Forms & Resources
Well Permit Application (DEP-428)
Required before drilling begins. Joint application by owner and driller.
Access e-Permitting ↗Well Record (DEP-502)
Construction log due within 90 days of completion.
Submit Online ↗All NJDEP Forms
- DEP-428: Well Permit Application (e-Permitting system)
- DEP-502: Well Record (Construction Log) – as-built data
- Well Decommissioning Report: Sealing/abandonment documentation
- DEP-565: Well Search Questionnaire (for missing well records)
- License Applications: Initial license and renewal applications
Online Submission
All permit applications, well records, and decommissioning reports must be submitted electronically via NJDEP's e-Permitting portal. GPS coordinates must be in NAD83 state plane format.
Licensing Requirements
New Jersey requires licensed drillers and pump installers per N.J.S.A. 58:4A-11. All applicants must pass NGWA certification exams within 2 years of applying.
License Types & Experience Requirements
License Fees
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 21 hours per 3-year renewal cycle (increased from 7 hrs as of April 1, 2023)
- Evidence deadline: By April 1 preceding the June 30 renewal date
- Providers: DEP pre-approved courses only (submitted ≥90 days before course)
- Record retention: Keep certificates for 1 year after course date
- Content: Must be related to well drilling/pump installation (no sales-focused courses)
CE Increase
As of April 1, 2023, CE requirements increased from 7 hours to 21 hours per 3-year cycle. Late CE administration fee is $500 if missed.
NGWA Exam Requirements
Examples for common license types:
- Master Well Driller: General Drilling, Augering & Monitoring, two rotary methods, both Water Systems modules, and NJ Master Driller regulations
- Journeyman Class A: General Drilling, Augering, one rotary method, Water Systems, and NJ Journeyman regulations
Reporting & Documentation
Well Record Requirements (DEP-502)
The well record must include:
- Location (GPS coordinates in NAD83 state plane)
- Drilling dates and completion date
- Total depth and borehole diameter
- Lithology (formation descriptions by depth)
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Well screen specifications (if used)
- Grouting/sealing information (materials, volumes, methods)
- Static water level and well yield
- Pump test data (if conducted)
- Driller\'s name and license number
Amended Records
If a pump ≥70 gpm is installed after the initial well record submission, file an amended log within 90 days showing pump capacity and installer information.
Well Permit Requirements
Valid period: Standard permits valid 1 year; domestic use permits valid 2 years. Must be kept on-site during drilling and available for inspection.
Pre-Drill Requirement
A valid NJDEP well permit is required before drilling begins (except emergencies). Joint application by property owner and licensed driller.
Construction Standards (N.J.A.C. 7:9D)
General Requirements (N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.2)
- Licensed driller must be on-site at all times during drilling
- All construction water must be potable quality
- All equipment must be clean to prevent contamination
- Hazardous drilling wastes must be handled per N.J.A.C. 7:26G
- Suspended/delayed boreholes must be abandoned as interim wells
Casing Requirements (N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.3)
- Category 1 potable wells (rock): Minimum 6 inches inner diameter
- Casing height: Minimum 12 inches above grade
- Cap/vent: Down-facing screened vents at least 12" above grade
- Seal: Pitless adapter or watertight sanitary seal required
- Joints: Watertight (welded, threaded, or gasketed per WSC Pas-97)
- Materials: Corrosion-resistant steel or cement-lined as appropriate
Annular Sealing (Grouting)
Timing: All annuli must be grouted within 24 hours after casing is set
Approved materials (N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.9):
- Neat Portland cement
- Cement-bentonite mixes
- Bentonite slurries (ASTM D5084 permeability ≤1×10⁻⁷ cm/s)
- Cementitious geothermal grouts (for closed-loop wells)
- Sodium-bentonite chips/pellets (gravity fill to 50 ft depth only)
Methods (N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.10): Tremie-pipe or displacement methods required. Casing must remain suspended and vibrated to allow grout flow.
Setback Requirements (N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.7)
Increased Setbacks
DEP may increase setback requirements in fractured rock areas or zones of known contamination to protect water supplies. Always verify site-specific requirements.
Disinfection
All potable supply wells (Category 1) must be disinfected after installation, redevelopment, repair, or pump work per N.J.A.C. 7:10-11 (Safe Drinking Water rules). Common practice: shock chlorination with documented results.
