Well Repair, Casing Work, and Abandonment in Lakeland
Florida law separates pump equipment from physical well repair and construction. Use this page when the bore, casing, screen, grouting, or abandonment may be involved — those are regulated, and the permit rules and fees differ from pump work.
Service availability varies by address, the issue, provider coverage, and current schedules.
What counts as regulated versus not regulated
Florida law separates the pump and pumping equipment from the physical well. Florida Statutes §373.303 excludes pumps and pumping equipment from the definition of “construction of water wells” and excludes above-ground portions from the definition of well “repair.” The table below shows the separation:
| Work on the well itself | Usually regulated? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well bore deepening | Yes | Physical alteration; requires permit and licensed contractor |
| Casing repair or replacement | Yes | Alters the well structure; requires permit |
| Screen replacement or repair | Yes | Below-ground component; requires permit |
| Grouting repair or reseal | Yes | Integrity of the sanitary seal; requires permit |
| Sanitary seal repair | Yes | Protects groundwater; requires permit and contractor |
| Well abandonment / plugging | Yes — permit required, fee-exempt | Plugging an out-of-service well; permit required but no fee charged at SWFWMD for non-public wells |
| Pump and motor replacement | No | §373.303 explicitly excludes pumps from 'construction of water wells' |
| Pressure tank replacement | No | Same §373.303 exclusion; above-ground equipment |
| Wellhead fitting repair (above ground) | No | Above-ground portions excluded from well 'repair' definition |
When the job is only pump, tank, and above-ground equipment, no SWFWMD permit is required. When the job touches the bore, casing, screen, grouting, or results in abandonment, a permit and a licensed water well contractor are required.
Call (863) 400-3070 if you are unsure which category applies
Southwest Florida Water Management District: permit fees
For Lakeland and most of Polk County, well-construction permits are issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The fee schedule below is for non-public water supply wells — the category that applies to private domestic, agricultural, and irrigation wells.
| Work type | SWFWMD permit required? | Published fee (non-public well) |
|---|---|---|
| Well construction (new well) | Yes | $50 |
| Well repair (physical — casing, screen, grouting, seal) | Yes | $50 |
| Well modification (deepening, alteration of bore or casing) | Yes | $50 |
| Well abandonment (plugging and sealing out of service) | Yes, permit required | Fee-exempt (no fee charged) |
| Pump and pumping equipment replacement (no bore/casing work) | No (§373.303 exclusion) | No fee — no permit required |
| Pressure tank replacement (no bore/casing work) | No (§373.303 exclusion) | No fee — no permit required |
Correction note: A prior version of this page listed well abandonment as a $50 fee. That was incorrect. SWFWMD's published fee schedule shows abandonment as fee-exempt for non-public wells — a permit is required, but no application fee is charged. The $50 fee applies to construction and repair of non-public wells only.
Fee amounts verified against the SWFWMD fee schedule currently published on SWFWMD's website. Checked July 23, 2026. Confirm the current amount and permit requirements before filing. SWFWMD contact for permit questions: 813-694-2472 (Well Construction Staff).
Important district boundary note: Portions of eastern Polk County fall within the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), not SWFWMD. If the property is near the county's eastern boundary, confirm which district applies to the parcel before filing. See the Florida well permit rules by district for a full comparison.
Who is licensed to do regulated well work in Florida?
Florida Statutes §373.323 establishes that the water management district license is the only statewide water well contractor license required for regulated construction, repair, or abandonment. A licensed water well contractor may also install, repair, and modify pumps and tanks — but the reverse is not true: a plumber or general contractor license does not authorize regulated well work.
How to verify before authorizing work:
- Get the provider's legal business name (not a DBA or marketing name)
- Check it against SWFWMD's current water well contractor list — valid for the 2025–2027 license period. Checked July 23, 2026.
- A license issued by any Florida water management district is valid statewide — you do not need a SWFWMD license specifically for Polk County work
What we cannot tell you: we make no claim about the license, insurance, or credentials of whoever responds to a request through this site. The verification tool above is where to check — that lookup is worth more than a credential badge on a website.
Before authorizing work, get the provider's legal business name, written scope, price or pricing method, permit responsibility, exclusions, payment terms, and any warranty — in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my job is regulated well work or pump work?
If the work involves going below the surface casing, changing the well bore, repairing or replacing the casing or screen, or abandoning the well, it is regulated. Replacing the pump, motor, pressure tank, or above-ground piping and fittings is typically not regulated under §373.303. When in doubt, describe the problem — a provider familiar with regulated work can tell you which category applies before starting.
Can any licensed contractor do well casing or repair work?
No. Florida requires a water-management-district-licensed water well contractor for regulated construction, repair, and abandonment of water wells (§373.323). A general plumbing or electrical contractor license does not authorize this work. Verify the contractor's water well contractor license through SWFWMD's current contractor list before authorizing any regulated work.
How do I verify a water well contractor's license?
Check SWFWMD's current water well contractor list at swfwmd.state.fl.us/epermitting/well-contractors. Look up the provider's legal business name — not a DBA or marketing name. The list identifies licensed contractors for the current 2025–2027 period. A license issued by any Florida water management district is valid statewide.
Does abandoning a well cost $50 at SWFWMD?
No. Well abandonment (plugging an out-of-service well) is fee-exempt at SWFWMD — a permit is required, but SWFWMD does not charge the $50 application fee for non-public well abandonment. The $50 fee applies to non-public well construction and repair. This corrects a common misstatement that lists abandonment as a $50 permitted fee.
What does well abandonment require?
A SWFWMD permit (fee-exempt for non-public wells), a licensed water well contractor to perform the work, and an approved plugging method (typically filling the casing with grout from bottom to top). The permit application and contractor requirements are the same as for construction or repair — the difference is that abandonment carries no application fee for non-public wells.
My well has a cracked casing but still works. Do I need a permit to repair it?
Yes. Casing repair is regulated under Florida law. A cracked casing is a sanitary-seal failure that creates a pathway for contamination — it cannot be left unaddressed, and the repair requires a SWFWMD permit and a licensed water well contractor. Filing a permit requires identifying the contractor and the proposed repair method.
What about Lakeland addresses in eastern Polk County?
Portions of eastern Polk County fall within the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) rather than SWFWMD. The permit authority, application process, and fee schedule differ. Confirm which district applies to your parcel before starting any regulated work. For well drilling in eastern Polk County, DOH-Osceola handles pre-construction site inspections.
Is there a separate permit for electrical or plumbing work at the wellhead?
Possibly. New wiring, circuit breakers, or conduit for a pump motor may require a local electrical permit from Polk County Building Division (863-534-6080) for unincorporated addresses or Lakeland Building Inspection (863-834-6012) inside city limits. Ask the provider what separate permits apply before work starts.
Need a review of regulated well work?
Call (863) 400-3070 to describe the condition of the casing, bore, or well structure. A provider determines whether a SWFWMD permit and licensed water well contractor are required.
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.