Water Well Program

Announcements

UPDATED POLICY – Overdue Well Drilling Completion Reports – Effective July 1, 2026

The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) is notifying well drillers and consultants that beginning July 1, 2026, an updated policy will take effect regarding overdue Well Drilling Completion Reports for monitoring wells and water wells. Failure to follow the policy may result in the suspension of the ability to obtain new well permits.

Per San Diego County Code (SDCC) §67.447, Well Completion Reports must be submitted to DEHQ within 60 days of completing the work. DEHQ has identified instances where final Completion Reports were not submitted within the required timeframe. If a report remains overdue for more than 60 days, DEHQ will conduct a site inspection, and an enforcement fee will be assessed.

To ensure timely submission of completion reports and to be in compliance with County ordinance, DEHQ will implement the following policy starting July 1, 2026:

Well permit applications approved on or after July 1, 2026: If the Well Completion Report is not submitted within 180 days of completing the work, no new well permits will be issued to the driller or consultant until all overdue reports have been received.
Well Completion Reports from projects completed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026: Drillers or consultants will have until January 1, 2027 (180 days from July 1, 2026), to submit all outstanding reports. If all overdue reports are not submitted by this deadline, no new well permits will be issued to the driller until all overdue reports have been received.
- Once all outstanding reports from July 1, 2023 onward have been submitted in compliance with SDCC §67.447, the driller or consultant will again be eligible to apply for and receive new well permits.
If work has not been performed to construct a well for which a permit application was approved by DEHQ from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026, please send written notification to Wells.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov. If the well has not been constructed within the first 120 days of permit application approval, the applicant may request a one-year time extension on the permit to complete the work.

If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting reports, please contact our office at Wells.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6688.

As of 9/4/2024, the Executive Orders N-7-22 & N-3-23 are no longer in effect.

New Permitting Requirements – Upper San Luis Rey Valley Groundwater Basin

New Permitting Requirements – Borrego Springs Subbasin

General Information

Water Wells are commonly used as the only potable water supply in the rural areas of San Diego County. The Land and Water Quality Division regulates the design, construction, modification, and destruction of water wells throughout San Diego County to protect San Diego County's groundwater resources. The installation or modification of wells within San Diego County requires owners to obtain a permit and adhere to well standards identified below. For general information call the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Office in San Diego at (858) 505-6688.

Well Permit Application

Fees

Licensed Well Drillers List

Water Well Frequently Asked Questions

Inactive Wells - Intent of Use Declaration Form

To Contact The Well Program Duty Desk:

(858) 505-6688

Wells.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov

Guidelines/Policies

Private Well Water Quality Sampling Guidance

Well Disinfection Guidance

Water Sample Providers