Florida Water-Well Permit Rules by District
Compare water-well permit authority, contractor licensing requirements, delegated county agencies, and published fee examples across Florida's five water management districts. For Lakeland, start with SWFWMD — confirm exact parcel and scope before work begins.
Service availability varies by address, the issue, provider coverage, and current schedules.
This guide covers permit authority, contractor licensing, delegated agencies, and published fee examples for all five Florida water management districts. For Lakeland, see the SWFWMD section. Sources checked July 23, 2026. Confirm current fees, rules, and contact information at each district's website before filing.
Florida's statewide water-well regulatory framework
Two Florida statutes form the foundation for water-well permitting and contractor licensing across all five districts:
- Florida Statutes §373.303 — defines “construction of water wells” and “repair of water wells,” and explicitly excludes pumps and pumping equipment from construction, and above-ground portions from repair. The pump exclusion applies in all five districts.
- Florida Statutes §373.323 — establishes that a water management district license is the only statewide water well contractor license required for construction, repair, and abandonment of water wells. A license issued by any district is valid statewide.
Each water management district sets its own permit fees, application processes, and county-level delegation agreements within this statewide framework. The five districts and their relevance to Polk County are compared below.
Water-well permit rules by district
The table below summarizes each district's permit requirements, contractor licensing, county delegation, and fee structure. SWFWMD is the relevant district for Lakeland. For properties in eastern Polk County, confirm whether SWFWMD or SFWMD applies to the parcel.
NWFWMD — Northwest Florida Water Management District
| Region | Western Florida Panhandle |
|---|---|
| Relevant to Lakeland? | No — not applicable to Polk County or Lakeland |
| Permit required? | Yes — wells ≥2 in. casing diameter |
| Contractor license | Yes — district-issued water well contractor license (§373.323) |
| County delegation | No county delegation reported in published materials |
| Published fee | See current fee schedule at nwfwmd.state.fl.us |
SRWMD — Suwannee River Water Management District
| Region | North-central Florida |
|---|---|
| Relevant to Lakeland? | No — not applicable to Polk County or Lakeland |
| Permit required? | Yes — water well construction, repair, and abandonment |
| Contractor license | Yes — district-issued water well contractor license (§373.323) |
| County delegation | No county delegation reported in published materials |
| Published fee | See current fee schedule at srwmd.com |
SJRWMD — St. Johns River Water Management District
| Region | Northeast Florida (Jacksonville area and east coast) |
|---|---|
| Relevant to Lakeland? | No — not applicable to Polk County or Lakeland |
| Permit required? | Yes — water well construction, repair, and abandonment |
| Contractor license | Yes — district-issued water well contractor license (§373.323) |
| County delegation | No county delegation reported in published materials |
| Published fee | See current fee schedule at sjrwmd.com |
SWFWMD — Southwest Florida Water Management District
| Region | West-central Florida, including most of Polk County and Lakeland |
|---|---|
| Relevant to Lakeland? | YES — primary district for Lakeland and most Polk County parcels |
| Permit required? | Yes — construction, repair, and abandonment of water wells. Pumps and above-ground equipment excluded (§373.303). |
| Contractor license | Yes — district-issued water well contractor license (§373.323). License valid statewide. |
| County delegation | SWFWMD delegates well-construction permitting to Manatee, Sarasota, and Marion counties only. For Lakeland/Polk County, permit through SWFWMD directly. |
| Published fee | $50 — non-public construction or repair. Abandonment: fee-exempt (permit required; no application fee charged for non-public wells). |
Fee verified against the SWFWMD fee schedule, July 23, 2026. Contractor lookup: swfwmd.state.fl.us/epermitting/well-contractors. Well-construction permit application: swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/epermitting/well-construction-permits.
SFWMD — South Florida Water Management District
| Region | Southern Florida; portions of eastern Polk County |
|---|---|
| Relevant to Lakeland? | Possibly — if the parcel is in eastern Polk County near the SFWMD/SWFWMD boundary, confirm which district applies |
| Permit required? | Yes — water well construction, repair, and abandonment |
| Contractor license | Yes — district-issued water well contractor license (§373.323) |
| County delegation | No county delegation reported for Polk County in published materials |
| Published fee | See current fee schedule at sfwmd.gov |
Fee information for NWFWMD, SRWMD, SJRWMD, and SFWMD is referenced from each district's published website. These fee schedules change and must be confirmed at the district's current publications before filing any application. SWFWMD fees ($50 construction/repair; abandonment fee-exempt) are verified against the SWFWMD fee schedule document as of July 23, 2026.
