Drilling a water well in Florida generally requires a well construction permit, and that permit comes from your regional water management district rather than your county building department. A water well permit in Florida also requires a licensed water well contractor to do the drilling. Because wells tap groundwater that the state protects, the permitting sits with the water management district, and the local building department may still be involved for the pump wiring and connection.
Key takeaways
- A water well in Florida generally requires a well construction permit from your regional water management district.
- The drilling must be done by a licensed water well contractor.
- The permitting authority is the water management district, not usually the county building department.
- The pump's electrical connection can still involve a local permit.
Table of contents
- Do you need a permit for a water well in Florida?
- Which agency issues a Florida well permit?
- Who can drill a well in Florida?
- What about the pump and the electrical connection?
- A quick example: a new well on a rural Polk County lot
- How do you start a well project the right way?
Do you need a permit for a water well in Florida?
Yes. Constructing a water well in Florida generally requires a well construction permit, and it is issued by your regional water management district, not your county building department. The district regulates wells because they draw on groundwater the state manages, and the permit ensures the well is built to protect that groundwater and constructed safely.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, for example, requires a well construction permit before a well is installed within the district, and the drilling must be done by a licensed contractor. Because Polk and Orange County fall under different districts, confirm which one covers your address, and our permit checker can help you start locally.
Which agency issues a Florida well permit?
This is the part that surprises people. A well is not permitted like a normal building project. It is permitted by the water management district that covers your county, which is a different agency from your building department.
| Element | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Well construction permit | Regional water management district |
| Licensed well driller requirement | State licensing, enforced by the district |
| Pump electrical connection | Often the local building department |
| Water quality and use questions | The district and, at times, the health department |
Florida has multiple water management districts, so the exact office depends on where you live. Confirm your district before you plan the well.
Who can drill a well in Florida?
Water well drilling in Florida must be performed by a licensed water well contractor. This is not an owner-builder do-it-yourself project the way a fence or a shed can be, because well construction affects a shared groundwater resource and has to follow specific construction standards.
The licensed contractor typically pulls the well construction permit and handles the construction to district standards. Your role is to confirm the district, hire a licensed driller, and coordinate the pump connection.
What about the pump and the electrical connection?
While the district permits the well itself, the pump usually needs power, and that electrical work can require a local permit and inspection. Wiring a well pump is electrical work like any other circuit, so the building department may be involved for that portion even though it does not issue the well permit.
If the pump connection requires panel capacity you do not have, that can lead to an electrical panel upgrade. Coordinate the well and the electrical so both are permitted through the right authority.
A quick example: a new well on a rural Polk County lot
A homeowner on a rural Polk County lot wants a well for irrigation and household water. They confirm their water management district, hire a licensed well contractor who obtains the well construction permit, has the well drilled to district standards, and then arranges the pump's electrical connection with a local permit.
The district permit and the licensed driller are non-negotiable, and the electrical connection is handled through the local building department, so the project touches two authorities.
Our take: Do not treat a well as a backyard project. It is regulated by the water management district and must be drilled by a licensed contractor, because it taps a shared resource the state protects. Start with your district, not your building department.
How do you start a well project the right way?
Identify your regional water management district first, since that is who issues the permit. Then hire a licensed water well contractor, who typically handles the permit and the construction, and coordinate the pump's electrical connection with your local building department.
Keep the well construction permit and any water-test records with your home documents. For a private well, that paperwork matters for future maintenance, resale, and confirming the well was built to standard.
If your property is also on septic, keep the two systems in mind together, since a well and a septic system have to maintain setbacks from each other to protect your drinking water. That coordination is one more reason to work with licensed professionals who know the district and health-department rules, rather than treating either system as a stand-alone backyard project.