Florida requires every new water well to be permitted through the local Water Management District. Five WMDs cover the state (Northwest, Suwannee River, St Johns River, Southwest, South Florida). Chapter 62-532 FAC governs construction standards. Casing, grouting, and well-completion all matter. Chase Norris (FL Water Well Contractor License #7494) handles the full permit package.
The Five Florida Water Management Districts
Florida groundwater regulation is delegated to five regional Water Management Districts under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Every new water well, replacement well, irrigation well, monitoring well, and abandonment in Florida is permitted by one of these five WMDs. Which one governs your property is set strictly by location, not by use.
- Northwest Florida WMD (Havana, FL): covers the panhandle from the Perdido River to the Aucilla River.
- Suwannee River WMD (Live Oak, FL): covers the north-central counties along the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and Aucilla river basins.
- St Johns River WMD (Palatka, FL): covers the St Johns River basin, including Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Flagler, Putnam, and portions of Marion and Alachua counties. Site: sjrwmd.com.
- Southwest Florida WMD (Brooksville, FL, known as "Swiftmud"): covers Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, and portions of Marion, Alachua, and Osceola counties. Site: swfwmd.state.fl.us.
- South Florida WMD (West Palm Beach, FL): covers the 16-county southern region from Orlando south through the Everglades and the Keys.
Most of our service area sits inside St Johns River WMD or Southwest Florida WMD, with a few parcels falling under Suwannee River WMD near the Alachua and Gilchrist county lines. The WMD that governs your parcel determines which portal we file in and where the well-completion report ends up on record. For regional cost context, see well drilling cost in Central Florida 2026.
Chapter 62-532 FAC: Construction Standards That Apply Statewide
Chapter 62-532 of the Florida Administrative Code is the rule that sets minimum construction standards for every water well in Florida. The five WMDs implement and enforce 62-532, but the rule itself is written and maintained by FDEP. Five construction elements drive most homeowner questions:
Casing depth. The casing is the steel or PVC pipe that lines the upper borehole and seals the well against shallow contamination. Chapter 62-532 requires casing to extend through unconsolidated overburden and into the first competent confining layer. In Central Florida that typically means 40 to 120 feet of casing for a Floridan Aquifer well.
Grouting. The annular space between casing and borehole wall must be sealed with neat cement grout from the bottom of the casing up to land surface. Grout prevents shallow groundwater (and any contaminants in it) from running down outside the casing into the productive zone. A well without proper grout fails inspection regardless of depth.
Sanitary well seal. The top of the casing must be sealed with a vermin-proof, watertight well cap above the highest known flood elevation for the parcel.
Pitless adapter. The pitless adapter is the buried fitting that lets the drop pipe exit the casing without exposing the wellhead in a pit. Florida rule requires a pitless adapter or equivalent above-ground discharge; the old in-ground "well pit" with an exposed wellhead is no longer permitted construction.
Well completion. Every newly drilled well requires disinfection, development pumping, a bacteriological sample sent to a state-certified lab, and a well-completion report filed with the WMD documenting drilled depth, casing, grout volume, static water level, yield, and the bacteriological clearance. See our karst-country drilling article for the field side.
The full rule text is published by FDEP. WMDs cannot override 62-532, only enforce it.
The Permit Application Process: 8 Steps Start to Finish
Every routine residential well moves through roughly the same eight steps. The licensed contractor drives the workflow; the homeowner approves scope and pays the permit fee as a line item.
- Site assessment. Contractor walks the parcel, confirms setbacks from septic, surface waters, and property lines, pulls nearby well-completion records, and selects a wellhead location.
- WMD application. Contractor files a water-well construction application in the relevant WMD portal with parcel ID, proposed depth, casing material and length, grout spec, intended use, and a site plan.
- Construction permit. WMD review. Routine residential applications typically approved in 3 to 10 business days. Permit posted on the parcel before drilling.
- Drilling. Rig is mobilized and the well is drilled to permit spec. Field changes are filed as an amendment.
- Development. Pump pulls the well to clear cuttings and stabilize the water column.
- Bacteriological clearance. Well is disinfected, flushed, and sampled. Sample goes to a state-certified lab; results in 24 to 48 hours.
- As-built submission. Well-completion report filed with the WMD covering actual depth, casing, grout, static water level, yield, and bacteriological result. Homeowner gets a copy.
