Maryland Well Regulations and Licensing Law
What this domain tests
This domain tests the legal chain: license, permit, construction, reporting, and abandonment. Maryland regulates well drillers through MDE and the Well Drillers Advisory Board, while county approving authorities issue construction permits.
Licensing and permits
- A person may not drill, deepen, redevelop, or abandon a well without the appropriate Maryland license. Licenses are personal and are not transferable to an employee or company.
- Apprentices and helpers must work under the required supervision; sending an unlicensed worker alone to drill is a violation even if the company owner is licensed.
- A county construction permit is required before drilling. Holding a state license does not substitute for the local permit.
- A well completion report must be filed with MDE and the approving authority, documenting location, depth, casing, grout, screen, yield, and water quality information.
- Abandonment must follow the prescribed sealing method; simply filling the hole or leaving it open is not compliant.
Worked example
A licensed driller sends an unlicensed employee to drill a replacement well on a permitted lot. The driller argues the company is licensed and the permit exists. Both defenses fail: the license applies to the individual performing the work, and the permit authorizes the site, not an unlicensed operator. Reasoning: licensing and permitting are separate requirements, and both must be satisfied.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing the state license with the county permit; assuming a company license covers every employee; failing to file the completion report; and treating abandonment as a courtesy rather than a legal duty.