To get a well permit in South Carolina, you hire a licensed well driller who files a Notice of Intent with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) requesting coverage under the state’s general permit for wells. Drilling cannot begin until SCDES grants that coverage, and the finished well must meet construction standards in Regulation 61-71 and pass water quality testing before it goes into service. The process is the same whether the well is for drinking water, household use, or landscape irrigation, though larger commercial and public supply wells face additional requirements.
Who Issues Well Permits
SCDES is the permitting agency. If you come across older guidance pointing to the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), that agency split on July 1, 2024: environmental programs, including well permitting, moved to SCDES, and public health functions went to the Department of Public Health. Any well permits DHEC issued before the split remain valid and get updated at renewal.1South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. DHEC Restructuring
Well drillers themselves are licensed through the South Carolina Environmental Certification Board under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Licenses cover three drilling categories (environmental, coastal, and rock) across four classes, each requiring experience, an exam, and a surety bond of at least $25,000.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 40-23-320 – Well Drilling Licenses, Categories, Classes Hiring an unlicensed driller can lead to permit denial, so verify the license before signing a contract.
Does Your Well Need a Permit
Every private well drilled for drinking water, household use, or irrigation needs coverage under the SCDES general permit before drilling begins. Regulation 61-44 governs the permitting process, and Regulation 61-71 sets the technical construction standards the well must meet.3Legal Information Institute. South Carolina Code of Regulations 61-44.C – General
Two situations trigger additional requirements on top of the standard construction permit:
- A well or a group of wells under common ownership that pumps more than three million gallons in a single month, located inside a capacity use area, needs a separate groundwater withdrawal permit under Regulation 61-113. This usually applies to large agricultural, industrial, or public water suppliers.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 49, Chapter 5 – Groundwater Use and Reporting Act
- A well that serves more than a single private residence falls under the Safe Drinking Water Act as a public water system, with ongoing monitoring obligations. A community water system, specifically, serves at least 15 year-round connections or 25 year-round residents, which pulls in apartment complexes, mobile home parks, and subdivisions.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 44, Chapter 55 – Water, Sewage, Waste Disposal6South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. Well Permitting for Public Water Supplies
A well that only serves your own household, no matter how deep or how much water it draws, will not hit either of those thresholds on its own.
The Application Steps
You cannot file the permit application yourself for a residential or irrigation well. The licensed driller you hire submits the Notice of Intent (NOI) to SCDES on your behalf. The NOI includes a site plan showing the proposed well location, the planned depth and construction details, and the driller’s license information.3Legal Information Institute. South Carolina Code of Regulations 61-44.C – General
A non-refundable application fee goes with the NOI. Residential wells run around $70 and irrigation wells around $50; commercial and public supply wells cost more depending on system complexity. SCDES accepts submissions through its online ePermitting platform, which is also where you track the permit’s status.7South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. ePermitting
SCDES reviews the proposed location and specifications against siting and groundwater protection standards. For wells in capacity use areas or near sensitive water sources, the agency may request extra documentation such as a hydrological assessment. If the review passes, SCDES issues a written permit that must stay on-site during drilling. If your well also needs a groundwater withdrawal permit, that is a separate application with a more detailed review of water availability and planned usage.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 49, Chapter 5 – Groundwater Use and Reporting Act
If Your Property Is in a Capacity Use Area
Capacity use areas are regions where heavy groundwater withdrawal threatens the resource. SCDES designates them based on scientific studies, and the boundaries do not necessarily follow county lines.8South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 49, Chapter 5, Section 49-5-60 – Capacity Use Area Designation Two are currently designated: the Coastal Capacity Use Area, which covers much of the Lowcountry, and the Western Capacity Use Area, which takes in all of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Lexington, and Orangeburg Counties.9South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. Groundwater Capacity Use Areas – Western South Carolina
Inside these areas, wells pumping more than three million gallons in any month need the extra groundwater withdrawal permit, with conditions on how much water you can draw and detailed usage reporting attached. Smaller residential wells in a capacity use area may still face restrictions on well depth or extra documentation during the standard permitting process.
