Well Driller List

State rules

Ohio

Ohio registers private water systems contractors with the Department of Health and gives local health districts the permit and inspection role. Revised Code section 3701.344 says a private water system is a system for human consumption with fewer than fifteen service connections that does not regularly serve an average of at least twenty-five people daily at least sixty days a year. It includes a well, spring, cistern, or pond and the equipment that collects or treats that water. The statute says private water systems contractors, as a condition of doing business, shall annually register with the department and meet surety bonding requirements. Boards of health of city or general health districts administer and enforce the rules and set the fees, unless the director finds a board unable to run the program.

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
Ohio Department of Health for contractor registration; city and general health districts for private water system permits
Who must hold a credential
Registered private water systems contractor, including well drillers and pump installers
Official permit or license page
Official page →

Ohio Administrative Code rule 3701-28-18 says only registered contractors may construct, alter, or repair a private water system, drill a water well, install pumping equipment, seal a system, or do the other listed work for hire. Registration is annual. The rule also describes a narrow path for an owner to do certain work on a residence the owner occupies, while drilling a well or working on a rental the owner does not live in still requires registration. The rule is the statewide text for who must register. The health district is the office that takes the construction, alteration, or sealing permit and sets the local fee under the statute.

Section 3701.344 gives boards of health the power to decide how many inspections are needed to judge whether a private water system is safe to drink. It also says fees for single-family houses and other buildings are set at different rates. If the director of health determines that a board cannot administer the program, the department administers it in that district and sets the fees. Start with the health district where the property sits, and ask for the contractor's current Department of Health registration. This record does not copy a contractor list.

Surety bonding is a statutory condition of registration, and the administrative rule is where the registration categories are spelled out. Well logs are a separate filing. The department of health rule is the credential. The health district permit is the authorization for a particular well. Both are required by the texts cited here for hired work. No dollar fee is copied into the fee field, because the statute assigns fee-setting to the local board or, in the exception, to the director. Readers should ask the health district for the current permit fee rather than rely on a statewide number.

Official resources in Ohio

Ohio Administrative Code 3701-28-18

Annual registration of private water systems contractors and who may do the work.

Ohio Revised Code 3701.344

Private water system definition, local health district authority, and contractor registration.

EPA private drinking water wells

Federal context for private well households.

Key facts for Ohio

What to do next

  1. Ask for the contractor's current Ohio Department of Health registration.
  2. Apply to the city or general health district for the private water system permit.
  3. Ask the district how many inspections and which water tests it requires.
  4. Ask who files the well log after drilling.

Looking for your city or county in Ohio?

We haven't found official program-level pages for Ohio 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 Ohio, 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 Ohio 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 →

Do you serve Ohio? Get a featured listing for $30/month, clearly labeled as a paid placement.