Connecticut: State rules

Connecticut splits the well rules between consumer protection and public health. The Department of Consumer Protection registers well drillers. Its well drilling page says only individuals can apply, not companies, and that Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions. Registration types include the W-1 water supply drilling contractor and limited and journeyperson categories. The Department of Public Health says local health departments and districts have authority over private wells for siting and approval before construction. DPH estimates about 342,356 private residential wells serve about 23 percent of the state's population. DPH's page points readers to the DCP statutes for the drilling registration itself.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

DCP's scope-of-work page says a W-1 water supply driller contractor registration permits the registrant to engage in well construction. The applicant needs twenty-four months as a well driller, or a valid W-2 registration for at least two years, and a passing score on the department's written examination. A W-2 journeyperson may construct a well, including pumps and related equipment, only while employed by a contractor registered for that work. Limited W-3 and W-4 registrations cover non-water-supply wells. W-5 and W-6 are limited to well casing extension and, for the contractor level, start from a plumbing and piping contractor license plus an exam.

The application page says every individual applicant must take an exam, with a separate fee paid to the exam vendor. It states the application fee for W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4, W-7, and W-8 is $88, and the fee for W-5 and W-6 is $50. Those amounts are printed on the DCP page and are not repeated in the fee field of this record. All well drilling registrations expire annually on April 30. Permit application forms are printed from the eLicense account after the credential exists. A completion report can be filed online. The department says it does not pre-review applications before submission.

DPH's private well page says private well owners test and maintain their own water, and that local health departments approve siting before construction. Technical questions can go to the Private Well Program at 860-509-8401 or DPH.PrivateWellProgram@ct.gov, or to the local health department. License status is checked in the state's eLicense lookup, which the lookup page describes as a primary source maintained by the state. This record does not copy names from any roster. A homeowner should confirm both the DCP registration type and the local health approval before drilling.

Official resources in Connecticut

DCP well drilling applications

Registration types, exam requirement, fees printed on the page, and April 30 expiration.

Well drilling registrations and scope of work

What W-1 through W-6 registrations are allowed to do.

DPH private wells

Local health authority for siting and the Private Well Program contact.

Connecticut eLicense lookup

Primary-source credential search maintained by the state.

Key facts for Connecticut

DCP registers individuals, not companies, as well drillers.
Connecticut's DCP page says there are no reciprocal agreements.
A W-1 registration covers water-supply well construction.
W-1 applicants need 24 months as a driller, or two years as a W-2, plus an exam.
Registrations expire on April 30.
Local health departments approve private-well siting before construction.
DPH prints the Private Well Program phone 860-509-8401.

What to do next

Ask which W-registration the person holds, not just whether the company is known.
Look the credential up in eLicense before you hire.
Contact the local health department about siting approval before the rig is scheduled.
Ask who will file the completion report and who will receive a copy.

Looking for your city or county in Connecticut?

We haven't found official program-level pages for Connecticut we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Connecticut, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
Connecticut
Website →
Phone: (860) 509-8401
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Connecticut page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

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