• McKinney
  • Allen
  • Frisco
  • Prosper
  • Melissa
  • Fairview
  • Princeton
  • Lucas
  • Anna

Where we connect homeowners with plumbers

Our focus is the City of McKinney, including all five McKinney ZIP codes: 75069, 75070, 75071, 75072 and 75454. That covers everything from the historic downtown around the square to newer master-planned communities such as Stonebridge Ranch, Craig Ranch and Tucker Hill.

We also accept requests from nearby Collin County communities, including Allen, Frisco, Prosper, Melissa, Fairview, Princeton, Lucas and Anna. Each plumbing business sets its own travel area, so coverage for a particular address depends on the professional. If nobody suitable covers your address, we'll tell you rather than send you to someone who doesn't.

Who is responsible for which leak

This is one of the most useful things to know before you call anyone. According to the City of McKinney's meters and leaks page:

  • The city repairs leaks before the water meter. That includes the service line from the main to the meter, and the meter itself.
  • You're responsible for everything after the meter: the line from the meter to your house and all the plumbing inside it.
  • The valve between the meter and the street belongs to the city, and only city staff may operate it. Your own shutoff valve, usually in the garage, a crawl space or near the foundation, is the one you should know how to use.
Who repairs which water leak in McKinneyThe water main under the street connects to a service line running to the meter box. The city owns the line up to and including the meter and its valve. From the meter to the house, including the house shutoff valve, is the homeowner's responsibility.StreetMeter + city valveWater mainHouse shutoffCity repairsmain to meterYou repairmeter to house and inside
Where the city's responsibility ends and yours begins (source: City of McKinney, Meters, Leaks and Pipes).

If water is bubbling up at the meter box or in the street, call the city's Water/Wastewater Department, which answers 24/7, on 972-547-7360. For anything on your side of the meter, you need a plumber.

Sewer lines are less clear-cut. The city doesn't publish a simple rule on the sewer lateral between your house and the main, so if you're unsure who owns a problem section, ask the City Engineering Department on 972-547-7420 before paying for work.

Local conditions that affect McKinney plumbing

Moderately hard water

McKinney buys treated surface water from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), drawn from sources including Lavon Lake and Bois d'Arc Lake. NTMWD describes its water as moderately hard. Its 2024 report for the Wylie treatment plants, which serve McKinney, shows total hardness of about 105 to 202 parts per million, roughly 6 to 12 grains per gallon. In practice that means sediment in the bottom of water heaters, scale on faucet aerators and shower heads, and mineral crust on valves that haven't been turned in years.

NTMWD disinfects with chloramines rather than plain chlorine. That matters for aquariums and some filtration equipment, and it's worth mentioning if you're choosing a water treatment system.

Expansive clay soil

Much of Collin County sits on Blackland Prairie clay, a soil type known for high shrink-swell behavior: it expands when wet and contracts when dry. Concrete slab foundations are very common in North Texas, often with water and drain lines underneath, so soil movement puts stress on both the foundation and the pipes. That's one reason people here pay close attention to slab leak signs.

Housing age

A city housing study found that about 85% of McKinney homes were built after 1990, and around 40% between 2000 and 2009. Only a small share predate 1940, mostly in and around the historic downtown. Newer and older homes tend to have different pipe materials and different problems, so tell the plumber roughly when your home was built. The city also has a service line map showing the material of the public water service line to each address.

Freezes

February 2021's Winter Storm Uri pushed McKinney's water demand far above normal as residents dripped faucets to protect pipes, and the city later waived some plumbing permit fees to help with repairs. Hard freezes are rare here, which is exactly why many homes aren't prepared for them. Our burst pipe guide covers prevention.

Permits and codes in McKinney

McKinney adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code, effective October 1, 2025. According to the city's home repair permit page:

  • Water heater replacement requires a permit. It's filed through the city's Citizen Self-Service (CSS) portal, usually by the licensed plumber doing the work.
  • Minor leak repairs that don't involve removing, replacing or relocating pipe don't need a permit.
  • Replacing a fixture in the same location without altering the pipes doesn't need a permit either.

Inspections are booked through CSS. Building Inspections is on 469-617-4800 at 401 E. Virginia St.

Watering rules and irrigation leaks

McKinney limits lawn watering to your trash collection day, plus a second day three days later if needed, and bans watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 1 to October 31. Every irrigation system must have a working rain and freeze sensor. A broken sprinkler head or a leaking irrigation valve can waste a lot of water and show up as a mystery spike on your bill, so check the irrigation system before assuming the leak is inside. Rules and fines are on the city's outdoor water use page.

Useful local numbers

  • McKinney Water/Wastewater (24/7): 972-547-7360, for main breaks, leaks at the meter or street, overflowing sewer mains, and help locating a sewer cleanout
  • Building Inspections: 469-617-4800, for plumbing permits and inspections
  • City Engineering: 972-547-7420, for questions about sewer and utility responsibilities
  • Water waste violations: 972-547-7367
  • Texas811 / DIGTESS: call 811 at least 48 hours before digging 16 inches or deeper; the city asks you to check with Building Inspections before digging deeper than 6 inches
  • Gas smell: leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility from outside

These are official city and utility lines, not plumbing referrals. We're not affiliated with the City of McKinney.

Frequently asked questions

Which McKinney ZIP codes do you cover?

All five: 75069, 75070, 75071, 75072 and 75454. The 75072 ZIP code took effect in July 2018, so some older paperwork won't mention it.

Do you cover Allen, Frisco and Prosper?

We accept requests from nearby communities including Allen, Frisco, Prosper, Melissa, Fairview, Princeton, Lucas and Anna. Whether a particular plumber travels to your address depends on that business, and we'll tell you if we can't find a match.

Is McKinney water hard enough to need a softener?

NTMWD calls its water moderately hard, roughly 6 to 12 grains per gallon based on its published figures. Many homes manage fine without a softener; others choose one to cut scale in water heaters and fixtures. It's a cost and preference decision rather than a necessity.

Who do I call if water is coming out of the ground near the street?

Call McKinney Water/Wastewater on 972-547-7360. Leaks before the meter are the city's responsibility, and the city's valve at the meter may only be operated by city staff.