Home › Well Drilling License by State
Well Drilling License Requirements by State
Water-well licensing and permitting are set by each state, not the federal government. Use this table to see which agency licenses well drillers in your state, whether a license is required, and who issues the well-construction permit. Each authority links to its official page so you can confirm the current rules.
Verified authority + rule for 50 of 51 states/territories. 49 require a state driller license or registration. States we could not confirm from an official source are marked not yet verified rather than guessed.
| State | Licensing authority | License required? | Who issues the well permit / key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Water Well Standards Board, administered by the Alabama Dept of Environmental Management (ADEM) - Water Well Standards Program adem.alabama.gov | Yes | A state driller's license is required; there is no separate state drilling permit for most private wells, but the driller files a Notification of Intent before drilling and a report of well drilled with the Board within 30 days. |
| Alaska | Alaska Dept of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water dnr.alaska.gov | No | No statewide well-construction permit or driller license; the contractor files a well log to DNR's WELTS system within 45 days, and a DNR water right is needed for large withdrawals. |
| Arizona | Arizona Dept of Water Resources (ADWR); contractor licensing also via AZ Registrar of Contractors azwater.gov | Yes | ADWR licenses well drillers; a Notice of Intent to Drill must be filed with ADWR before any well is drilled, deepened, or modified. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Dept of Agriculture - Natural Resources Division; Water Well Construction Committee (formerly Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission) agriculture.arkansas.gov | Yes | Anyone drilling a water well or installing a well pump must hold an Arkansas Water Well Contractor's License and a Certificate of Registration; the Water Well Construction Committee enforces the state construction rules. |
| California | Contractor licensing: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) - C-57 Well Drilling classification; construction standards: CA Dept of Water Resources (DWR) Bulletin 74 water.ca.gov | Yes | Wells must be built by a CSLB C-57 licensed contractor to DWR Bulletin 74 standards; California delegates the actual well permit to local jurisdictions - county environmental health agencies or local water districts issue it. |
| Colorado | Colorado Division of Water Resources - State Board of Examiners of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors dwr.colorado.gov | Yes | The Division of Water Resources (State Engineer) issues the well-construction permit, required before any well is built by a state-licensed contractor. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Dept of Consumer Protection - Well Drilling licensing portal.ct.gov | Yes | Drillers must be DCP-registered, but the well-construction permit is issued by the local health department before construction. |
| Delaware | Delaware Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water, with the Delaware Water Well Licensing Board (7 DE Admin. Code 7302) dnrec.delaware.gov | Yes | All wells must be built by a DNREC-licensed water well contractor, who completes and submits the well-construction/use permit application to DNREC (Division of Water) via the Digital DNREC ePermitting system. |
| District of Columbia | Not yet verified - contact the state directly | Unverified | Not yet verified - check with the state water-resources or environmental agency or your county health department. |
| Florida | Florida Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) - Water Well Construction Program, delegated to the five regional Water Management Districts floridadep.gov | Yes | A water well construction permit must be obtained from the appropriate Water Management District (or its delegated county authority) before constructing, repairing, or abandoning any well; the contractor license is issued by the WMD but is valid statewide. |
| Georgia | Water Well Standards Advisory Council, with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Watershed Protection Branch as its agent (Water Well Standards Act, O.C.G.A. 12-5-120) epd.georgia.gov | Yes | No state drilling permit for private wells; the licensed driller files a Notice of Intent with the County Health Department before drilling. A state driller license plus a $30,000 surety bond is required. |
| Hawaii | Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), Dept of Land and Natural Resources dlnr.hawaii.gov | Yes | CWRM issues Well Construction and Pump Installation Permits; no well may be built without one, and the application must be made by the licensed well driller. |
| Idaho | Idaho Dept of Water Resources (IDWR) idwr.idaho.gov | Yes | IDWR issues a drilling permit that must be obtained before drilling, and all wells must be built by an IDWR-licensed driller. |
| Illinois | Illinois Dept of Public Health (IDPH) - Private Water Program (Illinois Water Well Construction Code, 415 ILCS 30) dph.illinois.gov | Yes | A permit is required before constructing, modifying, or sealing a well; permits are issued by IDPH or a delegated local/county health department. |
| Indiana | Indiana Dept of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Water - Water Well Driller and Pump Installer Licensing in.gov | Yes | Indiana Code 25-39 requires all well drillers and pump installers to be DNR-licensed; there is no statewide construction permit for typical private wells, but the driller must file a water well record with the DNR Division of Water after completion. |
| Iowa | Iowa Dept of Natural Resources - Well Contractor Certification iowadnr.gov | Yes | Contractors must be DNR-certified; the well-construction permit is issued at the county level (via IWIS) before construction. |
| Kansas | Kansas Dept of Health and Environment (KDHE), Water Well Program kdhe.ks.gov | Yes | KDHE licenses water well contractors statewide; well-construction permits are issued at the county level and requirements vary by county. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Water - Well Driller Certification Program (401 KAR 6:320) eec.ky.gov | Yes | No water well may be constructed, altered, or abandoned without a driller certificate from the Cabinet; wells must meet state construction standards and the driller submits a well record to the Division of Water. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Dept of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), Office of Conservation dnr.louisiana.gov | Yes | A licensed water well driller must build the well and give the Office of Conservation 60-day prior notice (except domestic wells), then register the completed well within 30 days. |
