Can I drill my own well, or do I need a licensed driller?

Some homeowners ask whether they can skip the driller and put in a well themselves. The honest answer is that it depends on the state, and the rules vary more than most people expect. This page explains how owner exemptions work, using two states that publish them clearly, and what still applies when you are exempt. It is not a how-to guide and does not cover drilling methods or equipment; a water well touches the aquifer your neighbors drink from, and every state that allows owner wells still holds them to construction standards.

Do you need a license to drill a well?

For hired work, almost always. The National Ground Water Association notes that most states require water well contractors to be licensed and suggests checking with the state agency, often the department of natural resources or the health department. NGWA (Wellowner.org): Licensing The question for a homeowner is narrower: does your state exempt an owner drilling their own well on their own land? Some do and some do not, and the exemption usually comes with conditions. [NGWA-LICENSING source note]

The Environmental Protection Agency keeps a directory of state private well programs, which is the fastest way to find the office that answers this question where you live. It also notes that rules for private wells vary widely from state to state. EPA: Private Drinking Water Well Programs in Your State [EPA-STATES source note]

Can you drill your own well in Texas?

Texas law defines a water well driller as a person who drills or constructs a water well in the state, and it says the term does not include a person who drills or constructs a well on their own property for their own use. The same chapter says a person may not act or offer to act as a driller without a license. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1901: Water Well Drillers In practice, the exemption covers your own land and your own use; drilling for anyone else, or for pay, falls under the license requirement. [TX-OC-1901 source note]

The exemption does not remove the record keeping. The Texas Water Development Board says landowners who drill their own wells, like registered drillers, must submit a State of Texas Water Well Report for a new well, and that a property inside a groundwater conservation district may have to register the well under that district's rules. TWDB: General Groundwater and Private Water Well FAQ For licensed work, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues separate driller and pump installer licenses. TDLR: Water Well Driller and/or Pump Installer License [TWDB-FAQ source note] [TDLR-APPLY source note]

Can you build your own well in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Department of Health says all wells must be installed by contractors it licenses, except that an individual may build a well for personal use on land they own or lease and use for farming or as their home. In every case the well must meet state well law and rules, and a notification form and fee must reach the department before drilling starts. Minnesota Department of Health: Constructing a New Water-Supply Well The statute behind that rule sets out the same owner exemption. Minnesota Statutes, section 103I.205 [MDH-CONSTRUCT source note] [MN-103I205 source note]

Two details matter for anyone weighing the idea. The department treats owner-installed driven sand-point wells a little differently, with notification due after completion rather than before. Its packet for those owners also says that if the attempt is unsuccessful, the well must be sealed by a licensed contractor, because unlicensed persons are not authorized to seal wells. Minnesota Department of Health: Requirements for Well Owners Installing Drive-Point Wells Read the department's current guidance for your well type before you plan anything. [MDH-DRIVEPOINT source note]

New York: drilling is a registered business

New York runs its program differently. The state's environmental agency requires any business doing water well drilling to register each year before working anywhere in the state, and all well drilling, including pump installation, must be supervised on site by a person who has passed the required exams. Contractors file a notice before drilling and a completion report afterward, and wells must be decommissioned by a registered driller. NYSDEC: Water Well Contractor Program Its pages do not describe an owner exemption, so New York homeowners should ask the agency directly before assuming one exists. [NY-DEC-WWCP source note]

What still applies if you are exempt?

See well drilling licenses and permits for how licensing and permits fit together, and water well permits by state to find your state's office.

When hiring a driller makes more sense

Even where the law allows it, a drilled well for a house is a large construction job: casing, grouting, development, yield testing and the pump all have to be done to standard. Shallow driven or dug wells are a different kind of well with different limits; drilled vs dug vs driven wells explains how the types compare. If you decide to hire, how to choose a well driller covers licensing checks, insurance and written quotes.

Questions to ask your state well program

1. Does the state exempt an owner drilling their own well, and on what conditions?
2. Does the exemption cover pump installation as well as drilling?
3. What notification, permit or fee is due before drilling starts?
4. Which construction standards apply, and who inspects the finished well?
5. Who must file the well report, and when?
6. Who may seal a hole that does not produce water?

Write the answers down with the date and the name of the office. Rules change, and local districts or counties can add their own requirements on top of the state's.