Getting a legal well in Utah requires navigating the Utah Division of Water Rights (UDWR), part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The process is manageable, but it involves more steps than most people expect — and getting the order of operations wrong can delay your project by months or, in the worst case, create legal problems that are expensive to unwind.
This guide covers the complete 2025 process for residential well permitting in Southern Utah, including the fastest path (the domestic exemption) and the full water rights track for larger projects.
If you need water for a single-family home with standard household uses plus up to half an acre of irrigation, use the domestic well exemption — it is free, takes 2–4 weeks, and requires no attorney. If you need more water than that, or need water rights for commercial, agricultural, or multi-dwelling uses, you need a full water right application, which is more complex and slower. Most Southern Utah rural homeowners qualify for the exemption.
The Two-Track Process
Utah law separates two distinct legal questions that both must be resolved before you can drill:
- The right to use the water: This is either a formal water right or a domestic well exemption. It establishes your legal authorization to take groundwater from the aquifer.
- The right to construct the well: This is the well construction permit (Start Card). It authorizes the physical drilling of the well at a specific location.
Both must be in hand before your driller starts work. A licensed Utah well driller will not drill without a valid Start Card, and a Start Card cannot be issued without the underlying water right or exemption being in process or approved.
Step 1: Determine Your Water Authorization Path
Choose Between Domestic Exemption or Full Water Right
Evaluate your actual water needs against the domestic exemption limits: 0.5 acre-feet per year (approximately 163,000 gallons), for single-family residential use including up to one-half acre of lawn/garden irrigation and personal livestock watering.
If you qualify for the domestic exemption: This is almost always the right choice. It is free, fast, and covers the needs of the vast majority of rural Southern Utah homeowners. Go to Step 2A.
If you need a full water right: You are looking at a $500–1,500+ filing fee, a review process that can take months to years in over-appropriated basins, and possible objections from existing water right holders. Consider consulting a Utah water rights attorney. Go to Step 2B.
Step 2A: Apply for the Domestic Well Exemption
Submit Domestic Exemption Application Online
Go to waterrights.utah.gov and create a user account if you do not have one. Navigate to the "Domestic Exemption Application" form.
What you need to provide:
- Property owner name and contact information
- County and legal description or parcel number of the property
- Proposed well location (GPS coordinates or map selection)
- Intended uses: household, lawn/garden irrigation, livestock (check all applicable)
- Estimated annual water use (must be under 0.5 acre-feet)
Application fee: $0 (domestic exemption is free to apply)
Processing time: Typically 2–4 weeks for straightforward applications. Washington County applications may take slightly longer due to volume.
Step 2B: Apply for a Full Water Right (If Needed)
Submit a Water Right Application Through UDWR
A full water right application through UDWR is required for uses exceeding the domestic exemption, commercial uses, agricultural irrigation beyond half an acre, or multi-dwelling water supply.
Application fee: $500 for the first 0.02 cfs (approximately 9 GPM); additional fees scale with the volume applied for. Total fees typically run $500–$1,500 for most residential or small agricultural applications.
Process: UDWR reviews the application against existing water rights in the basin, publishes notice for public comment, and evaluates whether the aquifer can support the additional appropriation. In over-appropriated basins (much of Washington County), approval is not guaranteed.
Timeline: Can range from 3 months in uncongested areas to multiple years in contested basins. Consider hiring a water rights attorney or agent for applications in Washington County or other high-pressure areas.
Step 3: Apply for the Well Construction Permit (Start Card)
Submit Well Permit Application at waterrights.utah.gov
Once your domestic exemption has been approved (or your water right application has been received and accepted by UDWR), you can apply for the well construction permit — the document commonly called the Start Card.
Application fee: $300 for the well construction permit.
Information required on the application:
- Name of the property owner and applicant (if different)
- Property legal description and county
- Proposed well location in Utah State Plane Coordinates or Township/Range/Section
- Proposed well depth (your best estimate; this can be updated)
- Casing diameter and type
- Name of the licensed well driller who will perform the work (must be Utah-licensed)
- Water right number or domestic exemption number
Processing time: Typically 2–6 weeks for residential applications in Southern Utah.
Step 4: Receive and Verify Your Start Card
Receive Your Start Card — Drilling Cannot Begin Without It
When UDWR approves your well construction permit, they issue a Start Card. This physical document must be on-site during drilling. Your driller is legally required to have a copy before starting any work.
Start Card validity: Two years from the date of issuance. If your project is delayed beyond two years, you must request a renewal before the Start Card expires.