| Maine | Maine Well Drillers' Commission (Maine CDC Drinking Water Program) maine.gov | Yes | No statewide well-construction permit; wells must be built by a Commission-licensed driller who files a well completion report (local rules may apply). |
| Maryland | Maryland Dept of the Environment (MDE) - State Board of Well Drillers (Title 13, Environment Article; construction standards COMAR 26.04.04) mde.maryland.gov | Yes | Wells must be installed by an MDE-licensed driller; a well-construction permit is required for every well and is issued by the local County Approving Authority, with a completion report filed to the county health department. |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Well Driller Program (310 CMR 46.00) mass.gov | Yes | Drillers must be MassDEP-certified; the private well-construction permit is issued by the local Board of Health before construction. |
| Michigan | Michigan Dept of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Water Well Contractor Registration (Part 127, PA 368) michigan.gov | Yes | EGLE registers water well drilling contractors and pump installers statewide; the individual well-construction permit is issued by the local county health department before drilling. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Dept of Health (MDH), Well Management Section health.state.mn.us | Yes | MDH issues well-construction permits; wells must be installed by an MDH-licensed contractor who notifies MDH before drilling. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Dept of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Office of Land and Water Resources mdeq.ms.gov | Yes | Water wells must be drilled by an MDEQ-licensed driller; a groundwater withdrawal permit is required for wells with surface casing 6 inches or greater. |
| Missouri | Missouri Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) - Missouri Geological Survey, Well Installation Section (Missouri Well Construction Rules, 10 CSR 23) dnr.mo.gov | Yes | Missouri DNR permits well and pump-installation contractors and enforces minimum construction standards under 10 CSR 23; contractors must test and be permitted before constructing wells for pay. |
| Montana | Montana DNRC - Board of Water Well Contractors (BWWC) dnrc.mt.gov | Yes | Wells must be built by a BWWC-licensed contractor who files a well log; no state permit for exempt domestic wells, but larger appropriations need a DNRC water right. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Dept of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE) - Water Well Standards and Contractors' Licensing Program dwee.nebraska.gov | Yes | Wells must be built by a state-licensed contractor and registered with the state; a permit from the local Natural Resources District may be required first. |
| Nevada | Nevada Division of Water Resources (Office of the State Engineer) water.nv.gov | Yes | Wells must be drilled by a State Engineer-licensed driller; a state water-right permit is required to appropriate groundwater for non-domestic use. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Water Well Board (administered by NH Dept of Environmental Services) des.nh.gov | Yes | No state drilling permit for private wells, but the contractor must be Water Well Board-licensed and file a Well Record with NHDES within 90 days. |
| New Jersey | NJ Dept of Environmental Protection - Bureau of Water Allocation & Well Permitting dep.nj.gov | Yes | NJDEP issues a well permit (applied for by an NJ-licensed driller) that is required before any well is constructed. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (Water Rights Division) ose.nm.gov | Yes | The State Engineer licenses drillers and issues permits; a permit to appropriate groundwater is required before a well is drilled. |
| New York | New York State Dept of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) - Water Well Contractor Program; construction standards set by NYS Dept of Health (10 NYCRR Appendix 5-B) dec.ny.gov | Yes | Any water-well business must register annually with DEC (ECL 15-1525). There is no statewide DEC construction permit for private supply wells; wells must meet DOH Appendix 5-B standards and be installed by a DEC-registered contractor (local permits may apply). |
| North Carolina | NC Dept of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health - NC Well Contractors Certification Commission (permitting oversight: NC DEQ Division of Water Resources) dph.ncdhhs.gov | Yes | A well-construction permit is required before construction; county health departments issue permits for private wells, while NC DEQ issues them for large water-supply wells (100,000+ gallons/day). |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Dept of Water Resources swc.nd.gov | Yes | DWR licenses water well contractors; a water appropriation permit is required for larger withdrawals, while domestic/stock wells are exempt. |
| Ohio | Ohio Dept of Health (Private Water Systems Contractor registration); well logs filed to Ohio Dept of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water Resources waterwells.ohiodnr.gov | Yes | Private-water-system contractors register annually with the Ohio Dept of Health; the well permit is issued by the local board of health before construction, and the driller files the well log with ODNR within 30 days. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) oklahoma.gov | Yes | OWRB licenses drillers/pump installers; a Notice of Intent to Drill is required for non-domestic wells, while domestic wells are exempt. |
| Oregon | Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) apps.oregon.gov | Yes | OWRD licenses well constructors; the driller must submit a 'start card' to OWRD (no earlier than 60 days, no later than 72 hours) before beginning work. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Geological Survey - Water Well Drillers Licensing Program pa.gov | Yes | Commercial drillers must hold a DCNR license and rig permits (homeowners drilling their own well are exempt). PA has no statewide well-construction permit for private wells; drillers instead file a well completion report with the state (Act 610). |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRB) crb.ri.gov | Yes | Driller licensing moved from DEM to the CRB; no statewide drilling permit, but a local municipal well permit is typically required and a Well Completion Report goes to RI DOH within 10 days. |
