State rules
South Dakota
South Dakota requires a well driller license from the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources before anyone drills a well or contracts to drill a well. The Water Rights Program's licensing page says a licensed well driller is also authorized to do pump installation and well repair. Each license has a designated license representative who is responsible for the work. That person describes experience and qualifications for the types of wells to be drilled. A new license requires an examination. The page says to contact the program to request the exam. Renewal is annual, due by January 31, and depends on filing well construction, plugging, and rehabilitation reports and on continuing education in the program's rules. The page prints the phone (605) 773-3352 and the email DANRMail@state.sd.us.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Licensing or permitting agency
- South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water Rights Program
- Who must hold a credential
- Licensed well driller, which the department says also covers pump installation and well repair
- Official permit or license page
- Official page →
The drilling page tells owners to hire a South Dakota licensed driller unless the owner can meet state standards. It says an adequate domestic well has a legal preference if water levels drop. The licensed driller is responsible for meeting construction standards, telling the owner about drilling requirements, controlling a flowing well, submitting records, and telling the owner about plugging if a well is abandoned. The department says it will not recommend a driller but will say whether a driller is licensed. A public listing exists. This record does not copy it.
The new-license instructions say the fee is $200 for a South Dakota resident representative and $300 if not. Residency means a primary home in the state and no other residency claim within ninety days. The instructions ask for dates of employment, rig responsibilities, types of wells, grouting experience, and equipment. The renewal instructions say the same resident and nonresident fees, require the form to be postmarked by January 31, and say a late renewal is returned and treated as a new application. State law cited there requires a well construction report within 30 days of completion. Those fees are on the instructions and are not stored in the fee field.
A customer should ask for the current license and the name of the license representative, because that person is responsible for the work done under the license. Ask whether the well will be constructed as an adequate well under the department's description, and ask for the construction report that is due in 30 days. If a well will be abandoned, ask about the plugging report the renewal rules require before the next license is issued. The licensing page and the drilling page are the two public explanations. The phone on the licensing page is the program contact.
Official resources in South Dakota
License requirement, the license representative, exams, and the program phone.
Why the department tells owners to use a licensed driller and what an adequate well means.
Resident and nonresident filing fees and the experience the representative must describe.
Federal context for private well households.
Key facts for South Dakota
- A South Dakota well driller license is required before drilling or contracting to drill.
- The license also authorizes pump installation and well repair.
- A license representative is responsible for the work.
- New licenses require an exam.
- Renewal applications are due by January 31.
- The new-license instructions state a $200 resident fee and a $300 nonresident fee.
- The program phone on the licensing page is (605) 773-3352.
What to do next
- Ask for the license and the name of the license representative.
- Ask whether the well will meet the department's adequate-well description.
- Ask for the construction report that is due within 30 days.
- Use the department's licensed-driller listing rather than a copied roster.
Looking for your city or county in South Dakota?
We haven't found official program-level pages for South Dakota 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 South Dakota, 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.South Dakota
Website →Phone: (605) 773-3352Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Dakota 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.
Helpful guides
- When you need a well permit
- Licensed driller versus pump installer
- How to check a well driller license
- Private well water testing after drilling