TDLR Water Well Driller License Requirements in Texas

Quick Answer

Texas requires all water well drillers to be TDLR-licensed. You can verify a license in the TDLR online database and should always confirm before hiring.

Before a drill bit goes into the ground on any Texas property, the person operating the rig must hold a current Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Water Well Driller license. This is not optional, and it’s not a technicality — the license requirement is the state’s primary consumer protection for one of the most significant investments a rural property owner makes.

TDLR’s Role in Water Well Oversight

TDLR took over water well licensing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2019. The agency now administers:

Water Well Driller licenses (drilling, construction, plugging)
Water Well Pump Installer licenses (pump installation, service, removal)
Compliance and enforcement — investigating complaints against licensees and taking action against unlicensed operators
Completion report requirements — licensed drillers file the State of Texas Well Report with TDLR within 60 days of completing each well

License Types Explained

License Type	What It Authorizes
Water Well Driller	Drilling new wells; deepening, reworking, and plugging wells
Water Well Pump Installer	Installing, removing, and servicing pump systems in water wells
Both	Required for a contractor who drills the well AND installs the pump system

Many Texas well contractors hold both licenses and offer a complete project — drilling, casing, pump installation, pressure tank, and electrical connection. Others specialize in drilling only and subcontract the pump work. Either approach is fine as long as the licensed individual for each scope is current.

How to Verify a TDLR License

Go to the TDLR license search on the TDLR website
Search by license number or contractor name
Confirm the license type (Driller vs. Pump Installer)
Confirm the license is Active — not expired, suspended, or revoked
Confirm the licensee name matches the contractor you’re hiring

Our TDLR license number is #61234 DKMPW — verifiable in the TDLR database. We also hold an Oklahoma DPC-1042/OP-2530 license for cross-border projects.

Why the License Requirement Matters

An unlicensed driller operates without:

Accountability — no TDLR record, no complaint mechanism
Training requirements — no verified knowledge of construction standards
Completion reporting obligations — meaning your well may not be recorded in the TWDB database (a problem at resale)
Insurance requirements — unlicensed operators often carry no liability coverage

An unlicensed well is also a legal risk for the property owner. If a GCD or TDLR investigates and finds an unpermitted or unlicensed construction, enforcement actions can follow — including required plugging at the owner’s expense.

What TDLR Standards Cover

A TDLR-licensed driller is required to follow the Texas Water Well Standards under 16 TAC Chapter 76. These rules cover:

Minimum casing depth and materials
Sanitary seal requirements at the wellhead
Grouting requirements to prevent surface water intrusion
Setback distances from contamination sources
Well development and testing requirements
Plugging requirements when a well is taken out of service

These standards protect groundwater quality — not just for your household, but for neighboring wells drawing from the same aquifer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who licenses water well drillers in Texas?

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses water well drillers and water well pump installers under the Texas Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Act. TDLR assumed this responsibility from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2019. TDLR maintains the public license lookup database where you can verify any contractor's current license status.

What license types does TDLR issue for water well work?

TDLR issues two primary license types: Water Well Driller (authorizes drilling, constructing, and plugging wells) and Water Well Pump Installer (authorizes installing, maintaining, and repairing pump systems in water wells). Some contractors hold both licenses. A driller who only holds the Pump Installer license cannot legally drill your well, and a Water Well Driller who only holds the driller license cannot perform a pump installation under TDLR rules without the installer license — or they must subcontract that work.

How do I verify that a driller is currently licensed in Texas?

TDLR maintains an online license verification tool at its website where you can search by name or license number and confirm that a driller's license is active and in good standing. Always verify before signing a contract — a license number on a business card is not the same as a current, active license. You can also ask the driller to show you their current license certificate.

Can an unlicensed person drill a water well in Texas?

No. Drilling a water well without a TDLR license in Texas is a violation of the Texas Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Act and can result in civil penalties. The law contains a narrow owner-driller exemption that allows a property owner to drill on their own land for their own domestic use, but the conditions are strict and the exemption does not apply in all GCD counties or for irrigation wells. For a practical domestic well project, always hire a licensed driller.

What training and testing does a TDLR driller have to complete?

To obtain a TDLR Water Well Driller license, an applicant must complete a combination of documented field experience working under a licensed driller and pass a written examination covering well construction standards, aquifer knowledge, water quality, and Texas regulatory requirements. TDLR also requires continuing education for license renewal. The experience and examination requirements ensure that licensed drillers have a baseline of technical competency before drilling independently.

What should I look for beyond the TDLR license?

A current TDLR license is the minimum baseline. Also look for: an established local track record (years drilling in your county/region), familiarity with the local GCD permit process, evidence that they file completion reports promptly, good reviews or referrals from neighbors or Realtors, and a willingness to provide a written, line-item quote. Insurance — general liability and workers' compensation — is also important. A licensed driller should carry both.

Get Practical Next Steps

Local rules can vary by property and use. Tell us about the project and we can help you think through next steps.