What to do before regulated well work begins
This checklist applies to any regulated well work — construction, repair, or abandonment — in any Florida water management district. Complete it before authorizing work.
For Lakeland: SWFWMD. For eastern Polk County near the county boundary: confirm SWFWMD vs. SFWMD. Use the district boundary maps on each district's website.
Pump replacement, pressure tank replacement, and above-ground work typically do not require a water-well construction permit (§373.303). Well bore, casing, screen, grouting, or abandonment work does require a permit.
For SWFWMD: use the contractor lookup at swfwmd.state.fl.us/epermitting/well-contractors. Search by the contractor's legal business name, not a DBA. A license from any Florida district is valid statewide.
Obtain the original well completion report (also called a well log or construction permit). SWFWMD maintains well completion records at swfwmd.state.fl.us.
Before work begins, ask the contractor in writing: who files the permit, who pays the application fee, and whether a permit number will be provided before work starts.
Commercial and agricultural wells withdrawing above SWFWMD volume thresholds require a separate water-use permit in addition to the construction permit. The construction permit covers building or repairing the physical well; the water-use permit covers the right to withdraw a specific volume for a specific use.
Written scope of work, price or pricing method, permit responsibility, exclusions, payment terms, and any warranty the contractor actually offers — before you authorize work.
Key contacts for Lakeland and Polk County
- SWFWMD Well Construction Staff: 813-694-2472
- DOH-Polk (public drinking-water wells): 863-519-8330
- Polk County Building Division (electrical/plumbing permits, unincorporated): 863-534-6080
- City of Lakeland Building Inspection (inside city limits): 863-834-6012
Contacts checked July 23, 2026. Verify current numbers before calling.
Call (863) 400-3070 to discuss regulated well work in Lakeland
Frequently asked questions
Which water management district covers Lakeland?
Lakeland and most of Polk County fall within the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Portions of eastern Polk County are within the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). If a parcel is near the county's eastern boundary, confirm which district applies before filing any permit.
Does replacing a well pump require a water management district permit?
No. Florida Statutes §373.303 explicitly excludes pumps and pumping equipment from the definition of 'construction of water wells' and excludes above-ground portions from the definition of well 'repair.' Replacing the pump, motor, pressure tank, or above-ground fittings typically does not require a water-well construction permit from SWFWMD or any other district.
What is the SWFWMD permit fee for well construction or repair?
For non-public water supply wells, SWFWMD charges $50 for construction and repair. Well abandonment (plugging an out-of-service well) requires a permit but is fee-exempt — no application fee is charged for non-public well abandonment. This corrects a common misstatement that lists abandonment as a $50 fee.
Is the water well contractor license required statewide or by district?
A license issued by any Florida water management district is valid statewide under §373.323. You do not need a SWFWMD-issued license specifically for Polk County work — a license from SFWMD, SJRWMD, SRWMD, or NWFWMD is equally valid for regulated work at a Lakeland address. Always verify the license is current through the issuing district's contractor list.
How do I verify a water well contractor's license for a Lakeland job?
Use SWFWMD's current water well contractor lookup at swfwmd.state.fl.us/epermitting/well-contractors. Search by the contractor's legal business name — not a trade name or DBA. The list is maintained for the current 2025–2027 license period. Checked July 23, 2026.
Does SWFWMD delegate permitting to Polk County?
No. SWFWMD's published materials show delegation to Manatee, Sarasota, and Marion counties only. For a Lakeland or Polk County address, well-construction permits are filed directly through SWFWMD's ePermitting system, not through a county-level authority.
What is the difference between a water-well construction permit and a water-use permit?
A well-construction permit covers building or modifying the physical well — the bore, casing, screen, and grouting. A water-use permit covers the right to withdraw a specific volume of water for a specific use and is required for commercial and agricultural operations that exceed SWFWMD's annual volume thresholds. Both may be required for commercial and agricultural wells. Residential and small-scale domestic wells typically need only the construction permit for regulated work.
Does DOH-Polk issue well construction permits?
DOH-Polk's published materials indicate its pre-construction site inspection is for public drinking-water wells — those serving 25 or more people or 15 or more service connections. Private domestic and irrigation wells in Polk County are permitted through SWFWMD. DOH-Osceola handles site inspections for well drilling in eastern Polk County.