Who Do I Call for That? A Hill Country Directory

Moving to the Hill Country means learning a new set of phone numbers, reporting systems, and jurisdictions. Who handles the pothole on your street? What about the dead deer on the shoulder? The loose dog running through the neighborhood? The neighbor dumping trash in the creek? This guide organizes common local problems by issue and jurisdiction so you can reach the agency most likely to be responsible. Save this page. You will need it.

For more homeownership resources, see our Home Inspection Checklist for Boerne, the Property Insurance Guide for the Hill Country, and the Texas Hill Country Home Maintenance Calendar.

Quick-Reference Phone List

Potholes and Road Problems

Who Maintains What Road?

The most important thing to understand: the road determines who you call. Here is the breakdown:

Potholes and Road Damage

On a state highway (I-10, SH 46, U.S. 281, U.S. 87):

• TxDOT: 1-800-558-9368 (55-TxDOT) or use TxDOT's Report an Issue form
• TxDOT handles state roadways only — they will direct city and county road complaints to the applicable local government [1]

On a city street in Boerne:

• City of Boerne Customer Care: (830) 249-9511, Option 1
• Report the location and description of the pothole [27]

On a city street in Fair Oaks Ranch:

• Fair Oaks Ranch Public Works: (210) 698-0900
• Note: The City handles streets it has accepted for municipal maintenance. TxDOT routes and private or HOA-maintained streets are handled by the responsible state or private entity. If ownership is unclear, call Fair Oaks Ranch Public Works at (210) 698-0900.

On a city street in Bandera:

• City of Bandera City Hall: (830) 796-3765
• After hours: (830) 328-9946 [13]

On a county road (unincorporated Kendall County):

• Kendall County Road and Bridge: (830) 995-2995
• Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. [8]

On a county road (unincorporated Comal County):

• Comal County Engineer's Office: (830) 608-2090
• Report online at Comal County Report an Issue [12]

On a county road (unincorporated Bandera County):

• Bandera County Road and Bridge: (830) 796-4524

Unincorporated Bexar County:

• Bexar County Public Works: (210) 335-6700. This number is for county-maintained roads, bridges, drainage facilities, and related service requests. It does not cover state highways, incorporated-city streets, or private roads.

Streetlights and Traffic Signals

Electric service in the Hill Country is divided among municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, and the provider is determined by the service address. Road and streetlight ownership can also be uncertain because state-system roads, city streets, private roads, and utility-owned lights may exist in the same area. Check the electric bill or use the Public Utility Commission of Texas Electric Service Territory/Outage Map Locator at https://www.puc.texas.gov/storm/map/.

Fair Oaks Ranch — Bexar and Comal County portions: CPS Energy provides electric service. Report electric outages, downed lines, and electric emergencies at (210) 353-4357. The general billing and service number is (210) 353-2222.

Fair Oaks Ranch — Kendall County portion: Pedernales Electric Cooperative provides electric service. Report an outage at (888) 883-3379. General member service is (888) 554-4732.

Routine streetlight problems may also be reported to Fair Oaks Ranch Public Works at (210) 698-0900 so the City can coordinate with the correct electric provider.

Boerne: Report a routine streetlight problem to City of Boerne Customer Care at (830) 249-9511, option 1.

City of Bandera and other locations: Identify the electric provider for the service address before reporting the light. Bandera Electric Cooperative customers may use its outdoor-lighting page at https://www.banderaelectric.com/electric-services/outdoor-lighting/ [29] or call its 24-hour payment and outage line at (866) 226-3372. If the provider is unknown, use the PUCT locator at https://www.puc.texas.gov/storm/map/.

Elsewhere in the Hill Country, the electric provider is determined by the service address rather than the county alone. Check the provider named on the electric bill or use the Public Utility Commission of Texas outage-map locator at https://www.puc.texas.gov/storm/map/.

Traffic signals on state highways: Report to TxDOT, 1-800-558-9368.

Power Outage or Downed Line

A routine power outage should be reported directly to the electric provider shown on the property's bill. Do not assume that the city, county, or retail electric company owns the lines.

Fair Oaks Ranch — Bexar and Comal County portions:

CPS Energy outage or electric emergency: (210) 353-4357

Fair Oaks Ranch — Kendall County portion:

Pedernales Electric Cooperative outage: (888) 883-3379

City of Boerne utility customer:

• Regular hours: (830) 249-9511, option 1
• After hours: (830) 248-1633

Other locations:

Use the provider named on the bill or the Public Utility Commission of Texas provider/outage locator at https://www.puc.texas.gov/storm/map/.