Permits & Special Cases
High-Capacity / Public-Supply Wells
Wells producing ≈100,000 gpd (about 70 gpm) or intended for public supply/injection require detailed DEP review and approval. Applicants must include hydrogeologic data. DEP issues Certificates of Approval per N.J.S.A. 58:4A-18.
General Permit-by-Rule (No DEP Permit)
These activities are exempt from individual permits but still require well logs:
- Well repair/redevelopment
- Pitless adapter installations (including by pump installers)
- In-kind well screen replacements
- Shallow Category 4 or 6 wells (≤50 ft depth, ≤8.5" diameter)
- Elevator jackholes with proper casing
Note
Even for permit-exempt work, well logs and decommissioning reports (if later abandoned) are still required by N.J.A.C. 7:9D-1.15.
Site-Wide Permits
A single permit covering 10 or more wells of the same use on one property (e.g., monitoring or dewatering wells) is available for $1,300. After drilling, submit one combined Well Record form listing all wells.
Geothermal & Remediation Wells
Closed-loop geothermal (Category 5) and environmental/monitoring wells (Category 3/4) follow the same permitting process with specific N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2 standards. Deep injection wells for remediation require separate approvals from DEP's Ground Water Remediation program.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Northern NJ (Highlands/Piedmont)
- Fractured crystalline (granite/gneiss) and Triassic basin rocks
- Hard-rock drilling (slow, may need cable tool)
- Yields vary; limestone fractures can produce >100 gpm
- Watch for arsenic in Piedmont lacustrine sediments
- Karst conditions possible in limestone valleys
Central NJ (Highlands Border)
- Hard metamorphics with moderate yields (10–50 gpm)
- Best yields in weathered zones
- Limestone valleys (Sussex, Warren) yield very well
- Potential for cavity collapse in karst areas
- Seasonal water table variations
Coastal Plain (South of Fall Line)
- Thick sands and gravels (high-yield confined aquifers)
- Fast drilling (air rotary common)
- Typical depths: 500–2,000 ft
- Artesian conditions possible in deep confined units
- Brackish water common at depth
- Boreholes may require dewatering or drilling fluids
Pine Barrens
- Sand aquifer with shallow water table
- Very soft, acidic water (pH 3.8–5.2)
- Brown color common (high iron)
- Fast drilling in sand formations
- Watch for borehole collapse in loose sands
Seasonal Considerations
- Winter: Frozen ground (1–3 ft depth) can impede shallow drilling
- Spring: High water table from rains; potential site flooding and mud
- Summer: Drought can lower yields; easier site access
- Fall: Optimal drilling conditions in many regions
Aquifer Maps
Reference the USGS NJ Aquifer Maps for detailed geology and typical drilling conditions by region.
Resources & Contacts
Online Tools & Resources
- NJDEP e-Permitting Portal – Well permit applications, well records, decommissioning reports
- Well Search Questionnaire (DEP-565): Used to locate missing well records
- Lost/Destroyed Well Guidance: DEP guidance for handling irretrievable wells
- DataMiner/GIS: NJDEP database for existing well logs/permits by map search
Regulatory References
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D – Well Construction and Maintenance; Sealing of Abandoned Wells
- N.J.S.A. 58:4A (Chapter 4A) – Licensing and CE requirements
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.2 – General construction requirements
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.3 – Casing and completion requirements
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.7 – Minimum distance requirements (setbacks)
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.9 – Grouting materials
- N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.10 – Grouting procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my New Jersey driller license?
Renew online through NJDEP before June 30 of your expiration year. Fee is $300 for drillers or $150 for pump installers. You must complete 21 hours of CE (increased from 7 hrs as of April 2023) before renewal, with evidence on file by April 1.
What are the CE requirements for New Jersey drillers?
21 hours every 3 years (increased from 7 hrs as of April 1, 2023). Courses must be related to well drilling/pump installation and pre-approved by DEP. Providers submit course outlines ≥90 days before the course. Keep certificates for 1 year after course date for audit purposes.
How soon must I file the well record?
Within 90 days after well completion. Submit electronically via NJDEP e-Permitting system with GPS coordinates in NAD83 state plane. Include depth, lithology, casing/screen details, grouting, water levels, and yield data.
What are the setback requirements in New Jersey?
Category 1 (potable) wells: 50 ft from septic tanks, 100 ft from drain fields, 150 ft from seepage pits and cesspools. DEP may increase setbacks in fractured rock or areas of contamination. See N.J.A.C. 7:9D-2.7 for complete requirements.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our New Jersey well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
New Jersey Homeowner Well Guide →