Jurisdiction Research Guide

Well Credential & Permit Research

Questions and official starting points for researching well credentials, permits, construction, setbacks, abandonment, and water testing for a specific location and project.

Official resources linked64 location linksConfirm current rules

The Federal Baseline

Start with the responsible authority for the project.

Research the exact location and activity. Use the linked US EPA material as a starting point, then identify every state, tribal, provincial, territorial, or local authority that may apply to the project. See the Water Testing Guide →

Review the US EPA’s private-well resource, then ask the authorities for the property location which water-quality, construction, testing, and treatment rules apply and who is responsible for each action.

Review the US EPA’s Underground Injection Control material if the planned activity could involve an injection well. Ask the responsible authority whether that program applies, to which activity, and with what exceptions.

The US EPA’s UIC authority resource is specific to that program. Do not treat it as the answer for water-well credentials or construction. Identify the authorities for the property location and ask which project, activity, credential, filing, scope, and exceptions apply.

Safe Drinking Water Act

EPA

Use the US EPA private-well resource as a research starting point; confirm the rules for the property and activity.

Private-Well Guidance

EPA

Read the linked guidance, then ask the responsible authorities what testing rules apply and who must act.

Underground Protection

UIC

Review the US EPA material on injection wells; confirm whether it applies to the planned activity.

UIC Authority

Check

Use the US EPA UIC authority resource for that program; research water-well credentials and construction separately.

Questions to Research Locally

Five subjects to confirm for the project.

Do not assume one rule applies across jurisdictions. For each subject, identify the property location, planned activity, responsible authority, scope, exceptions, and who must act.

Credential question

Which credential applies?

Ask whether the planned work requires a licence, registration, or another credential; who must hold it; its current scope and status; and any exceptions.

Permit question

Which filing applies, and when?

Ask whether the project needs a permit, notice, approval, or other filing; which authority handles it; who files it; when it is due; and any exceptions.

Construction question

Which construction rules apply?

Use the linked USDA/NRCS resource as a research starting point. Ask the responsible authority which construction standard and edition apply to the project, their scope, and any exceptions.

Site-specific question

Which setbacks apply?

Ask the responsible authority which separation distances apply to the property, well type, nearby features, and planned activity, and who must confirm them.

Closure question

What applies to an unused well?

Ask which closure, sealing, notice, record, or inspection rules apply; which authority oversees them; who must act; and whether any exception applies.

Location Starting Points

Research four location examples.

These links are starting points, not legal conclusions. For each location, confirm the project, activity, responsible authority, credential scope, current status, exceptions, and who must act. See the existing location links in the directory below.

State / Program	Credential Research	Starting Point	Notes
Texas	Research required	Texas Dept of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR)	Check which credential applies to the activity, who must hold it, its current scope and status, and any exceptions.
Washington	Research required	WA Dept of Ecology	Check the rules for construction or decommissioning, the credential holder, current scope and status, and any exceptions.
Nevada	Research required	NV Division of Water Resources	Check which credential and project filings apply before the planned activity, who must obtain them, and any exceptions.
California	Research required	Potential starting point: Contractors State License Board	Identify the credential and local project filings that apply, their current scope, who must obtain them, and any exceptions.
Location and activity control	Research required	Identify every responsible authority	Confirm the location, project, activity, credential or filing, responsible authority, scope, current status, exceptions, and who must act.

These starting points are incomplete and do not establish a current credential or project clearance. Confirm the applicable authority, current status, scope, and exceptions directly.

Take Action

Research the rules and credentials for the project.

Identify the project location and responsible authorities

Record the property location and planned activity. Ask which state, provincial, territorial, tribal, or local authority governs each part of the work.

Identify the credential question

Ask whether a licence, registration, or other credential applies; who must hold it; how the authority reports current status; its scope; and any exceptions.

Identify project filings and records

Ask whether a permit, notice, log, completion report, inspection, or other record applies; who submits it; when it is due; and how to obtain a copy.

Confirm site and construction questions

Ask which construction, setback, abandonment, and water-testing rules apply to the property and activity, who must act, and which exceptions exist.

United States Guidance

CDC guidance for US private-well owners.

Use the linked US CDC guidance as a health-information starting point. Ask the responsible health or water authority which testing rules and recommendations apply to the well and who should act.

Test at least once a year

The CDC recommends testing private-well water annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrate, total dissolved solids, and pH.

When to test again

Also test after a new child or pregnancy in the home, any change in taste, odor, or appearance, well repairs or replacement, flooding, or a known area problem.

Use a state-certified lab

Have the sample analyzed by a state-certified laboratory; your county or state health department can help you interpret the results.

Ask about testing triggers

Ask whether drilling, repair, flooding, property transfer, or another event creates a testing or filing obligation, which authority decides, who must act, and any exceptions.

Canadian guidance

Health Canada advises microbial testing every six months. Chemical-testing frequency depends on the contaminant and local health guidance. Use an accredited laboratory and follow its sampling instructions. Read Health Canada’s well-testing page.

Open the Water-Quality Testing Guide →

FAQ

Common questions about well regulation.

It depends on the property location, project, and activity. Ask the responsible authorities whether a permit, notice, approval, or other filing applies; who must obtain it; when; and with what exceptions.

It depends on the location and planned activity. Ask which licence, registration, or other credential applies; who must hold it; its current status and scope; and any exceptions. A directory listing does not establish any credential.

Use the US EPA private-well resource and CDC testing guidance as starting points. Ask the responsible health or water authorities which rules and recommendations apply to the well, who is responsible, and whether an exception applies.

Do not use a general distance as project clearance. Ask the responsible authority which setback applies to the property, well type, nearby feature, and activity, who confirms it, and any exceptions.

Ask the responsible authority which construction rule or standard and edition apply to the project, which activities and well types it covers, who must comply, and any exceptions. The linked USDA/NRCS resource is a research starting point, not project clearance.

Browse by Jurisdiction

Credential and permit research by jurisdiction.

Use these 64 links as navigation starting points. They cover the full location list but do not provide legal answers. Identify the responsible authorities and confirm the project, activity, credential or filing, current scope, exceptions, and who must act.

United States — Northeast

Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland District of Columbia

United States — Southeast

Virginia West Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Alabama Arkansas Tennessee Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi

United States — Midwest

Ohio Michigan Indiana Illinois Wisconsin Iowa Nebraska Kansas North Dakota Minnesota Missouri South Dakota

United States — Southwest

Texas Oklahoma New Mexico Arizona

United States — West

California Oregon Washington Nevada Utah Colorado Idaho Montana Wyoming Alaska Hawaii

Canada — Provinces

Ontario British Columbia Alberta Quebec Saskatchewan Manitoba Nova Scotia New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island

Canada — Territories

Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon

Free Tools

Research credentials and permits by jurisdiction.

Use these pages to identify questions and possible agencies. Confirm the location, project, activity, responsible authority, scope, exceptions, and who must act.

Tool

Well-Driller Credential Research

Research whether a credential applies, who must hold it, the responsible authority, current scope and status, and any exceptions.

Tool

Well-Permit Research

Research whether a permit, notice, approval, or other filing applies, who must obtain it, when, and any exceptions.

Guide

Water-Quality Testing Guide

Source links and questions for researching private-well testing guidance and laboratory instructions.

Explore all tools → · Research by jurisdiction →

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