Forms & Resources
Well Completion Report
Required for every completed well. Due within 45 days per COMAR 26.04.04.29.
Get Form from MDEAbandonment/Sealing Report (MDE/WMA/COM.027)
Required when sealing a well. Due within 45 days per COMAR 26.04.04.34.
Get Form from MDEReport Requirements
Well Completion Report Must Include:
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information
- Pump test data (if conducted)
- For clusters: location map (COMAR 26.04.04.29)
Abandonment Report Must Include:
- Reason for abandonment
- Method used for sealing
- Materials used (grout type, quantities)
- For high-capacity wells (>10,000 gpd): advance written notice
Licensing Requirements
Maryland issues Master and Journeyman Well Driller licenses in three categories: General, Geotechnical, and Water Supply.
License Classes & Fees
Fees per COMAR 26.05.02.10:
| License Type | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Well Driller | $150 | $200 | +$200 |
| Journeyman Well Driller | $100 | $150 | +$200 |
| Well Rig Operator | $100 | $150 | +$200 |
| Water Pump Installer | $150 | $200 | +$200 |
| Water Conditioner Installer | $150 | $200 | +$200 |
| Apprentice | $50 | $100 | +$200 |
Experience Requirements
- Master Well Driller: 2 years as Journeyman in category sought
- Journeyman: Specified experience/training per category (see COMAR 26.05.01.04 table)
- Application: Detailed experience account + $150 non-refundable fee
- Exam: Board exam required after application approval (offered in English and Spanish; 2 weeks notice for Spanish)
- Bond and insurance: Master well drillers: $5,000 bond and liability insurance ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury; $50,000 property damage). Pump and water conditioner installers: $2,000 bond with the same insurance. Journeymen, rig operators and apprentices work under the principal licensee's coverage (COMAR 26.05.02.05)
Renewal Cycle
Biennial Renewal: All licenses expire June 1 of odd-numbered years (next: June 1, 2027) (COMAR 26.05.01.06). Renewal period is the 24 months prior to expiration; apply within the 60 days before it. Late renewals incur a $200 late fee.
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 20 hours per 2-year renewal cycle, at least 10 directly related to your license category (COMAR 26.05.03.02)
- Limits: Safety, hazmat, environmental and other indirectly related courses count for at most 10 hours; apprentices are exempt
- Topics: Drilling safety, regulations, hydrogeology, construction standards
- Providers: Board-approved providers only (MDWWA, NGWA, etc.)
- Proof: Submit a copy of certificates or transcripts to the Board with the renewal and keep the originals; credits that cannot be substantiated are disallowed
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Completion Report | 45 days after completion | County Approving Authority |
| Abandonment/Sealing Report | 45 days after sealing | County Approving Authority |
| High-Capacity Well Notice | Before sealing begins | Written notice to Authority |
| License Renewal | June 1 of odd-numbered years (next: June 1, 2027); apply within 60 days before; late renewal within 30 days after, plus $200 | MDE/OneStop |
Permit Application Process
- Only licensed Master Well Drillers can obtain permits (COMAR 26.04.04.05(B))
- Submit permit application to county approving authority (health dept)
- Include site plan, property details, driller license info
- Permit valid for 12 months from issuance; the driller may request extensions in 6-month increments in writing (COMAR 26.04.04.05G(2)(c))
- County permit fees are capped at $160 per well or cluster used exclusively for ground/groundwater heat transfer. Anne Arundel County instead charges actual inspection, sampling and Certificate of Potability costs; a replacement well there pays no more than 50% of that cost. A county may waive the fee for replacing a well that does not conform to state regulations (9-1307(d)).
Well Identification Tag
After grouting, you must attach the official well identification tag above ground with a stainless steel band (COMAR 26.04.04.05G(3)). The tag is furnished by the Approving Authority; contact that authority for tags.
Construction Standards (COMAR 26.04.04)
Casing Materials & Specifications
| Material/Standard | Requirements | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|
| PVC (ASTM F-480) | NSF-pw labeled; depth limits per COMAR Table 1 | 200+ ft (varies by SDR) |
| Steel (ASTM A-53, API 5A/5L) | ≤4″: Sch 40; >4″: ≥0.188″ thickness | No limit |
| All types | New pipe; no toxic leaching; no pits/breaks | N/A |
PVC casing must meet ASTM F-480 with depth limits per COMAR Table 1. Steel casing must meet ASTM A-53 or API 5A/5L. No pipe that can leach toxins into water is permitted.
Minimum Casing Length by Region
Per COMAR 26.04.04.17(B):
- Piedmont (Hydrogeologic Areas 1–2): Casing must reach the aquifer
- Appalachians (H.A. 4): At least 40 ft
- Crystalline rock (H.A. 3–5): Through weathered zone + ≥2 ft into sound bedrock
- All regions: No casing under 20 ft (except shallow wells per §26.04.04.23)
Grouting/Sealing Requirements
- Annular space must be sealed with grout (cement or neat cement) from bottom of casing to surface
- See COMAR 26.04.04.36 for detailed grouting standards
Setback Requirements
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance | Reference/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property lines | 10 ft | COMAR 26.04.04.04(B)(2) |
| Roads | 15 ft | COMAR 26.04.04.04(B)(2) |
| Building foundations | 30 ft | COMAR 26.04.04.04(B)(2) |
| Contamination sources (unconfined) | 100 ft | Septic, barnyard, etc. |
| Contamination sources (confined) | 50 ft | Septic, barnyard, etc. |
| Sewer lines (gravity/force main) | 50 ft | Exception: engineered force mains 10 ft |
Full setback table in COMAR 26.04.04.04(B)(2).
