Forms & Resources
Well Completion Report (OSWCR)
Required for every well drilled, altered, or destroyed. Due within 60 days.
Submit Online ↗License Application (CSLB 13A-1)
Application for original C-57 contractor license. Submit to CSLB with $450 fee.
Download Form ↗Key Forms
- OSWCR: Online System for Well Completion Reports (required for all wells)
- CSLB 13A-1: Application for Original Contractor\'s License
- CSLB 13B-2: Contractor License Renewal Application
- County Well Permit: Varies by jurisdiction (contact local Environmental Health)
- Injurious Water Report: Report contaminated water found during drilling
OSWCR Account Required: Create an account at oswcr.water.ca.gov validated by your C-57 license. Submit all completion reports electronically.
Licensing Requirements
California requires a C-57 Well Drilling Contractor license for all well drilling work, or C-61/D-21 Machinery & Pumps license for pump installation.
License Fees
Delinquent Renewal Penalties
Late renewals (after expiration date) incur significant penalties: $675 for sole owners, $1,050 for corporations/partnerships. Licenses that lapse more than 5 years require reapplication and re-examination.
Exam Requirements
- Trade Exam: Technical knowledge of well drilling and construction
- Business Exam: California business law, contracting practices
- Experience: Typically 4 years journeyman-level experience required
- Study Materials: Available from CSLB and industry associations
- Exam Provider: Pearson VUE (scheduled after CSLB approval)
Continuing Education
No CE Required: California currently has NO mandatory continuing education requirement for C-57 or C-61/D-21 licenses. However, voluntary training is recommended through California Groundwater Association (CGA) and other industry groups.
Reporting & Documentation
Well Completion Report Requirements
The Well Completion Report must include:
- Location (APN, latitude/longitude, address)
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Annular seal/grouting information
- Pump test data and static water level
- Disinfection method and date
Water Code §13751
California Water Code §13751 mandates filing of Well Completion Reports within 60 days of finishing work. Reports are confidential except for contamination cleanup purposes (Water Code §13752).
Abandonment/Destruction Reports
Permanently abandoning a well also requires a completion report within 60 days. Follow DWR Bulletin 74 Parts II-III for proper destruction methods. Submit marked as "destruction/plugging" in OSWCR system.
Construction Standards (DWR Bulletin 74)
Casing Materials
- Steel: New ASTM A-53 steel casing (must meet API or ASTM standards)
- PVC: ASTM F480, NSF-pw certified. Not approved near petroleum/chemical sources
- Fiberglass: Must meet NSF-61/ASTM D-2996 standards
- All joints: Watertight above screen intervals
Annular Seal (Grouting)
Surface Completion: All wells require a minimum 4-inch thick concrete slab, 2 ft from casing, sloped to drain. Wellhead must terminate above 100-year flood level (Title 22 CCR §64417).
Setback Requirements
Local Ordinances
Local jurisdictions may impose stricter setback requirements beyond Bulletin 74 minimums. Always check county Environmental Health regulations before drilling.
Disinfection
Any new, repaired, or reconditioned well for domestic (drinking) water must be disinfected per Bulletin 74 §11. Use chlorination (50–100 ppm chlorine) per Appendix C procedures. All drilling lubricants and gravel must be free of sewage contaminants.
Permits
Local Well Permits
California has no statewide pre-drill permit. Instead, all drilling requires a local well permit from the county Environmental Health Department or local water district.
Permit Process:
- Driller or owner submits permit application to county
- Application includes site maps, driller work plan, setback verification
- County reviews for compliance with Bulletin 74 standards (4–8 weeks typical)
- Upon approval, drilling may commence
- County may inspect wellhead seal, pitless adapter, or other components
- After completion, driller files Well Completion Report to DWR
Find Your Permitting Agency
Use the DWR Permitting Agencies list to find county contact information. Fees and forms vary by jurisdiction.
Special Permits
- Geothermal wells: Regulated by CalGEM (Dept. of Conservation), not DWR. Separate geothermal permit required.