Downed, sagging, or damaged power line:

Stay away from the line and anything touching it. Treat it as energized even during an outage. Call 911 and the electric provider. Do not drive over it, touch it, or attempt to move it.

Water Leaks and Sewer Backups

City of Boerne Water Customers

• Customer Care and Billing: (830) 249-9511, option 1
• After-hours emergencies (weekends/holidays): (830) 248-1633
• Backed up sewer? Call Customer Service first — they will investigate [28]

Fair Oaks Ranch Water Utilities

• Regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.: Call Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall at (210) 698-0900.
• After-hours water or wastewater outage: Call Boerne Dispatch at (830) 249-8645.
• Water supply: Fair Oaks Ranch Utilities uses Trinity Aquifer groundwater and treated surface water originating from Canyon Lake. For service questions or outages, use the provider shown on the property's water bill.

Private Wells and Other Non-City Water Service

Not every property outside a municipal water system uses a private well. If the property receives a water bill from a water-supply corporation, municipal utility district, water-control and improvement district, or private utility, report a leak or outage to that provider. The private-well guidance below applies only when the property has its own well.

• If you are on a private well, you are responsible for your own system
• Private domestic wells are largely unregulated, and the property owner is responsible for testing and maintaining the water supply. For routine water-quality questions or testing, consult the Texas Well Owner Network at https://twon.tamu.edu/, a qualified laboratory, or a licensed well or water-treatment professional.
• To verify a water-well driller or pump-installer license, use the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license search at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/. [31]
• If you suspect that an outside source is polluting groundwater, file an environmental complaint with TCEQ at (888) 777-3186 or https://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/complaints.
• The number (800) 832-8224 is the Texas spill-reporting hotline and should be used for spills or accidental releases — not ordinary well testing or water-quality questions.

Sewer Backups (County/Septic)

• If you are on a septic system and have a backup, that is generally a private maintenance issue
• Comal County Engineer's Office / Environmental Health: (830) 608-2090 or report issues online at Comal County Report an Issue.
• Kendall County Onsite Sewage, through the County Engineer's Office: (830) 249-9343; https://www.kendallcountytx.gov/394/Onsite-Sewage. [33]

Water Main Breaks (City Water)

• City of Boerne: (830) 249-9511 (immediately — do not wait)
• Bandera City: (830) 796-3765, after hours: (830) 328-9946

For more on well and septic infrastructure, see our Hill Country infrastructure guide.

Gas Leak or Smell of Gas

If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, leave the area immediately and call 911 from a safe distance. Do not flip light switches, use your phone near the smell, or operate any electrical equipment.

City of Boerne natural gas customers:

• If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. From a safe distance, call 911 and the City of Boerne's 24-hour gas-emergency number at (830) 248-1633. Do not use the regular Customer Care number for an active gas emergency.

Fair Oaks Ranch: Natural-gas and propane arrangements vary by address. If the gas bill identifies the City of Boerne as the provider, leave the area and call 911 and (830) 248-1633. CPS Energy gas customers should call 911 and (210) 353-4357. Propane customers should leave the area, call 911, and contact the emergency number shown on the tank, lease agreement, or supplier paperwork.

All other areas:

Call your gas utility provider — check your gas bill for the emergency number. If you do not know your provider, call 911 and they will dispatch the appropriate utility.

Dead Animals

On a state highway:

• TxDOT: 1-800-558-9368 — TxDOT handles dead animals on state roadways [1], [32]

On a city street:

• Boerne: (830) 249-9511 (Customer Care will coordinate pickup)
• Fair Oaks Ranch: (210) 698-0900 (Public Works handles public street clearance).
• Bandera: (830) 796-3765 (City Hall)

On a county-maintained road:

• Kendall County-maintained road: Call Kendall County Road & Bridge at (830) 995-2995 during regular hours. For an after-hours road hazard, call dispatch at (830) 249-8645. Call 911 if the animal or obstruction creates an immediate traffic danger.
• Bexar County-maintained road or drainage right-of-way: Bexar County Public Works, (210) 335-6700.
• Comal County-maintained road: Call the Comal County Engineer's Office at (830) 608-2090 and ask it to confirm or route the removal request.
• Bandera County-maintained road: Call Bandera County Road & Bridge at (830) 796-4524 and ask it to confirm or route the removal request.

