If you are buying land or building in an area where you’ll need well water in Colorado, you will need a well water permit.
Groundwater wells are an important water resource that provides a reliable and sustainable source of water. Whether it’s for drinking water, sanitation, or irrigation — wells are an invaluable resource where public water lines aren’t a possibility.
Waters wells in Colorado are managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. If you are in need of a well, read this article first. We’ll cover:
- What the Division of Water Resources Does
- Different Types of Water Wells in Colorado
- How to get a Permit for a Water Well in Colorado
Where to Start: Colorado Division of Water Resources
The Colorado Division of Water Resources is part of the Department of Natural Resources. Their responsibilities include administering water rights, monitoring stream flow, approving construction and repair of dams, inspecting dams, issuing well permits, and ensuring the safe construction of wells.
The Division of Water Resources will be your greatest source of information as you get started with your water well permit application.
Specific Information About Digging a Water Well in Colorado
Your permitting requirements and project needs will depend on what kind of well you are adding. Here’s what you need to know:
Types of Wells
Non-Exempt Wells
Non-exempt wells in Colorado are restricted to Colorado’s water right priority system. This system, also known as the “Prior Appropriation System” dictates who controls the water usage, what types of usage are allowed, and when water can be used.
The system can be explained in simple terms as “first in time, first in right.” This means the first appropriation of water for beneficial use has priority over others who come afterwards. In times of water shortages, the first person or organization to take the water maintains priority.
Non-exempt wells are large capacity, and include the following uses:
- Crop irrigation systems
- Commercial business operations with indoor and outdoor use
- Drinking water distribution systems
Exempt Wells
These wells are authorized to operate outside of Colorado’s water rights priority system. Within designated water basins, these wells are referred to as “small capacity wells”.
Household-Only Wells
A household-only use well is for a limited supply of water that can only be used inside a residential dwelling. This means the water is not for outside use (for watering livestock or keeping a lawn irrigated). Requirements for this well type require the lot to be less than 35 acres.
Domestic and Livestock Wells
A domestic and livestock well is similar to the above, but can be used outside the home for livestock and lawn care. These wells can supply water for up to three single-family homes. The lots must be 35 acres or larger, with only one exempt well on the 35-acre portion.
Plans for Augmentation
Some areas have augmentation plans. An augmentation plan is an approved plan that protects existing water rights by replacing water used in a new project. If your area has an augmentation plan, you may not be able to establish a domestic or household well.
Requirements for Digging a Well
600 Foot Spacing
New non-exempt wells must be located more than 600 feet from any other well not owned by the applicant and completed into the same source, unless the Division of Water Resources finds circumstances warrant the additional well.
Over-Appropriated Areas and Augmentation Plans
In the areas where water demand exceeds available water, non-exempt well owners must replace the water they use. This is referred to as an “Augmentation Plan”. An augmentation plan is a legally approved plan that allows individuals to use water without impacting the water rights of those above them in priority.
Designated Basins
Designated basins are areas, mainly on the Eastern plains of Colorado, that have very little surface water. Since water is scarce in these areas, permitting for wells is carefully restricted to ensure adequate water supply.
New Rules for Digging Wells in Colorado Effective January 2026
In May of 2025, new rules were adopted by the Division of Water Rights. We’ve summarized them below, from the official document in the registrar here.
Aquifer Classifications:
The Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer is now a separate aquifer type with its own minimum construction standards due to issues with water quality and increasing reliance on it.
The Unconfined San Luis Valley aquifer is defined as a Type 3 aquifer for construction and abandonment purposes.
The Confined San Luis Valley aquifer is defined as a separate aquifer type with specific construction requirements to isolate it from the Unconfined San Luis Valley aquifer.
The Northern and Southern High Plains aquifers are now administratively defined, with the Northern High Plains aquifer considered a single hydrogeologic unit and a Type 2 aquifer.
Well Casing and Construction:
The minimum inside diameter (ID) for steel well casing has been increased to 4.5 inches to reduce the occurrence of pumps getting stuck due to corrosion or biofouling.