Disinfection (COMAR 26.04.04.24)
Every finished water-supply well must be chlorinated upon completion:
- Use liquid chlorine (calcium or sodium hypochlorite) at ≥100 mg/L (peak 500 mg/L)
- Two-stage application: pour and flood-down method
- Agitate water and let stand ≥12 hours
- After contact, pump-chlorinate through system
- Pump to waste until chlorine odor is gone
- DO NOT discharge chlorinated water to septic or surface water
Well Development
Wells must be developed (pumped, bailed, etc.) until drilling fluids and fines are removed. Final water must be <10 NTU turbidity (5 mg/L sand) per COMAR 26.04.04.16.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Coastal Plain (Eastern/Southern MD)
- Thick unconsolidated sands, gravels, clay (Cretaceous–Quaternary)
- Aquifers: Aquia, Potomac, Patapsco, Patuxent
- Depths: 100–500+ ft (up to ~7,200 ft near Ocean City)
- Often artesian/flowing wells (watch for blowouts)
- Watch for: Arsenic (Aquia/Piney Point), saltwater intrusion, clay sloughing
Piedmont (Central MD)
- Crystalline metamorphic/igneous bedrock (schist, gneiss, marble)
- Groundwater flows through fractures
- Typical depths: 100–400 ft (highly variable)
- Modest yields (few GPM); requires careful fracture targeting
- Watch for: Hard rock, slow drilling, iron/manganese
Appalachian/Blue Ridge (Western MD)
- Fractured hard rock (metamorphic)
- Typical depths: 300–500+ ft
- Garrett County: very deep wells, low yields
- Requires heavy-duty rigs, air/hydraulic fracturing
- Watch for: Radon, legacy mining metals
Fall Line Transition Zone
- Weathered rock over bedrock
- May encounter sands over bedrock unexpectedly
- Monitor depth carefully; flexible drilling approach needed
Geology Resources
Reference the Maryland Geological Survey for detailed aquifer maps, well yields, and regional geology data.
Seasonal Considerations
- Frozen ground: Northern MD may freeze 1–2 ft in severe winters; above-freezing weather preferred
- Flooding: Spring rains raise shallow water tables, especially Coastal Plain; plan dewatering
- Water table fluctuations: Drier seasons lower yields in unconsolidated aquifers
Special Requirements & Advisories
Arsenic Advisory Zones
High Arsenic Counties: Caroline, Queen Anne's, Kent, and Dorchester counties have naturally high arsenic in groundwater (Coastal Plain aquifers: Aquia, Piney Point).
- Consider casing through near-surface aquifers with elevated arsenic
- Recommend arsenic testing to all clients in these areas
- Screen deeper aquifers when possible
Wellhead Protection Areas
Public water supply wells have designated Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPAs). When drilling near public supplies, check MDE's WHPA maps to avoid interference.
Resources & Contacts
State Board of Well Drillers
Licensing, exams, CE approval
MDE Wastewater Permits Program
Permits, forms, regulations
Regulatory References
- COMAR 26.04.04 – Well Construction regulations (complete text)
- COMAR 26.05.01–.04 – Board of Well Drillers licensing rules
- MDE Well Construction Program – Well Drilling regulations and resources
- MDE Board of Well Drillers – Well Drillers licensing information
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my Maryland driller license?
Licenses expire June 1 of odd-numbered years (next: June 1, 2027). Apply for renewal within the 60 days before expiration. Renewal fee is $150-$200 by license class (apprentices $100). You need 20 hours of Board-approved CE (10 directly related to your license), proof of the bond and liability insurance, and no lapse. A renewal received within 30 days after expiration adds a $200 late fee; after that the license terminates and you must reinstate ($400) or apply again.
What are the CE requirements for Maryland drillers?
20 hours every 2 years from Board-approved training, at least 10 directly related to the category of your license (drilling techniques, pump or water conditioner installation). Safety, hazmat, environmental and other indirectly related courses count for at most 10 hours. Apprentice licenses are exempt, and so is a license first issued in the last 9 months of a renewal period (COMAR 26.05.03.02). Send a copy of your proof to the Board; keep the originals.
How soon must I file the well completion report?
Within 45 days after completion (COMAR 26.04.04.29) or sealing (COMAR 26.04.04.34). Submit to the county approving authority using the approved MDE form. Must include full well log, lithology, casing details, and grouting information.
What are the setback requirements in Maryland?
10 ft from property lines, 15 ft from roads, 30 ft from foundations. For unconfined aquifers: 100 ft from contamination sources (septic, etc.). For confined aquifers: 50 ft. Sewer lines require 50 ft clearance (except engineered force mains at 10 ft).
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Maryland well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
Maryland Homeowner Well GuideSources & References
- MDE Well Construction Program - Rules and Regulations
- MDE Board of Well Drillers - Licensing Information
- COMAR 26.05.02.10 - Payment of Fees
- COMAR 26.04.04 - Well Construction
- COMAR 26.04.04.24 - Disinfection of Wells and Water Supply Systems
- MDE Well Construction Permit - Applications and Forms
- COMAR 26.04.04.29 - Well Completion Reports
- COMAR 26.04.04.34 - Well Abandonment and Sealing Standards
- Ground Water and Wells In the Maryland Coastal Plain - UMD Extension
- Maryland-Delaware Water Well Association