To ensure that all newly constructed homes have a potable water supply, every new private drinking water well must be permitted, inspected, and tested by Wake County Environmental Services. The permit specifies an approved location for the well, any special construction requirements, and water quality testing requirements. Well repairs and well abandonments also require a permit and inspection.
Familiarity with Wake County's permit and inspection policies and procedures will help ensure smooth completion of your project. For details refer to the guidance for the specific permit type.
To review Well Regulations and Ordinances click here.
Well Permit Fees
New Well Permit:
$400. The fee includes pre-construction contamination source review, inspections, sample collection, and laboratory analysis by Wake County. There may be additional well water testing fees based on Wake County Well Regulations found here.
Approve Use of Existing Well for New Construction:
A fee of $125 includes state regulated well water testing for bacteria and inorganics. There may be additional well water testing fees based on Wake County Well Regulations found here.
Well Repair Permit:
There is no fee for well repair permits.
Well Abandonment Permit:
There is no fee for well abandonment permits.
Applying for a Well Permit Through the Permit Portal
You must have a Permit Portal account to complete the application. To set up an account go here.
Once you have obtained an account and logged in, use the following instructions:
Constructing a New Well
Use of an Existing Well for New Construction
New Well Permit
What is the process for getting a Permit for a New Well?
After the permit fee ($400) is paid, Environmental Services will complete a site visit and review site conditions to establish water quality testing requirements. In many cases, additional testing will be required, which will require additional fees to be paid prior to issuance of the permit. If an onsite wastewater system is also required for the project, the well permit will be issued with the wastewater permit and will rely on the same site plan. The permit is valid for five years.
Once the well and wastewater permits are issued, a certified well contractor will install the well in the sited location. The well contractor will call for a grout inspection during the installation process. The pump installer should call for a wellhead inspection once the pump is installed and the well has been disinfected. Once the chlorine has been sufficiently flushed from the well and no chlorine residual is present, water quality samples will be collected by WCES and sent for laboratory analysis. Results of the water quality analysis may take 3 to 4 weeks.
For details refer to Steps to Completing the Permitting and Inspection Process for New Wells
Steps to Completing the Permitting and Inspection Process for New Wells
For detailed steps see Steps to Completing the Permitting and Inspection Process for New Wells
Approve Use of Existing Well for New Construction
What is the process for getting Approval to use an Existing Well for New Construction?
The applicant will apply for the well permit on the Permit Portal at the same time as the wastewater permit and building permit. After the permit fee ($125) is paid, ES will complete a site visit to evaluate the need to repair the well and ES will review site conditions to establish water quality testing requirements. In many cases, additional testing will be required, which will require additional fees to be paid prior to issuance of the permit. The well permit will be issued with the wastewater permit and will rely on the same site plan.
What to expect after the application is submitted:
As soon as your well has a pump, power, and has been disinfected (if necessary), you should request your wellhead inspection. WCES will conduct the wellhead inspection and collect required water quality samples for testing. Results of the water quality testing may take 3 to 4 weeks.
Permit to Repair a Well
Well repairs require a permit and inspection and must conform to Wake County and state regulations.
What is the process for getting a permit to repair a well?
Wake County staff will review the information you have submitted on the Permit Portal and issue a construction authorization, usually within a day or two of your application. Watch your email for a notice that the construction authorization has been issued. The email will contain the permit number and a link to the Permit Portal. Once the construction authorization has been issued, you can schedule the well repair inspection by contacting us at 919-856-7481 or wellinspections@wake.gov.
Permit to Abandon a Well
Well abandonment requires a permit and inspection and must conform to Wake County and state regulations.
What is the process for getting a permit to abandon a well?
Wake County staff will review the information you have submitted on the Permit Portal and issue a construction authorization, usually within a day or two of your application. Watch your email for a notice that the construction authorization has been issued. The email will contain the permit number and a link to the Permit Portal. Once the construction authorization has been issued, you can schedule the well abandonment inspection by contacting us at 919-856-7481 or wellinspections@wake.gov.
Schedule an Inspection
To schedule an inspection of a well, please contact us at 919-856-7481 or wellinspections@wake.gov.
Find a well contractor
All persons, firms or corporations engaging in well contractor activities involving wells for irrigation, private or semi-public domestic use, as well as for geothermal heat exchange injection wells in Wake County shall register annually with the Department as per Section III of the Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater Protection In Wake County.
For a list of well contractors registered in Wake County, click here.