The use of oil field pipe and corrugated metal casing is prohibited.
Well casing wall thickness requirements were adjusted to allow for the use of other types of PVC casing (like SDR and SCH 80) as long as their strength is not less than that of equivalent ID Schedule 40 pipe.
The use of certain perforation methods, like oxygen-acetylene torch-cut perforations on casings less than 5 inches ID, is prohibited to prevent debris from being left inside the well.
New requirements for centralizers have been added for all grouted intervals of surface and production casing to ensure proper grouting and well sealing.
A larger annular space (1.5 inches) is now required for certain tremie-placed grouts in Type 1 and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer wells to improve the success of deep grouting.
A maximum depth for well sumps and ratholes has been established. If aquifer materials are encountered in the sump, they must be plugged to prevent production from more than one aquifer.
Grouting:
The rules clarify requirements for grout materials and placement methods, including the use of granular bentonite in specific intervals of certain aquifers and the use of tremie pipes to prevent clogging.
The use of bulk grouts (cement-sand or concrete) poured from the surface is restricted to a maximum depth of 40 feet in a dry annulus with a minimum annular space of 6 inches.
Grout placement is now required to be from the bottom up in one continuous operation, with exceptions for multi-stage placements in certain situations.
Disinfection:
Monitoring and observation wells/holes, dewatering wells, and recovery wells are now exempt from disinfection standards if disinfection would conflict with their intended purpose.
The rule clarifies that disinfection is required after a new pump is installed, or an existing pump is reinstalled or moved to a different well or cistern, acknowledging that contaminants can be introduced during repairs.
Reporting:
Several new reports are now required, including a Well Yield Test Report, Cistern Installation Report, Post-Construction Well Inspection Report, and Well Vault Installation Report.
The Dry Hole Construction Report is intended to provide information on attempted well construction that failed due to insufficient water, and it does not prevent further attempts under the original permit.
Other Updates:
“Hydraulic fracturing of a water well” is now defined, and specific rules are in place for its use to ensure it does not compromise the integrity of confining layers.
The definition of “static water level” has been modified to be a more accurate measurement by requiring a minimum of two consecutive measurements at least 60 minutes apart with less than one foot of difference.
New well vault installations are not permitted unless a specific variance is approved by the Board.
Step-by-Step Guide: Colorado Division of Water Resources Well Permit Application
The Colorado Division of Water Resources well water permit application is a multi-step process. Permits are approved after ensuring the well will not interfere with existing water rights or impact the aquifer.
Here are all the steps to apply for a Colorado well water permit.
Determine Permit Type: The first step is to identify the correct permit application form based on the type of well you need. The DWR website provides a dashboard with links to the various forms.
Complete the Application: The application, typically an eForm, requires detailed information, including a map of the property and well location. You may need to provide the coordinates for the well in addition to other technical details.
Work with a Licensed Professional: It’s highly recommended to work with a licensed well driller. They can provide the necessary technical information for the application and ensure the well is constructed to state standards.
Submit and Pay Fees: Once the application is complete, you submit it to the DWR along with the required application fee.
DWR Review: The DWR reviews the application to ensure the proposed well and its use comply with state water laws and will not cause “material injury” to other water rights.
Permit Issuance: If the application is approved, the DWR will issue a well permit, which sets the conditions for the well’s use. The permit must be in hand before any well construction begins.
Construction and Reporting: After the permit is issued, you can proceed with the well’s construction. Within sixty days of completion, the licensed well construction contractor must submit a detailed Well Construction and Yield Estimate Report to the DWR.
Need Help? A Water Resource Engineering Partner Can Guide You
Roaring Fork Engineering offers comprehensive service, particularly groundwater well design and permitting. Our experts will handle the permitting process efficiently and accurately, so you don’t have to navigate the complex water resource parameters set by the State.
Learn more about our Colorado well water permitting services here and get in touch.
