Forms & Resources
Well Permit Application (LEG-R.040.01)
Required before drilling any well. Submit to WMD or delegated county. LEG-R.040.01 is SWFWMD's number for the state permit application (Form 62-532.900(1) in the rule).
Download Form ↗Well Completion Report (LEG-R.005.02)
Required within 30 days after completion of any permitted well. LEG-R.005.02 is SWFWMD's number for the state completion report (Form 62-532.900(2)).
Download Form ↗Additional Forms
- LEG-R.041.00: Well Abandonment/Grouting Form (plugging report)
- Continuing Education Forms: Course attendance (Form 1) and completion certificates (Form 2)
- Injurious Water Report: Report contaminated water found during drilling
Online Submission: Some WMDs accept electronic submissions. Check with your regional Water Management District for current procedures.
Licensing Requirements
Florida requires a Water Well Contractor license per F.S. 373.323. This single license covers drilling, pump installation, and repairs.
Qualifications
- Age: 18+ years old
- Experience: 2+ years documented experience in drilling/repairing/abandoning wells
- Proof: Letters from three of: a water well contractor, a driller, a well parts/equipment vendor, or a government well inspector; list of 10+ wells worked on in the last 5 years (7+ constructed by applicant)
- Education: 12 hours of approved coursework within prior 2-year cycle
- Exam: Statewide written exam (70% passing score)
License Fees
| License Type | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|
| New License Application | $150 | One-time |
| Biennial Renewal | $50 | 2 years (odd years) |
| Late Renewal Penalty | +$75 | After July 31, if inactive one year or less |
| Continuing Education Fee | $14/credit | Per credit (12 hrs required) |
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 12 hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- Mandatory topics: 6+ hours on well construction methodologies and state rules
- Optional topics: Up to 6 hours on safety/business practices
- Online limit: Maximum 6 CE credits via online courses
- Providers: DEP-approved providers (FGWA, GWTS, etc.)
- Record retention: Keep certificates for 1 year after course date
Exam Information
After submitting your application and fees, the WMD schedules the exam (monthly, as scheduled by the District). You have up to 3 attempts within 12 months. Failure after 3 attempts requires a new application.
Renewal Process
Licenses renew every 2 years by July 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal requires:
- Renewal form submission to WMD
- $50 renewal fee ($75 penalty after July 31)
- Proof of 12 hours CE completion
- A license inactive for one year or less after July 31 can still be renewed with the $75 late fee; after that you must reapply and retake the exam
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Completion Report (LEG-R.005.02) | 30 days after completion (NWFWMD: within 30 days after the permit expires) | Submit to WMD |
| Well Abandonment/Grouting Form (LEG-R.041.00) | 30 days after plugging | Submit to WMD |
| 24-hour Advance Notice (Abandonment) | SWFWMD: at least 24 hours before plugging (40D-3.531); other districts differ | Notify WMD |
| License Renewal | By July 31 (odd years) | WMD online |
| CE Certificates | Before renewal | Keep 1 year after course |
Well Completion Report Requirements
The completion report must include:
- Well location (latitude/longitude or legal description)
- Total depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information (materials, depths)
- Groundwater levels and test data
- Disinfection details (if performed)
Injurious Water
If you encounter contaminated water during drilling, you must file an "Injurious Water Report" with the WMD and DEP.
Field Logs
Contractors must keep a detailed field log for each well showing depths of casing, screen, cuttings, etc. These logs must be available on-site during drilling/repair. While no fixed retention period is specified, retain logs for several years (WMDs may inspect).
Construction Standards (F.A.C. 62-532)
Casing Materials
| Material | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steel (Black/Galvanized) | ASTM/AISI/API grades | Min wall thickness by diameter (e.g., 4" = 0.237") |
| Stainless Steel | AISI/API stainless | Higher cost, corrosion resistant |
| PVC | Schedule 40 or SDR21 min | NSF-14/NSF-61 approved for potable use |
| Fiberglass | NSF-61/ASTM D-2996 | Not a listed casing type: DEP approval needs a PE-certified showing (62-532.500(1)(f)) |
Material Requirements
All casing/liner and screens must be new, straight, and free of corrosion. Driving PVC or stainless pipe is prohibited without WMD approval.
Grouting/Sealing
- Consolidated formations: Neat cement grout required in annular space
- Driven casings (unconsolidated): Dry bentonite may be used
- Under-reaming (driven casing): Required for public, limited-use, 62-524 potable and bottled-water wells: under-ream the last 5 ft, fill with grout, drive casing through
- Grout thickness: 2+ inches (1+ inch for casings <4")
- Standards: Follow AWWA/AWWA-A100 recommended methods
Wellhead Covers
- Temporarily cap borehole with tamper-resistant cover when work is paused
- Permanently installed pump systems must use approved well seal
- Unused/dry wells must be securely capped (threaded/welded cover or valve)
Setback Requirements
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tanks, drainfields | 75 ft minimum | F.A.C. 62-6.005 |
| Livestock yards, pesticide sites, graveyards | 150+ ft (local guidance) | Best practice |
| Public drinking water wells (septic systems) | 100 ft (up to 2,000 gpd flow) / 200 ft (over 2,000 gpd) | F.A.C. 62-6.005 |
| Property lines | Varies by county | Check local ordinances |
Disinfection
All potable water wells must be disinfected (shock-chlorinated) after construction or major repair. Mix and circulate chlorine bleach (aiming for ~50 mg/L residual), let sit, then flush before use.
Permits
Water Well Construction Permit
Per F.S. 373.313, prior permission (a permit) is required from the WMD (or delegated local authority) before constructing, repairing, modifying, or abandoning any well.
