumbing Permits in the ETJ
- You must have applied for your water meter, paid the permit fee and had the meter connected and installed.
Commercial Building Permits
- The Right of Way Inspector must submit water meter installation information to our office before we can pass inspections.
- All purchased meters must be installed before inspections are passed. For example, if a domestic meter is installed but an irrigation meter has not been, inspections cannot be passed until both are complete.
Water and Wastewater Tap Cards
Search and download scanned water and wastewater tap cards by address.
To request login information and instructions, email AWTaps@austintexas.gov.