Plumbing
Well Installation: Cost, Permits & Timeline
Drilling a residential potable water well with pump and pressure tank. not the building department.
Model reviewed August 2026
Typical cost
$11,000
$5,500 – $25,000
per foot of depth
$25 – $65
Permit
Required
$200 – $800
Timeline
2-5 days of drilling
2-5 days of drilling, 3-8 weeks including permitting
Do you need a permit for well installation?
Yes
Well Installation is permitted and inspected work in essentially every jurisdiction. Typical fees run $200 to $800. A licensed contractor generally has to pull the permit.
What drives the cost
- Depth to a reliable aquifer in your area
- Casing diameter and material
- Submersible pump horsepower and pressure tank
- Water treatment for sulfur or iron
- Electrical service to the wellhead
Permit, inspections and documents
| Permit status | required |
|---|---|
| Typical permit fee | $200 – $800 |
| Licensed contractor required | Usually yes |
| Owner-builder allowed | Rarely |
| Inspections | Well completion inspection, Water quality test, Final plumbing inspection |
| Timeline | 2-5 days of drilling, 3-8 weeks including permitting |
| DIY difficulty | 5/5 difficulty |
Documents typically required
- • Water well construction permit from the water management district
- • Licensed water well contractor number
- • Well completion report
- • Bacteriological water sample results
Well Installation cost by city
Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.
| City | Typical range | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $9,900 – $44,900 | +79% |
| Los Angeles | $8,100 – $37,000 | +48% |
| Miami | $7,300 – $33,300 | +33% |
| Chicago | $7,200 – $33,000 | +32% |
| Phoenix | $5,800 – $26,200 | +5% |
| Dallas | $5,600 – $25,500 | +2% |
| Houston | $5,600 – $25,500 | +2% |
| Tampa | $6,000 – $27,400 | +9% |
| Denver | $6,500 – $29,500 | +18% |
| Orlando | $5,800 – $26,200 | +5% |
| Atlanta | $5,600 – $25,700 | +3% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $7,000 – $31,800 | +27% |
Well Installation across the country
National pricing, state-by-state pricing, and the tools behind both.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for well installation?
In most jurisdictions this work is permitted and inspected. Requirements are set locally, so confirm the current application and inspection checklist with your building department before work starts.
How long does well installation take?
2-5 days of drilling, 3-8 weeks including permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are depth to a reliable aquifer in your area; casing diameter and material; submersible pump horsepower and pressure tank.
Sources
Sources & verification
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.