The Division of Water Resources (DWR) has several types of well permit application forms to assist with obtaining a permit to construct a new or replacement well, or to register an existing well. Additionally, for some Groundwater Basins and River Basins, special Use and Measurement Rules apply. These rules are available under Services, Well Metering subpages in the top navigation.
Find an Existing Well Permit
Information on all registered well permits can be found through our Well Permit Search Tool and our Map Viewer Tools that are linked on this page. The well permit file will contain the allowable uses of the well, the original permit application, and any available well construction and pump installation records.
Home Buyers and Real Estate Professionals
Important water information for real estate transactions in this video and the fact sheet in Important Links
Wells in Denver Basins
If the well is located in the Denver Basin, additional rules may apply. These rules are available at the bottom of this page.
Wells in Designated Basins
If the well is located in a Designated Basin, additional rules may apply. These rules are available at the bottom of this page.
Apply for a New Well Permit
Please see the new Beginner's Guide to Well Permits for information on the well permit application process and application types. Then, use the Applications eForms Dashboard link to access well permitting forms and complete the appropriate application. The Division of Water Resources accepts applications by email, and associated fees can be paid online. See Important Links below for information on permitting fees and the submittal process.
Permit Processing and Requests for Emergency Well Permit Approval
DWR reviews new and replacement well permit applications in the order they are received, and review of complete applications may take up to 49 days. DWR will act upon emergency requests for well permit approval for some replacement well situations, some location changes, and some changes in source/aquifer. See the document, Emergency Well Permit Procedures below for additional information.
Important Links
Designated Basins Rules 7.4.1 and 7.10 (2CCR-410-1)
The Ground Water Commission has initiated the process to possibly amend the Rules and Regulations for the Management and Control of Designated Groundwater in response to a petition submitted by the Plains Ground Water Management District. The petition requests amendment of Rule 7.4.1.3, and any associated Rules that deal with excluding years from historical evaluations, so as to eliminate from a historical use analysis those years a well is in a conservation plan approved by a Ground Water Management District. A copy of the petition is available on the FTP website using the link given below.
Following an initial public meeting concerning the petition held on March 4, 2021, Staff of the Commission drafted proposed amendments to Rules 7.4.1 and 7.10 and a proposed Statement of Basis and Purpose (both dated June 16, 2021), copies of which are available on the FTP website using the link given below. A second informal public meeting to discuss the proposed rule changes was held on July 29, 2021.
The Plains Ground Water Management District, and other stakeholders who participated in the meetings, are considering the amendments as proposed by Staff. Additional informal public meetings may be scheduled as needed, after which the matter would be forwarded to the Commission’s Hearing Officer for applicable formal rulemaking proceedings (case no. 20GW12).
This webpage will be updated with additional information on the rulemaking process as it becomes available. We are also using email to provide information to interested parties that wish to receive updates on the rulemaking process. All persons wishing to be provided emails must sign up on the Designated Basins Rulemaking Notification List sign-up feature on the Division of Water Resources’ website, using the link below.
The Rulemaking for Statewide Nontributary Groundwater (2 CCR 402-7) has been terminated, effective 4/15/2021. Please view the documents describing the reason for termination.
Secretary of State Notice regarding Rulemaking Termination & Additional details regarding Termination of Rulemaking
This webpage will be updated when a future Rulemaking has been rescheduled.
Final Rules
Produced Nontributary Petitions