Key Permitting Steps:
- Submit Permit Application (Form LEG-R.040.01) to WMD or delegated county
- Include site sketch, proof of contractor license, and well use details
- Pay permit application fee (varies by district and well type: SWFWMD $50 non-public-supply and $130 public-supply; NWFWMD $35-$100 by casing diameter and $250 public-supply; delegated counties set their own)
- WMD reviews application against F.A.C. 62-532 standards (30–60 days)
- If approved, permit is issued to contractor
Local Permitting Variations
Some counties issue well permits locally instead of through the WMD:
- Manatee County: Local health/environmental office
- Sarasota County: Local health/environmental office
- Marion County: Local health/environmental office
Other counties issue permits through the WMD. Always verify with local authorities.
High-Capacity Wells
Withdrawals of 100,000+ gallons per day (≈69 gpm) require a formal water use permit (WUP) hearing. These permits often require hydrogeologic studies and take months to approve.
Special Permits
- Geothermal (closed-loop): Follow IGSHPA standards (F.A.C. 62-532.500(2)). Some WMDs have streamlined provisions for heat pump boring permits.
- Monitoring/Remediation Wells: Usually require standard well permit, but wells drilled as part of DEP cleanup programs may be handled separately.
- Injection Wells: Fall under DEP's Underground Injection Control program (Ch. 373.223, 403), not general water well rules.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Panhandle / Big Bend
- Sands and limestones (Marianna, Suwannee, Ocala formations)
- Typical depths: 100–500 ft
- Watch for caving sand/clay
- Some areas have elevated arsenic
Central Florida (Tampa/Orlando)
- Upper confining unit (Hawthorn Group clays) at 50–300 ft
- Limestone (Ocala/Avon Park) at 800–1,200 ft
- Lost circulation in fractured carbonate
- Iron-bacterial slime and hydrogen sulfide common
South Florida (Miami/Broward)
- Very shallow (<50 ft) Miami Limestone or sand aquifer
- Biscayne aquifer common
- Saltwater intrusion risk in coastal areas
- High water table, may encounter water immediately
Seasonal Considerations
- Wet season (summer/fall): water table rises
- Dry season (winter): water levels drop tens of feet
- Flood-prone areas may have wells inundated during storms
- No ground freezing concerns (rare frosts in north)
Geology Resources
Reference the Florida Geological Survey for detailed geology and typical drilling conditions by region.
Special Zones & Protections
Arsenic Advisory Areas
Florida has naturally elevated arsenic in groundwater in parts of north and central Florida (several Panhandle counties and north peninsula). In these zones:
- Contractors advised to drill deeper (through sulfide/metamorphic-bearing strata)
- Seal out arsenic-bearing zones with proper casing
- Some WMDs may require metered treatment or deeper casing
- Consult DEP/DOH for site-specific recommendations
Delineated Contamination Areas
DEP identifies areas of known groundwater contamination (industrial solvents, citrus fumigants) and publishes delineated contamination area maps (F.A.C. 62-524). In these zones:
- New wells may require special permitting
- Mandatory water quality testing
- Deeper casing requirements
- County health department usually requires annual monitoring
Check the DEP Delineated Areas map before drilling.
Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA)
For public supply wells, DEP rules establish a 500-ft radius Wellhead Protection Area. Within WHPAs:
- New septic systems, underground tanks, hazardous waste prohibited
- Any required wells must meet higher standards
- Prudent practice: avoid siting new wells or contaminant sources within mapped public WHPAs
Resources & Contacts
FL DEP – Source Water Protection Program
Well licensing and technical guidance
FL Dept. of Health – Drinking Water
Well testing and certification
Southwest Florida WMD (SWFWMD)
Permitting for central/west FL (Polk, Hillsborough, etc.)
Water Management District Contacts
| District | Region | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NW Florida WMD | Panhandle (Bay, Escambia, etc.) | 850-539-5999 | public.information@nwfwater.com |
| Suwannee R. WMD | Northeast FL (16 counties) | 386-362-1001 | info@mysuwanneeriver.com |
| St. Johns R. WMD | East FL (Brevard, Nassau) | 386-329-4500 | customerservice@sjrwmd.com |
| SW Florida WMD | Central/west FL (Polk, Hillsborough) | 352-796-7211 | info@watermatters.org |
| S. Florida WMD | South FL (Miami-Dade, Broward) | 561-682-6930 | wells@sfwmd.gov |
Regulatory References
- F.S. 373.323 – Water Well Contractor licensing
- F.S. 373.324 – License renewal and continuing education
- F.A.C. 62-531 – Contractor Licensing Requirements
- F.A.C. 62-532 – Water Well Construction Standards
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my Florida driller license?
Renew online through your Water Management District before July 31 of odd-numbered years. Fee is $50 for renewal ($75 penalty after July 31). You must complete 12 hours of CE, including 6 hours on well construction methodologies and state rules, before renewal.
What are the CE requirements for Florida drillers?
12 hours every 2 years. At least 6 hours must cover water-well construction methodologies and state rules; up to 6 hours may cover safety/business topics. Maximum of 6 CE credits via online courses. Courses must be from DEP-approved providers (FGWA, etc.).
How soon must I file the well completion report?
Within 30 days after completion. Submit the Well Completion Report (Form LEG-R.005.02) to the appropriate Water Management District. If no work was performed, file a "no work performed" report within 30 days of permit expiration.
What are the setback requirements in Florida?
Minimum 75 ft horizontal separation from septic tanks/drainfields (F.A.C. 62-6.005). Best practice: 150+ ft from livestock yards, pesticide sites, and graveyards. Check local health department and Wellhead Protection maps for exact distances.
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