Siting and Construction Standards
Regulation 61-44 requires the well to be located where the surrounding area can be kept sanitary, with minimum horizontal separation distances from septic systems, sewer lines, petroleum storage tanks, animal feedlots, and hazardous waste. If your proposed site cannot meet those distances, you may need to request a variance from SCDES.
The construction itself follows Regulation 61-71. The grout seal between the casing and the borehole is the most critical element: approved grouting material (neat cement, bentonite-cement, or high-solids sodium bentonite) must fill the space from at least 15 feet below the surface up to the top, pumped from the bottom through a tremie pipe in one continuous operation, and the work must be finished within five days of completing the borehole.10Justia. South Carolina Code of Regulations, Subchapter 61-71, Section 61-71.G The borehole has to leave at least 1.5 inches of space on all sides of the casing so the grout can flow properly, and bored wells must extend deeper than 15 feet.
These rules exist to keep surface water and contaminants from seeping down alongside the casing. Your driller handles the work, but knowing what should happen lets you ask sensible questions on site.
Inspection and Water Quality Testing
SCDES inspects wells for proof of permit coverage, correct siting, an adequate grout seal, and other construction requirements from Regulation 61-71. The driller must file a well record form after installation.3Legal Information Institute. South Carolina Code of Regulations 61-44.C – General Any deficiencies have to be corrected before the well is approved for use.
Before you drink from a new well, it should be tested for bacteria, nitrates, and a range of other contaminants. A comprehensive first-round panel usually covers total coliform bacteria, arsenic, lead, copper, fluoride, nitrate, radium, and uranium, among others. In areas with known groundwater problems, SCDES may require additional testing for heavy metals or volatile organic compounds. If results show contamination, treatment such as filtration or disinfection may be needed before the well can serve as a drinking water source.
Private residential wells are not subject to mandatory ongoing testing after that initial round, which makes it a good idea to retest annually for bacteria and nitrates on your own.
After Your Well Is in Service
Changes to a Permitted Well
Deepening the well, converting it from irrigation to drinking water, or increasing its capacity requires notifying SCDES and obtaining a permit amendment. Structural changes without notice put you out of compliance, and SCDES can revoke the permit if it finds the holder is not meeting its terms.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 49, Chapter 5 – Groundwater Use and Reporting Act
Renewing a Groundwater Withdrawal Permit
Groundwater withdrawal permits in capacity use areas run for up to five years.11Legal Information Institute. South Carolina Code of Regulations 61-113.H – Duration of Permits and Renewal File the renewal application at least 90 days before the current permit expires. A timely filing keeps the existing permit in force while SCDES reviews the renewal; missing that window risks losing withdrawal rights. Standard construction permits for a private well do not carry the same renewal cycle.
Abandoning a Well
A well no longer in use, one that has been destroyed, or one acting as a contamination source must be properly abandoned. Abandonment means filling the entire well from bottom to surface with approved grouting material through a tremie pipe in one continuous operation, with the method varying based on whether the well penetrates a confining layer. A licensed driller should do the work, and you must report the abandonment to SCDES. Wells found to be contamination sources must be repaired or permanently abandoned immediately after SCDES issues notice.12Justia. South Carolina Code of Regulations, Subchapter 61-71, Section 61-71.H
Penalties for Skipping the Permit
Drilling without a permit, exceeding withdrawal limits, or ignoring construction standards can bring a Notice of Violation requiring corrective action, such as retrofitting the well, additional water quality testing, or retroactive permitting. Under the Groundwater Use and Reporting Act, a willful violation is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 per day per violation, and civil penalties reach the same $1,000 per day.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 49, Chapter 5 – Groundwater Use and Reporting Act SCDES can revoke a permit for false information in the application or ongoing non-compliance, and wells contaminating groundwater face emergency enforcement that can include forced abandonment at the owner’s expense. A well with no permit history can also stall a property sale when buyers and lenders review the file.