Drilling a water well in Utah is regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights under Administrative Rule R655-4. You can't just call a driller and dig a hole — you need an approved water right (or change application) first, and the well must be installed by a licensed Utah Well Driller.
Step 1: Water right
Every well needs a corresponding water right or filed application. There are two main paths:
- Domestic exemption (Section 73-3-1.5) — small parcels can use a limited diversion for primary residence + landscape use. Standard exemption is roughly 1.73 acre-feet per year for domestic-only use. Check current rule for parcel size and location restrictions; not every property qualifies.
- Change application — if your property already has an existing water right (e.g. an irrigation right you bought with the land), you may need to file a change application to change the point of diversion or use to a domestic well.
Rights are filed at waterrights.utah.gov. Processing typically takes 4–12 weeks.
Step 2: Hire a licensed driller
Drillers must hold a current Utah Well Driller license issued by the Division. You can verify at the state's licensed driller directory.
Step 3: Start Card
Before drilling begins, the driller files a "Start Card" with the Division. This locks in the well location and notifies the state engineer. Drilling can begin once the Start Card is acknowledged.
Step 4: Construction per R655-4
The well must meet construction standards in R655-4-11 — surface seal to 30 ft minimum in a 2-inch annular space, casing meeting ASTM/AWWA standards, sanitary cap, etc. The driller handles compliance.
Step 5: Completion report
Within 30 days of completion, the driller files a Completion Report (Well Log) with the Division. This becomes a permanent public record. It's the same record we use to estimate water depth and cost for new leads on our calculator — the logs are publicly searchable.
Typical timeline
- Water right filing or change → 4–12 weeks
- Driller scheduling → 4–12 weeks (longer in spring/summer)
- Drilling itself → 3–7 working days
- Pump install + plumbing → 1–3 weeks after drilling
End to end, a domestic well in Utah typically goes from "starting paperwork" to "drinking water at the tap" in about 3–6 months.
Common gotchas
- HOA / CC&R restrictions — some subdivisions ban new wells even if state-level approval is obtainable. Check before signing a contract on land.
- Sub-30 ft "shallow wells" — these fall under a separate Shallow Water Well Contractor license category and are not the same regulatory pathway.
- Required setback from septic — wells must be at least 100 ft from a septic drainfield (50 ft from a tank). Plan parcel layout accordingly.
If you're evaluating a Utah property and want to know what the well will cost before you commit, run your address through our Utah Water Well Cost Calculator.