On private property:

• Dead animal on private property: Removal is generally the property owner's responsibility. Contact the municipal or county animal-control agency, the waste hauler, or a private animal-removal service before placing an animal in household trash because disposal rules vary by jurisdiction and animal size. Do not handle an animal that may have rabies, has bitten a person, or appears to have died from poisoning or disease.

Dead deer or large wildlife on the road:

• Call the applicable jurisdiction (TxDOT for highways, city/county for local roads)
• Do not attempt to move large animals yourself — wait for pickup

Loose Dogs and Animal Control

City of Boerne:

• Animal Care Services: (830) 249-2456
• Shelter: 330 South Esser Road, Boerne
• After hours: Boerne Police dispatch, (830) 249-8645

Kendall County (unincorporated):

• Kendall County Animal Control: (830) 537-3430
• Shelter: 702 FM 289, Comfort, TX [9]

City of Bandera:

• Loose or stray dog: Call dispatch at (830) 796-3771 and ask that the City's animal-control officer or a deputy be sent to the location.
• General animal-care or impound questions: Call the Marshal's Office at (830) 460-7172 or City Hall at (830) 796-3765.

Bandera County (unincorporated):

• Bandera County Animal Control: (830) 460-6649

Unincorporated Comal County:

• Comal County Animal Control: (830) 608-2016.
• Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Animal-control officer hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
• For a non-emergency after officer hours, call the Comal County Sheriff's Office at (830) 620-3400.
• Call 911 for an attack in progress or another immediate threat to life.

Unincorporated Bexar County:

• Bexar County Animal Control: (210) 335-9000
• After-hours animal bites, cruelty, aggressive animals, or loose livestock requiring a Sheriff's response: (210) 335-6000
• Call 911 for an attack in progress or immediate threat to life.

Fair Oaks Ranch, inside the city limits:

• Loose, stray, lost, found, or barking animal: Call Fair Oaks Ranch dispatch at (830) 249-8645. [30]
• General administrative questions during business hours: Call the Police Department at (210) 698-0990.
• Fair Oaks Ranch Animal Services serves addresses inside the city limits regardless of whether the property is in Bexar, Comal, or Kendall County. Begin with City dispatch rather than a county animal-control agency.

Aggressive dog or attack in progress:

• Call 911 immediately — do not wait for animal control

Injured, sick, or apparently orphaned wildlife: Do not handle or transport the animal unless directed by a qualified professional. Use the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's county-by-county list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators at https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/.

Nuisance wildlife: TPWD generally provides information rather than dispatching an animal-removal crew. Contact Texas Wildlife Services at (210) 472-5451 or a properly qualified private wildlife-control operator.

Animal attacking a person, suspected rabid animal, or immediate public-safety threat: Call 911.

Illegal Dumping

On state highway right-of-way:

• TxDOT: 1-800-558-9368

In Boerne city limits:

• City of Boerne Code Enforcement: (830) 249-9511

In Fair Oaks Ranch:

• Fair Oaks Ranch Code Enforcement: (210) 698-0900 for municipal code violations.

In Bandera city limits:

• City of Bandera: (830) 796-3765

In unincorporated Kendall County:

• Dumping actively in progress or requiring law-enforcement response: Call dispatch at (830) 249-8645.
• Existing dumping or litter on a Kendall County-maintained right-of-way: Call Kendall County Road & Bridge at (830) 995-2995. Kendall County also identifies its Litter Abatement Officer at (830) 537-3430.

In unincorporated Comal County:

• Comal County Engineer's Office (Environmental): (830) 608-2090
• Online reporting at Comal County Report an Issue [12]

Unincorporated Bexar County:

• Report illegal dumping, blocked drainage easements, illicit discharges, or related code problems to Bexar County at (210) 335-6700.

Statewide environmental complaints:

• TCEQ environmental complaints: (888) 777-3186 or https://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/complaints

If dumped material is actively leaking, emitting fumes, burning, reacting, or creating an immediate danger:

• Move away and keep other people away.
• Call 911 from a safe location.
• Then report the spill or environmental release to the 24-hour TCEQ Spill Reporting Hotline at (800) 832-8224.

If discarded material is not leaking and does not create an immediate danger:

• Report it first to the applicable city, county, road department, code-enforcement office, or law-enforcement agency listed above.
• Use the TCEQ environmental-complaint line, (888) 777-3186, when the matter is an environmental complaint that is not an active spill or when the appropriate local agency does not apply.

