fbpx
Search
Close this search box.

Taking a Look at Municipal Utility Districts

A MUD is a special-purpose district that provides infrastructure and public utilities to the residents of that district.
Water Tower

This is the second and last entry in evaluating how special districts are set-up, financed, and operated to support the improvement of designated areas. We looked at the Public Improvement District (PID) last time, which have also been referred to as a Business Improvement District (BID) or Merchant Improvement District (MID). BIDs and MIDs mainly provide enhancements to an existing built environment, but thanks to some very esteemed land use professionals in Austin, PIDs are becoming a tool to support and finance infrastructure in new projects.

The precursor to the PID – at least in Texas – is the Municipal Utility District (MUD). While PIDs are an increasingly popular tool in areas like Austin, MUDs are preferred in other areas of the state, primarily Harris County. A MUD is a special-purpose district or other governmental jurisdiction that provides infrastructure and public utilities like electricity, natural gas, sewage treatment, waste collection/management, wholesale telecommunications, and water to the residents of that district. MUDs are formed by a vote of the area, and represented by board of directors who are voted on by the people who assemble the MUD.

MUDs operate as political subdivisions of the state and are approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide water, sewage, drainage, and other services within the boundaries of the district. They are created by property owners within the district. A majority of those property owners have to petition the TCEQ to create the district, and ultimately the commission makes a decision on whether to create the district after a public hearing.

MUDs operate under a publicly elected Board of Directors. That Board manages the MUD but continues to operate under the purview of the TCEQ. The Board establishes policies in the interest of its residents and utility customers. In addition to their common functions of water and wastewater service, MUDs are empowered to engage in conservation, irrigation, electrical generation, firefighting, solid waste collection and disposal, and recreational activities (such as parks, swimming pools, and sports courts).

As always, WGI stays on top of every issue related to land development in our local markets. If there are questions you have in relation to special districts or unique aspects to land development, we encourage you to contact us – we are always open and available.

Share this post

Share this post

Learn more
about our
services

Related

Blog

Project Spotlight: Lively Lane

Discover how WGI helped bring Lively Lane to life—a vibrant community in San Marcos that blends sustainable design, live/work townhomes, and natural beauty to create the perfect balance of urban convenience and serenity.

Houston TIRZ
Blog

What is a TIRZ?

A TIRZ is a district that allows investments in public improvements to be made and the resulting incremental tax increases (“increments”) are used to pay for the improvements within the district. WGI’s land use experts break it down for you:

JOIN THE TEAM

You’ve been searching for a place like WGI. We look forward to meeting you soon.

We're
Nearby

Enter your zip code, and we’ll personalize your experience with local projects, office locations, team members, and more.

WGI's success starts with our Associates

WGI supports its associates with meaningful opportunities for growth, strong benefits and perks, while we work collaboratively with clients and co-consultants to shape and improve communities.

Our Team in Action

Join the Team

WGI is a dynamic organization with opportunities nationwide for engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and architects.

Find a team member:

Let's talk about your next project.