Well Driller List

State rules

Iowa

Iowa certifies the individual who performs well services and uses county health departments for most private-well permits. The Department of Natural Resources says that if a well owner hires anyone to perform well services, that person must be a DNR certified well contractor and must be on site while the work is done. An owner may do the work on the owner's own property only by physically performing it. The owner may not hire, pay, or barter with someone who is not certified. Private well construction permits are required for water supply wells and for geothermal systems 20 feet or deeper. For private wells, county health departments issue those permits, except in Osceola County.

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

Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
Licensing or permitting agency
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Who must hold a credential
DNR-certified well contractor for well drilling services, pump services, or both
Official permit or license page
Official page →

The certification page lists the work that requires a certified contractor when someone is hired. It includes construction and rehabilitation of private and public water supply wells and irrigation wells, test holes, dewatering wells, monitoring wells, vertical or horizontal ground heat exchange boreholes, pump and distribution systems, pressure tanks and switches, and plugging. Certified contractors meet experience requirements, pass state examinations, and complete continuing education. The department says certification is renewed for two-year periods when eligibility requirements are met. The page points to 567 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 82 for the certification rules.

The permit page says private well construction permits for wells serving fewer than 25 people, or fewer than 15 service connections, are issued by the local county health department. Osceola County does not have that authority. The page says a permit in Osceola County is requested from a named department contact. All well services, including pump repair and geothermal boreholes, require a certified well contractor on site and in direct charge, except for the owner who personally does the work. Monitoring wells generally need a permit and a certified contractor on site. Geotechnical borings that do not place casing are described differently on that page.

The department also says it does not recommend that owners undertake well services themselves, because the work is specialized and can be dangerous for the person and the groundwater. That is guidance, not a ban on the owner exemption the certification page describes. A customer should ask for the current DNR well contractor certification in the discipline that matches the job, and should ask the county health department about the permit before drilling. The Iowa Wells Information System is the department's tool for permits, logs, and tests. This record does not list contractors and does not copy a fee.

Official resources in Iowa

Iowa DNR well contractor certification

Who must be certified, the owner exception, and the work the certificate covers.

Private well construction permits

County health department permits, with the Osceola County exception.

EPA private drinking water wells

Federal context for private well households.

Key facts for Iowa

What to do next

  1. Ask for the DNR certification that matches drilling, pump work, or both.
  2. Call the county health department for the permit before the driller schedules the rig.
  3. If the property is in Osceola County, use the department contact on the permit page.
  4. Ask for the well log that will be entered in the state's well information system.

Looking for your city or county in Iowa?

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

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

Helpful guides

Well permit planner →

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