Culverts, Drainage, and Flooding

On a state highway:

• TxDOT: 1-800-558-9368

On a city street:

• City of Boerne: (830) 249-9511
• Fair Oaks Ranch Public Works: (210) 698-0900
• City of Bandera: (830) 796-3765

On a county road:

• Kendall County Road and Bridge: (830) 995-2995
• Comal County Engineer's Office: (830) 608-2090
• Bandera County Road and Bridge: (830) 796-4524
• Bexar County Public Works: (210) 335-6700. This number is for county-maintained roads, bridges, drainage facilities, and related service requests. It does not cover state highways, incorporated-city streets, or private roads.

Flooding or flash flood warning:

• Call 911 if rapidly rising water or flooding presents an immediate danger to life.
• National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio: https://www.weather.gov/ewx/ [38]
• Kendall County after-hours road hazard or non-emergency public-safety dispatch: (830) 249-8645

Never enter a flooded roadway or drive around a barricade. For state-highway conditions, use https://drivetexas.org/. For county and municipal road closures, use the applicable local-government emergency-notification or road-closure page.

Burn Bans, Outdoor Burning, and Escaped Fires

Burn-ban status and outdoor-burning requirements vary by county and may change with little notice. Check the official county website or fire marshal's office immediately before burning; do not rely on an old social-media post or a static status copied into this directory.

If a fire escapes control, threatens structures, or creates an immediate danger, call 911.

Smoke from ordinary legal outdoor burning is not automatically an emergency. Contact the applicable fire marshal, city code office, or county authority for non-emergency questions or complaints.

Check the official page for the county where the burn will occur immediately before burning: - Kendall County Burn Ban: https://www.kendallcountytx.gov/432/Burn-Ban [34] - Comal County Outdoor Burn Information: https://www.comalcounty.gov/289/Outdoor-Burn-Information; Fire Marshal: (830) 643-3748 [35] - Bexar County Fire Marshal: https://www.bexar.org/630/Fire-Marshal; (210) 335-0300 [36] - Bandera County Fire Marshal and burn registration: https://www.banderacounty.gov/page/fire.marshal; Fire Marshal: (830) 460-8183. Bandera County also instructs residents to complete its burn-registration form or call the Sheriff's Office at (830) 796-4507 before burning. [37] Do not rely on a status copied from this article because burn restrictions can change after publication.

811 — Call Before You Dig

Planning to dig for landscaping, fencing, irrigation, or any construction project? Texas law requires you or your contractor to contact Texas 811 at least two business days before excavating, excluding weekends and observed holidays. Dial 811 in Texas or submit a request online at https://texas811.org/. The call is free and locates underground utility lines (gas, electric, water, sewer, telecom) to prevent dangerous and costly strikes.

• Texas 811: Dial 811 or submit a request at https://texas811.org/.
• Submit the request at least two business days before digging, excluding weekends and observed holidays.
• White-line the proposed excavation area with white paint, flags, or another clear marker before submitting the request when doing so will help locators identify the work area. White-lining is helpful but is not universally mandatory.
• Do not begin merely because two days have passed. Review the ticket and confirm that every notified utility has either marked its facilities or provided a positive response.
• Public-utility locators generally do not mark privately owned lines beyond the meter or main connection. Private electric lines, irrigation piping, septic components, propane lines, pool equipment, and lines serving detached buildings may require a paid private utility locator.
• If markings disappear, the project is delayed beyond the ticket period, or a notified utility has not responded, contact Texas 811 for the appropriate update, remark, or no-response ticket.

HOA and Private Community Issues

If you live in a gated community or HOA-governed subdivision:

• Your HOA first — most community issues (common-area maintenance, covenant violations, gate problems) are handled by the HOA management company
• Check your CC&Rs — the governing documents tell you who is responsible for what
• Determine ownership before reporting infrastructure problems. A road, gate, streetlight, drainage system, or water line inside an HOA may be public, private, developer-owned, or HOA-maintained. Start with the HOA documents or management company when ownership is unclear; contact the City, county, TxDOT, or utility only after identifying the responsible entity.

For more on community-specific resources, see our Boerne community guide and Fair Oaks Ranch community guide.