- Monitoring wells: Must meet Bulletin 74 monitoring well standards. Local permit required; often exempt from some use requirements.
- High-capacity wells: Wells exceeding 10 acre-ft/yr (domestic) or 20 acre-ft/yr (irrigation) require water rights registration with SWRCB ($250 fee).
Drilling Conditions by Region
Central Valley (Alluvial Basins)
- Thick sand/gravel aquifers
- Typical depths: 100–1,000+ ft
- High yields (10–500 gpm common)
- Clay confining layers
- Subsidence concerns in some areas
- Watch for nitrates in agricultural zones
Sierra Nevada Foothills (Hard Rock)
- Crystalline granite/metamorphic rock
- Water in fractures (low yields)
- Typical depths: 200–500 ft
- Often 5–20 gpm maximum
- Drilling difficulty: high
- Arsenic common in some areas
Coastal Basins
- Confined sands and clays
- Typical depths: 200–800 ft
- Moderate to high yields
- Saltwater intrusion risk
- Artesian conditions possible
- Hard water common
Northeast California (Volcanic)
- Fractured volcanic rock
- Variable yields (unreliable)
- Depths vary widely
- Thermal springs common
- Radon concerns in some areas
- Freeze protection required
Seasonal Considerations
- Frozen ground: In northern and high-elevation areas (mean frost-free season <100 days), wellhead seal can be set up to 4 ft below ground to avoid freezing.
- Flooding: Well casings must terminate above 100-year flood elevation per Title 22 CCR §64417.
- Water table fluctuations: Pump intakes must be set below seasonal low water table. Screen below clay layers to ensure year-round yield.
- Artesian conditions: Confined aquifers may have artesian pressure. Proper annular sealing (Section 9B) critical for blow-out prevention.
Geology Resources
Reference DWR Bulletin 118 for detailed hydrogeologic information on California's 10 hydrologic regions and groundwater basins.
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- DWR Bulletin 74 – California Well Standards (Parts I-III)
- Water Code §13751 – Well Completion Report requirement (60-day filing)
- Water Code §13752 – Confidentiality of well reports
- CSLB Contractor Licensing – C-57 license requirements and renewals
Professional Associations
- California Groundwater Association (CGA): Industry training, advocacy, and networking. Visit groundh2o.org.
- Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRAC): Professional development and technical resources. Visit grac.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Renew online through CSLB before your expiration date (last day of your birth month). Fee is $450 for sole owners or $700 for corporations/partnerships. Licenses expire biennially (every 2 years). Late renewals incur penalties ($675/$1,050). No continuing education is currently required for C-57 licenses.
California currently has NO mandatory continuing education (CE) requirement for C-57 or C-61/D-21 licenses. However, industry associations like the California Groundwater Association offer voluntary training on code updates, safety, and best practices.
Within 60 days after completion per Water Code §13751. Submit through the DWR Online System for Well Completion Reports (OSWCR) at oswcr.water.ca.gov. You must create an account validated by your C-57 license. A copy must also be provided to the well owner.
DWR Bulletin 74 §8 requires minimum setbacks: 150 ft from cesspools/seepage pits, 100 ft from watertight septic tanks or animal enclosures, 50 ft from sewer lines. Wells must be up-gradient of contamination sources when possible. Local ordinances may impose stricter requirements.
Steel (ASTM A-53), PVC (ASTM F480, NSF-pw certified), and fiberglass (NSF-61/ASTM D-2996) are approved per Bulletin 74. All casing joints above screen intervals must be watertight. PVC must meet NSF standards and cannot be used near petroleum or chemical sources that could degrade the material.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our California well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
California Homeowner Well Guide →Sources & References
All facts in this guide are sourced from official California agencies and regulations:
- CA Department of Water Resources (DWR) - Wells Program
- DWR Bulletin 74 - California Well Standards
- Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- California Water Code §13751 - Well Completion Reports
- Online System for Well Completion Reports (OSWCR)
- DWR Bulletin 118 - California's Groundwater
- State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)