Well Management
Fees

Effective July 1, 2009

State fees for well construction notifications, well sealing notifications, variance requests, permits, licenses, rig/hoist registrations, and well disclosures are collected by the Minnesota Department of Health Well Management Section. The fee schedule (authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 103I) is as follows:

Permits and variance requests will not be reviewed and notifications and licenses will not be valid until sufficient funds have been submitted to the MDH. The county recorder will not accept submittal of well disclosure certificates without the appropriate fee.

The 2009 Legislature has passed Session Law Chapter 79, Article 10, which eliminates the exemption for federal, state, and local governmental entities from paying fees for wells and borings. Beginning on July 1, 2009, governmental agencies will now be required to pay all fees including notification, permit, variance, maintenance permit, and license fees. The only exceptions are for Native American reservations and Federal Military installations, where an exception is provided in federal law.

Well fees in jurisdictions of delegated well programs are established by the delegated program. Contractors should check with the delegated program for fee amounts and any other administrative requirements.

* The Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology (OET) recently sponsored and the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation requiring a 10 percent surcharge of no less than $5 and no more than $150 on each business, commercial, professional, or occupational license. The funding from this surcharge will go to OET, which will establish an electronic licensing system for the state. The surcharge will be in place through June 30, 2015. See Laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 101, Article 2, Section 59.

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Where can I get more information or help?

If you have any questions about wells or well water quality in Minnesota, contact your local Minnesota Department of Health office and ask to talk with a well specialist or contact the Well Management Section Central Office at health.wells@state.mn.us or at 651-201-4600 or 800-383-9808. Deaf and hard-of-hearing: TTY 651-201-5797.