| South Carolina | Driller certification: SC Dept of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (LLR) - Environmental Certification Board; construction standards/permitting: SC Dept of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly DHEC) llr.sc.gov | Yes | Wells must be drilled and abandoned by an SC-certified well driller (S.C. Code 40-23-10 et seq.); SCDES sets construction standards and requires the driller to file a Water Well Record (Form D-1903) within 30 days of completion. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Dept of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Water Rights Program danr.sd.gov | Yes | DANR licenses drillers; a water-right permit is required for larger-volume wells, while domestic/small-use wells are exempt. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Dept of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources - Water Well Driller or Installer License tn.gov | Yes | Anyone who drills or services water wells must hold a TDEC Division of Water Resources license; a Notice of Intent to drill must be submitted to TDEC before drilling begins. |
| Texas | Texas Dept of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) - Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Program tdlr.texas.gov | Yes | No statewide drilling permit; where a local Groundwater Conservation District exists it may require a permit and governs spacing. The licensed driller must file a State Well Report with TDLR within 60 days of completing the well. |
| Utah | Utah Division of Water Rights (Office of the State Engineer), Well Drilling Program waterrights.utah.gov | Yes | The State Engineer licenses drillers; a valid start card (issued upon an approved water right) is required before a licensed driller begins. |
| Vermont | Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (licensing); VT Dept of Environmental Conservation (well reporting/standards) dec.vermont.gov | Yes | Drillers must be licensed (via the Office of Professional Regulation); no drilling permit for private wells, but a well report must be filed with DEC within 90 days. |
| Virginia | Drillers certified as 'Water Well Systems Providers' by the VA Dept of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors; permits via VA Dept of Health (VDH) Private Well Program vdh.virginia.gov | Yes | The local health department (VDH) issues the private well-construction permit after a sanitary survey; a DPOR-certified Water Well Systems Provider must build the well, and the local health department inspects it before use. |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Ecology ecology.wa.gov | Yes | Ecology licenses well drillers; a Notice of Intent must be filed with Ecology at least 72 hours before drilling. |
| West Virginia | WV Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) oehs.wvdhhr.org | Yes | OEHS certifies water well drillers; a permit from the Local Health Department must be obtained before a well is drilled, modified, or abandoned. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources (DNR), Drinking Water & Groundwater Program dnr.wisconsin.gov | Yes | DNR licenses water well drillers; the property owner must give DNR advance well-construction notification before a new private well is built, and a report is filed within 30 days. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming State Engineer's Office (Board of Water Well Contractors) seo.wyo.gov | Yes | Drillers must be state-licensed; a Permit to Appropriate Ground Water must be filed with and approved by the State Engineer before well construction begins. |
This table is general orientation, not legal advice. Well licensing and permit rules, fees, setback distances, and reporting timelines are set at the state and often the county or local level and change over time. Always verify current requirements directly with the linked authority, or your county health department, before drilling a well. For a plain-English overview of how permitting works, see our well permits and regulations guide. To see how well this requirement can actually be checked in practice, see our license verification audit, where we tried to match our own directory listings against the public registers behind these rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to drill my own well in the US?
It depends on your state. Most states require anyone drilling a water well for others (a contractor) to hold a state water-well driller license or registration. Rules for a landowner drilling on their own property vary widely, and some states still require a permit or a licensed driller even then. Check the row for your state in the table above and confirm with the linked authority before you start.
Who issues the permit to drill a water well?
There is no federal well permit. Depending on the state, the well-construction permit is issued by a state environmental or water-resources agency, a state or county health department, a local groundwater conservation district, or (in much of the West) tied to a state water-rights permit. The table above lists the permitting authority for each state.
Is a state well-driller license the same as NGWA certification?
No. A state license is a legal requirement to operate as a well-drilling contractor in that state. NGWA (National Ground Water Association) certification, such as Certified Well Driller (CWD), is a voluntary national industry credential. Some states incorporate NGWA exams into their licensing, but the two are separate. Always verify a contractor holds the required state license, not just a voluntary certification.
What if my state is marked "not yet verified" in the table?
We only publish a state’s rule and authority link when we could confirm it against an official state source. Where we could not, we mark it "not yet verified" rather than guess. For those states, contact your state water-resources or environmental agency, or your county health department, directly to confirm licensing and permit requirements.
Want a contractor who already holds the right state license?
Tell us about your project and we'll pass your details to a well driller serving your area who works within your state's licensing and permit rules. See also our guide to hiring a licensed well driller.
Request a Quote