Well Permits are issued by the City of Merced Public Works - Water Quality Control Division (WQCD). A well permit is required for, but not limited to, well repair or modification, well destructions (domestic, agricultural or groundwater monitoring), groundwater monitoring wells, hydro punching, soil borings, soil vapor extraction wells, sparge wells, or any other excavations that may intersect groundwater within the City of Merced.

The WQCD inspector assigned to your well permit will hand deliver the signed well permit to the job site the day of, and prior to, work commencing.

Please provide the Water Quality Control Division 24 hours advance notice, one full regular City workday, with the date and time work is to begin.

The Well Permit Application process must be completed prior to obtaining a City of Merced Encroachment Permit; any work that encroaches on the City’s easements and/or right-of-way requires an Encroachment Permit. Upon completion of the Well Permit Application process, you will be notified by phone or email that the well permit has been approved. A copy of the well permit will not be issued until the day drilling is to commence. To obtain an Encroachment Permit please contact the City of Merced Engineering Department at 209.385.6861.

To expedite the well permit application process, the following information will be required to accompany the application. The application process will not begin until all items have been received and correct. Please refer to “Additional Permit Requirements” on page 2 of the Well Permit Application for full details.

• A copy of a current C-57 License from the hired Driller, or any substitute Driller;
• A copy of a current City of Merced Business License;
• Proof of full Workers' Compensation Insurance; (refer to No. 4 in the application attachments for specific instructions)
• Site Health & Safety Plan; and, (please note, the only hospital with an Emergency Room is Mercy Medical Center, 333 Mercy Avenue, Merced CA 95340)
• A complete Workplan, including site map and drilling locations;
• Proof of property owner permission for all parcels.

Once all items received and correct, please allow at least 10 business days to process well permit applications.

If there are any questions call the Water Quality Control Division at 209.385.6204 or email at environmentalcontrol@cityofmerced.org. 

Schedule of Filing Fees

• New well or test well permit: At cost ($75.00 min.)
• Rehabilitation and modification permit: At cost ($50.00 min.)
• Test well permit: At cost ($75.00 min)
• Destruction of well permit: No cost

Local standards pertaining to Water Wells can be found in the Merced Municipal Code, Title 8 - Health and Safety, Chapter 8.12 - Water Wells.

The standards adopted for the construction, repair, reconstruction, abandonment, or destruction of wells can be found in the State of California Department of Water Resources Bulletin 74-81 - "Water Well Standards: State of California" and supplemental Bulletin 74-90 - "California Well Standards."

Well Permit Forms