- Final approval. WMD logs completion against the original permit and closes the file.
For a deeper walk through the permit mechanics, see our step-by-step Florida well permit guide and the well drilling pillar guide.
Central Florida Aquifer Geology: Floridan vs Surficial
Two aquifer systems are accessible to private wells across Central Florida, and the construction permit you pull depends in part on which one you target.
The Upper Floridan Aquifer is the regional limestone formation that underlies the peninsula and is the primary drinking-water source for most private wells across Marion, Alachua, Citrus, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Polk counties. Floridan wells run 120 to 400+ feet. Yield is usually generous (15 to 60+ gpm). Water is moderately to very hard (15 to 40+ gpg), often contains hydrogen sulfide, and sometimes carries dissolved iron at 0.3 to 3+ ppm. Contamination risk from surface sources is comparatively low.
The surficial aquifer sits above the intermediate confining unit. Surficial wells in Central Florida are usually 30 to 120 feet deep, fast to drill, and most commonly used for landscape irrigation. Yield is variable (5 to 20 gpm). Water is softer but much more vulnerable to surface contamination (agricultural runoff, fertilizers, septic effluent, stormwater). We do not recommend surficial wells as the sole drinking-water source unless the Floridan is genuinely unreachable.
Floridan productive-zone depths by county run roughly: 80 to 280 feet in western Marion, 200 to 350 feet in Alachua, 60 to 320 feet in Lake (mixed surficial and Floridan), 250 to 400+ feet in Polk, and 180 to 320 feet in Volusia, Seminole, and Orange. Bands, not promises; the only useful depth number is the one on a completed report next door.
Private Well Water Quality: Who Regulates It (and Who Does Not)
Here is the rule that surprises most new well owners. Private wells serving a single household are not regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The EPA sets enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for public water systems, not for private wells. The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) publishes guidance for private well owners and conducts free or low-cost bacterial testing in many counties, but FDOH does not enforce ongoing water quality on private wells. The homeowner is responsible for testing, treatment, and maintenance.
What that means in practice: the bacteriological clearance pulled at well completion is a one-time check that confirms the well was disinfected properly before it went into service. It is not an ongoing guarantee. EPA guidance (echoed by FDOH) is that private well owners should test for total coliform bacteria and nitrates at least annually, and should run a broader panel (iron, sulfur, hardness, pH, lead, arsenic, radionuclides depending on geology) every 2 to 3 years or whenever taste, odor, or color changes. We walk that test plan in detail in our Florida well water testing guide and in the iron and sulfur in Marion and Alachua county wells article.
If your well sits within a few hundred yards of active agricultural land, a livestock operation, or a known karst feature, run testing on the high side of the EPA range. Nitrate, atrazine, and bacterial contamination is a documented risk in parts of Central Florida, and the only signal you get is a lab result.
Recommended Method: Property Situation to Permit Type and Timeline
Here is a quick decision table that maps the most common property situations to the well type, WMD permit class, and rough permit timeline and cost band we see in 2026. None of these numbers are quotes; ranges only.
| Property situation | Well type + WMD permit class | Permit timeline + cost band |
|---|---|---|
| Rural lot, no municipal water, new construction | Floridan Aquifer residential well, standard 4-inch construction permit | 3 to 10 business days, low three-figure permit fee, plus contractor handling |
| Existing home, replacing failed well | Replacement well (same permit class), requires abandonment of old well | 3 to 10 business days, low three-figure permit fee, plus old-well plugging cost |
| Suburban lot, irrigation only, has city water | Surficial aquifer irrigation well, irrigation permit class | 3 to 10 business days, low three-figure permit fee |
| Karst-country parcel near sinkhole feature | Floridan well with extended casing, may require WMD pre-review | 5 to 20 business days, low to mid three-figure permit fee, extra grouting cost |
| Parcel inside a Consumptive Use Permit (CUP) area | Combined construction + CUP if pumping above threshold | 20 to 60+ business days, higher fee, withdrawal limit set |
| Geothermal loop or monitoring well | Limited-use well permit (different rule subset of 62-532) | 3 to 15 business days, low three-figure permit fee |
For pricing on the drilling and pump side, see our published pricing page and the regional cost article linked above. For payment options on full projects, see financing.
Call a Professional If...
