If someone sustains water damage on their property due to a neighbor's property, questions as to who may be liable may arise. Surface water runoff — most often caused by excess rainwater or snow melt — is the common culprit. While Texas subscribes to the "common enemy doctrine", it has modified the doctrine by holding landowners responsible for damage to neighboring property due to diversion of surface water.
Below you will find references to areas of the Texas law related to water damage of real property. If you find these statutes difficult to understand, please see the Understanding the Law resources below for a "plain English" explanation of these laws.
You can borrow the e-books below with your library account. Don't have a library account? Texas residents can register for a library account online! Learn more about how to register online.