Well Permits and Inspections

WELL PERMITTING PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDERS N-7-22 and N-3-23 HAVE BEEN TERMINATED

On September 4, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-3-24 proclaiming that the State of Emergency due to drought no longer exists in Santa Clara County and that any Executive Order provisions related to the terminated State of Emergency are no longer in effect.  In accordance with this proclamation, Valley Water is no longer requiring compliance with the provisions of the now expired Executive Order
N-7-22 and Executive Order N-3-23. Please use the link below to view the complete text of the proclamation. 

Executive Order N-3-24 can be viewed here: Executive Order N-3-24.pdf. 

To view the now defunct Executive Orders, please click the links below. Contact the Wells Hotline at (408) 630-2660, with any questions you have. 

Executive Order N-7-22 can be viewed here: Executive Order N-7-22.pdf (see Paragraph 9)

Executive Order N-3-23 can be viewed here: EO N-3-23 Update\Executive Order N-3-23.pdf (see Paragraph 4(a) and 4(b))

 

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE CITYWORKS PUBLIC PORTAL!

BEGINNING MARCH 18, 2024, ALL WELL PERMIT APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.

We have worked hard to improve the process of applying for well permits and we believe that the Cityworks Public Portal will help simplify your experience in applying for well permits.

You can gain access to the Cityworks Public Portal by clicking the link below.

https://app03.cityworksonline.com/CLIENT_SantaClaraValleyWaterCA-Public

Once in the portal, create an account. This account will be exclusive to the individual applying for the permit, not for the business/company.

There will be a step-by-step guide to assist in completing the application and submitting online payments. We understand that this is a new process and there may be questions; do not hesitate to contact Valley Water Wells Permits hotline at 408-630-2660 for assistance.

While we are transitioning to the Cityworks Public Portal, PDF permit applications will temporarily remain an option to apply for permits.

We encourage you to try out the Cityworks Public Portal and provide feedback.

 

Well Permitting Requirements

No person shall dig, bore, drill, deepen, modify, repair or destroy a water well, cathodic protection well, observation well, monitoring well, geothermal heat exchange well, exploratory boring (45 feet or deeper), or other deep excavation that intersects the groundwater aquifers of Santa Clara County without first obtaining a permit from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Well permit fees
Please note that the well permit fee schedule has been updated. The current well permit fee schedule [PDF] is effective Sept. 1, 2017. Well permit fees must be received by the district with your permit application submittal. Failure to submit the appropriate well permit fees with your well permit application will result in permit processing delays.

Fees may be paid by check (made out to Santa Clara Valley Water District), cash (only if payment made in person to a district cashier) or by credit card.

Insurance Requirements 
Before the District will issue a well permit, the contractors listed on the permit application must provide insurance certificates to the District.  The insurance information must meet the criteria described here: Well Permit Insurance Requirements.

Well Inventory 
Any well construction permit for a water supply well must be submitted with a completed Well Inventory Form.  All existing water supply wells that are located on the property associated with the permit application must be included on the form.

Well permitting process

Important: You must allow 10 working days to process well permit applications. Do not schedule well drilling activities within this 10-day window

1. Obtain a well permit application by calling the district's Well Ordinance Program Hotline at (408) 630-2660, or download the appropriate application from the list at bottom of this page. Be sure to provide complete and correct information. Incorrect or incomplete information will result in delays in the permitting process and in your drilling schedule.

2. Completely fill out the appropriate well permit application.

   • Be sure to provide complete and correct information. Incorrect or incomplete information will result in delays in the permitting process and in your drilling schedule.

   • Be sure the property ownership information is correct. To confirm the property owner information, call the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office at (408) 299-5500 or access the Assessor’s information on-line HERE.

   • If you are applying for a well destruction permit, be sure that you include the State well number and owner's well number, and the original well construction permit number. 

3. Complete the  Well Permit Fee Calculation Form (MS Word) and attach it to your permit application packet.

4. Attach the required insurance information (see above).

5. Attach the Well Inventory Form, if you are submitting a Water Well Construction Permit Application for a water supply well (see above).

6. If paying by check: mail, overnight, or walk in the completed permit application packet (permit application(s), Well Permit Fee Calculation Form, and check) to:

For USPS (regular or express/priority):
Well Permits
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118-3614

For FedEx, UPS, others:
Well Permits
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5905 Winfield Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95123-2428

Walk-In Permits:
6850-10 Santa Teresa Blvd., Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95119

If you would like to email the completed permit application packet (permit application(s), Well Permit Fee Calculation Form, and proof of payment), send the documents to [email protected]. Be sure to include proof of payment by following the instructions for paying by credit card.

Well permits are valid for one year from date of issuance 
Work authorized by District Well Construction, Destruction, Reconstruction, and Exploratory Boring Permits (well permits) must begin within one year from the date of the well permit issuance.  Permits will be voided if unused within one year.

Once a permit has been voided, any planned work associated with the voided permit must be completed under a new permit.  In other words, a new permit application must be submitted to the District with the associated permit fees.

Well Standards
The district regulates the construction and destruction of wells based on the district’s "Standards for the Construction and Destruction of Wells and Other Deep Excavations in Santa Clara County" and the “California Well Standards.” A condensed version of these standards is presented in the Summary of Well Standards [PDF]. If your planned work does not meet the minimum requirements of the well standards, you must contact the Well Ordinance Program Hotline (408- 630-2660) prior to initiation of permitted activity, to request a variance.

Well inspection requirements
You are required have an authorized district well inspector on site to make an inspection of the annular seal placement upon construction or reconstruction of a well and of the grouting of wells to be destroyed. The district may also make an initial inspection of each proposed work site, an inspection at the completion of the work, and inspections at such other times as it deems appropriate.

Well inspection scheduling
Upon receipt of a valid district well permit, you may schedule a well inspection. To schedule a well inspection call the district's Well Ordinance Program Hotline at (408) 630-2660. You must call to be added to our daily schedule at least 24 hours before you pour the annular seal or grout an exploratory boring or well to be destroyed.

On the day of the inspection, call the Well Ordinance Program Hotline (408) 630-2660, at least two hours before you pour a well seal.