- You are replacing an existing well. Old wells must be properly abandoned (plugged with neat cement grout under 62-532) before or alongside the new well. Florida-licensed contractors are required to do this; a "DIY abandonment" risks contaminating the aquifer through an open conduit.
- Your parcel sits within 500 feet of active agricultural property, a livestock operation, or a fertilizer storage area. Contamination potential is elevated and the well plan should include a written treatment scope before drilling.
- Your proposed well site is within 100 feet of a septic drainfield, leach pit, or sanitary sewer line. Chapter 62-532 setbacks apply, and many local environmental health departments enforce stricter local setbacks on top of the state minimum.
- Your parcel sits in karst country (western Marion, Citrus, parts of Alachua) near a documented sinkhole or cavity feature. Special grouting and sometimes WMD pre-review are required. See our karst country drilling article.
- Your well will pump above the WMD's Consumptive Use Permit threshold. Most residential wells fall below the threshold and qualify as "general permit by rule." Higher-capacity wells (large irrigation, small commercial) require a CUP in addition to the construction permit.
- You are buying a property with an existing well of unknown age or condition. Before close, pull the WMD well-completion record (if one exists) and have a licensed contractor inspect the wellhead, pressure tank, and pump. See our repair vs replace decision framework.
- You have any reason to suspect existing well contamination. Pull a full lab panel before treating, and do not modify or chlorinate a well you cannot fully isolate from a treatment system.
FAQs: Florida Well Permits and Groundwater Rules
Can a homeowner pull their own well construction permit in Florida? No. Chapter 62-532 requires that a Florida-licensed water well contractor pulls the permit and signs the well-completion report. The licensed contractor is on the hook for construction compliance, not the homeowner. If a contractor tries to hand you the permit application to file yourself, that is a red flag.
How long does a Florida well permit stay valid before drilling has to start? WMD construction permits typically have a 1-year validity from issuance, with extension available on request before expiration. If drilling has not started within the original window, the licensed contractor files a short extension request rather than re-applying from scratch.
Do I need a permit to replace an existing well on the same parcel? Yes. Replacement wells require their own construction permit, and the old well requires proper abandonment under Chapter 62-532. Both work items are typically combined into the same project quote, and both are filed with the WMD on the same docket.
Does Chapter 62-532 set a minimum well depth? Not directly. The rule sets minimum casing depth, grouting, sanitary seal, and bacteriological clearance standards. Actual drilled depth is set by the licensed contractor based on site geology and the target aquifer zone. A well that is deep enough to be productive but does not meet the construction standards still fails inspection.
Is private well water tested by the state on an ongoing basis? No. Private wells are outside the SDWA. Florida DOH provides guidance and offers low-cost bacterial testing in many counties, but the homeowner is responsible for ongoing water-quality testing and treatment. Annual testing for bacteria and nitrates, plus a broader panel every 2 to 3 years, is the standard recommendation. See our Florida well water testing guide.
What happens if I find out my well was never properly permitted? Talk to a Florida-licensed contractor first. Unpermitted older wells can sometimes be inspected, brought up to current code, and registered after the fact through a process the WMD will walk you through. The fix is rarely as bad as homeowners fear, and pretending the issue does not exist makes it worse at sale time.
What Quality Filters And Pumps Handles for You
Quality Filters And Pumps has been drilling, servicing, and permitting wells across Marion, Alachua, Citrus, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Polk counties for 15+ years. Chase Norris holds FL Water Well Contractor License #7494. Katie Norris co-founded the company. Every quote comes after a site visit and a review of the WMD nearby-well database. Every permit and well-completion report is filed by us.
Background: about us, certifications. Pump questions: pump troubleshooting pillar and pump running constantly or not at all. Filtration: filtration pillar and whole-house well filtration. Service-area pages: Orlando, Gainesville, Ocala, Lakeland, Deltona.
Service pages: well drilling, pump repair, water filtration, filtration repair. Common questions: FAQ.
Outside references (open in a new tab): St Johns River WMD, Southwest Florida WMD (Swiftmud), Suwannee River WMD, South Florida WMD, Northwest Florida WMD, and the Florida DEP source water and Chapter 62-532 page.
Free Site Assessment for New Wells and Replacements
Call (352) 268-9048 or contact us for a free site evaluation across Central Florida. Honest scope. Written quote. Full WMD permit package handled by Chase Norris (FL License #7494) and the team.