Rules and licenses
Florida well permits start with the water management district
Florida water well permitting is tied to DEP and the regional water management districts, so the right office depends on the address.
A private well in Florida is not just a pipe in the yard.
DEP runs the water well program with Florida’s five water management districts. The well permit path is tied to the right district or local office. That comes up before a well is built, fixed, changed, or closed.
The address matters. A home near a county line, rural road, or growing edge of town may fall under a district that is not obvious at first glance. A well contractor’s license may work across Florida, but the permit path still has to fit the place.
For a home file, ask for the well permit, completion report if one exists, contractor name, water test records, and papers for any old well that was closed. A buyer, owner, or builder can then talk about water with the right map in hand instead of guessing from the pump house.
Official sources
Last checked against these sources: July 1, 2026.