Well Setback Requirements San Diego

California has some of the most comprehensive well regulations in the country—and for good reason. Proper well construction and management protects both your water supply and the shared groundwater resources that thousands of properties depend on.

California Well Regulations Overview

Well construction, modification, and destruction in California are governed by several layers of regulation:

• California Well Standards (DWR Bulletin 74-90): Sets minimum construction standards for all water wells statewide
• County ordinances: San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties each have additional requirements that may be stricter than state minimums
• SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act): Affects well permitting in certain basins by requiring analysis of new wells' impact on the aquifer
• CEQA: Some commercial or agricultural wells may require environmental review

Permitting Requirements

In San Diego County, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) handles well permits. You need a permit for:

• Drilling a new well
• Deepening an existing well
• Modifying well casing or equipment
• Destroying (properly abandoning) a well

Permit applications require a site plan showing the well location relative to property lines, septic systems, and other potential contamination sources.

Setback Requirements

Minimum distances between a well and potential contamination sources (San Diego County):

• Septic tank: 50 feet minimum
• Leach field: 100 feet minimum
• Sewer line: 50 feet minimum
• Property line: Varies by county (typically 5–10 feet)
• Building foundation: Sufficient distance for drilling access (typically 10+ feet)

These setbacks can make well placement challenging on smaller lots. We help navigate these requirements during our site evaluation.

Contractor Licensing

California law requires a C-57 Water Well Drilling license for anyone who drills, modifies, or destroys a water well. This is a specialized classification—a general contractor's license is NOT sufficient.

Always verify your contractor's license at www.cslb.ca.gov. SCWS holds CSLB License #1086994 with active C-57 classification.

Well Owner Responsibilities

As a well owner in California, you're responsible for:

• Maintaining your well in sanitary condition
• Testing water quality (recommended annually for bacteria/nitrates)
• Properly destroying wells that are no longer in use
• Not contaminating groundwater through improper well construction or maintenance
• Reporting your well's existence when selling property (disclosure requirement)

Well Destruction Requirements

Abandoned or unused wells pose a serious contamination risk to groundwater. California requires proper destruction by a licensed C-57 contractor, which includes:

• Removing all pumping equipment
• Filling the well with cement grout or approved materials
• Filing a Well Completion Report with the Department of Water Resources

Typical cost for proper well destruction in San Diego County: $1,500–$5,000 depending on well depth and condition.