Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) is an area outside the city limits where cities can regulate some activities through agreements with the county. This page provides resources for ETJ-related issues.
Interlocal Agreements with Counties
Special Utility Districts
The Fort Worth MUD Policy(PDF, 501KB) - established in 2005 - seeks to facilitate development within the city’s corporate boundaries and ETJ that is generally consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Texas Water Code permits the creation of special utility districts within a municipality’s ETJ. These districts include Water Control and Improvement Districts (WCIDs), Fresh Water Supply Districts (FWSDs) and Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs). These districts are often used to allow large metropolitan areas to ensure that appropriate municipal land use and construction quality standards are implemented.
A city may require a MUD to build its facilities to certain city standards but cannot dictate land use standards, building standards, or water facilities that meet fire-flow requirements. All city planning authority over a district must be negotiated with individual districts on a contractual basis with city leverage often contingent upon the developer’s need for any city services.
View a map of Special Utility Districts(PDF, 701KB). For more information, call Stuart Campbell at 817-392-2412.
Subdivision Ordinance
The City of Fort Worth Subdivision Ordinance applies to the subdivision of land within the city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), which consists of the unincorporated land within five miles of the city limits.