When to Call 911

Call 911 (not the non-emergency line) for: [2]

• Aggressive dog or animal attack in progress
• An uncontrolled structure, vehicle, grass, brush, or wildland fire, or smoke that indicates an uncontrolled fire
• Flooding with immediate danger to life
• A hazardous spill, leaking chemical container, fumes, or chemical dumping that creates an immediate danger
• Crime in progress
• Traffic accident with injuries
• Downed, sagging, or damaged power line: Stay away and call 911 and the electric utility shown on the property's bill.
• Any situation where someone's life or safety is in immediate danger

Do not call 911 for routine potholes, routine carcass-removal requests, nonaggressive loose animals, routine streetlight outages, or ordinary property-maintenance concerns. Call 911 if any condition creates an immediate threat to life, an active attack, an uncontrolled fire, or an immediate collision hazard.

Non-Emergency Police and Sheriff

For situations that are not emergencies but still need law enforcement attention — noise complaints, suspicious activity, property damage, barking dogs (after hours), abandoned vehicles, or non-injury traffic incidents:

City of Boerne, City of Fair Oaks Ranch, and Kendall County public-safety dispatch: (830) 249-8645

Kendall County Sheriff's Office administrative/office number: (830) 249-9721

Bandera County Sheriff's Office 24-hour dispatch: (830) 796-3771

Comal County Sheriff's Office non-emergency: (830) 620-3400

Bexar County Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch: (210) 335-6000

Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and Kendall County use the same public-safety dispatch number, (830) 249-8645.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a road is a state highway, city street, or county road?

Route signs provide a starting point, but location inside or outside a city does not conclusively establish maintenance responsibility. Interstate, U.S., State Highway, FM, and RM routes are generally part of the state system. Other roads may be city-maintained, county-maintained, private, HOA-maintained, or not yet accepted for public maintenance. When ownership is unclear, submit the exact location to TxDOT, the applicable city, or the county road department and ask the agency to confirm jurisdiction.

What if I am not sure which county I am in?

Hill Country addresses can be confusing because some communities span county lines. Fair Oaks Ranch, for example, spans Bexar, Kendall, and Comal counties. Check your property tax statement or deed — it will show your county. You can also look up your address at the county appraisal district website.

Can I report a problem online instead of calling?

Yes. For a state-system road, use TxDOT Report an Issue. For an issue handled by the Comal County Engineer's Office, use Comal County Report an Issue. Other cities and counties may offer their own online forms; confirm that the form belongs to the agency responsible for the location before submitting.

What if the problem is on my property but affects my neighbor?

If the issue involves shared infrastructure, begin by talking with the neighbor and reviewing the deed, recorded easement, survey, maintenance agreement, and any HOA or POA documents. If the problem involves a public right-of-way, public drainage facility, or publicly maintained road, contact the applicable city or county engineering or road department. A county generally does not decide private civil disputes involving a shared well, private easement, private driveway, or privately owned drainage feature. If the parties cannot resolve a private matter, consider mediation or advice from a Texas attorney.

Who do I call for a downed tree blocking a road?

On a state-system road: Report the obstruction to TxDOT at (800) 558-9368. Call 911 if it presents an immediate collision hazard.

On a city-maintained street: Call the applicable city's Public Works or utility dispatch.

On a Kendall County-maintained road: Call Road & Bridge at (830) 995-2995 during regular hours or dispatch at (830) 249-8645 after hours.

On another county-maintained road: Call that county's road or public-works department.

On or near a power line: Stay well away, call 911, and notify the electric provider shown on the property's bill.

What if I have a water emergency at 2 a.m.?

Call the provider's designated after-hours utility-emergency number — not its regular billing line. City of Boerne utility customers should call (830) 248-1633. Fair Oaks Ranch water or wastewater customers should call Boerne Dispatch at (830) 249-8645. Customers of another water system should use the emergency number printed on the bill or provider website. Call 911 when flooding presents an immediate danger to people or occupied structures.

Who handles stray cats?

Policies for stray and feral cats differ among cities and counties, and shelter capacity may affect whether an animal is accepted. Call the applicable animal-control agency before trapping, transporting, or surrendering a cat. If the cat has bitten or scratched someone, appears rabid, or presents an immediate danger, tell dispatch that specifically.

What if I need to report a problem but do not know the exact address?

Provide as much detail as possible: nearest cross street, landmark, mile marker (for highways), GPS coordinates from your phone, or a description of the location. The more specific the location information is, the easier it will be for the receiving agency to locate the problem and route or evaluate the report.