What the Start Card specifies: Authorized well location, maximum depth authorized, casing requirements, grout specifications, and the identity of the authorized driller. If any of these change (different driller, different location), you may need an amended permit.
Step 5: Hire a Utah-Licensed Well Driller
Verify Your Driller's Utah License Before Signing Any Contract
Only licensed well drillers may drill water wells in Utah. Licensing is administered by the Utah Division of Water Rights. A driller must pass a written exam, demonstrate field experience, and maintain their license with continuing education.
How to verify a driller's license: Search the licensed driller database at waterrights.utah.gov. Verify the license is current (not expired), the driller's name matches the contract, and there are no disciplinary actions on their record.
What to look for when hiring:
- Recent drilling experience in your specific county and area
- Willingness to pull local well completion reports and explain local geology
- Written contract specifying per-foot rate, estimated depth, casing specs, and what is included
- Proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation
- References from recent projects in your area
Step 6: Drilling and Well Completion
Drilling, Casing, Development, and Pump Installation
With Start Card in hand and a licensed driller contracted, drilling can begin. A typical residential well project takes 1–3 days for drilling and another 1–2 days for pump installation and well development.
During drilling, the driller is required to keep accurate logs of the formations encountered, depths, casing settings, and grout placement. These records form the basis of the required well completion report.
Within 30 days of completing the well, the licensed driller is legally required to submit a Well Completion Report (also called a driller's log) to UDWR. This report becomes a public record and is searchable in UDWR's online database — valuable information for future owners and neighboring property owners. Ask your driller to provide you a copy.
Step 7: Beneficial Use Report (Full Water Rights Only)
File Your Proof of Appropriation (for Full Water Rights)
If you obtained a full water right (not the domestic exemption), Utah law requires you to demonstrate that you have put the water to beneficial use within a specified period — typically within one year of the permit's perfection date.
The Proof of Appropriation (also called a Diligence Claim or Proof of Beneficial Use) is filed through waterrights.utah.gov and documents that the well is complete, operational, and being used for the approved purpose. Failure to file can jeopardize your water right.
Note: This step does not apply if you are operating under a domestic well exemption. Exemptions do not require proof of appropriation.
Complete Process Timeline
| Step | Domestic Exemption Path | Full Water Right Path |
|---|---|---|
| Water authorization application | 2–4 weeks (free) | 3 months–2+ years ($500–1,500+) |
| Well construction permit (Start Card) | 2–6 weeks ($300) | 2–6 weeks ($300) |
| Hire licensed driller | 1–4 weeks (variable) | 1–4 weeks (variable) |
| Drilling and pump installation | 2–5 days on-site | 2–5 days on-site |
| Well completion report (driller files) | Within 30 days | Within 30 days |
| Proof of beneficial use | Not required | Within 1 year of perfection |
| Total from start to water | 6–14 weeks typical | 4 months–3 years |
County-Specific Notes: Groundwater Management Areas
Two areas of Southern Utah have GMA (Groundwater Management Area) designations that add complexity to well permitting:
- Washington County — Virgin River Basin: Portions of Washington County are in an over-appropriated basin designation. New full water right applications in this basin face significant review hurdles. Domestic exemptions remain available. Check with UDWR for current status of specific sub-basins within the county before investing in a full water right application.
- Cedar Valley GMA (Iron County): The Cedar Valley area surrounding Cedar City is under active GMA administration. New appropriations from the primary Cedar Valley aquifer are severely restricted. However, residential properties qualifying for the domestic exemption can still obtain Start Cards for single-family residential wells.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for the Start Card before the water authorization is approved: UDWR will not issue a Start Card without a valid water right or exemption in process. Apply for the exemption or water right first.
- Letting the Start Card expire: Start Cards are valid for 2 years. If your project is delayed, request a renewal before expiration. Letting it lapse requires a new $300 application.
- Using an unlicensed driller: Unlicensed drilling is illegal, voids your Start Card, and creates legal title complications for your well and water right.
- Not getting the Well Completion Report: Your driller is required to file this, but confirm they did. The report is your proof that the well was built to code and is the historical record for future service work and property sales.
- Assuming neighboring well data guarantees your outcome: Every well site is different. A neighbor's 400-foot well doesn't mean your well will be 400 feet — local geology variations are real. Budget for a range, not a specific depth.
- Conflating the domestic exemption with a water right: The exemption authorizes water use but does not create a marketable, transferable water right with a priority date. If you later want to sell water rights separately from the land or use water commercially, you need a formal water right.
Ready to Start Your Well Permit Process?
Utah Water Well Alliance guides Southern Utah homeowners through every step of well permitting and drilling. Call us for a free consultation on your specific property.