Florida Water-Well Permit and Licensing Rules by Water Management District
Compare water-well permit rules, current fees, delegated counties, and contractor licensing across Florida's five water management districts.
Service availability varies by address, the issue, provider coverage, and current schedules.
One license, five districts
Florida regulates water wells through its five water management districts under Chapter 373. Under Florida Statutes section 373.323, a water well contractor license issued by any one district is the statewide license required for regulated construction, repair, or abandonment of water wells, and it is valid across Florida. Section 373.303 excludes pumps, pumping equipment, and above-ground portions from regulated well construction and repair.
| Water management district | Region served | Current well-permit fees |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Florida (SWFWMD) | West-central Florida — covers Lakeland and most of Polk County | Non-public-supply well $50; non-public potable well in a Chapter 62-524 delineated area $100; public-supply well $130 ($500 in a delineated area); abandonment has no district application fee. |
| South Florida (SFWMD) | South/southeast Florida — covers portions of eastern Polk County | Confirm current fees and forms directly with the district. (not independently verified) |
| St. Johns River (SJRWMD) | Northeast and east-central Florida | Confirm current fees and forms directly with the district. (not independently verified) |
| Suwannee River (SRWMD) | North-central Florida | Confirm current fees and forms directly with the district. (not independently verified) |
| Northwest Florida (NWFWMD) | Florida Panhandle | Confirm current fees and forms directly with the district. (not independently verified) |
SWFWMD fees are from the fee schedule currently linked by the district and were checked July 22, 2026. Checked JUL 22 2026 Download this comparison as CSV.
How to verify a Lakeland-area contractor
For work in the Lakeland area, check the provider's legal business name against SWFWMD's current water well contractor list, or contact SWFWMD Well Construction Staff at 813-694-2472. SWFWMD delegates well-construction permitting only in Manatee, Sarasota, and Marion counties; for a Lakeland address, use the SWFWMD well-construction permit process. Appearing on a government list is not an endorsement.
Have a regulated well question?
Call (863) 555-0100 to request a review, or verify a contractor's license with the district yourself using the links below.
Tell us the service, the issue, and your city. A provider will confirm availability, timing, and pricing. Service availability varies by address, the issue, provider coverage, and current schedules.