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Is a permit required to drill a domestic well within the State of Nevada?
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No. Domestic wells are the only type of water well exempt from the State Engineer's permitting process as provided under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) § 534.080 and § 534.180. Domestic use is defined under NRS § 534.013 as uses associated with culinary and household purposes directly related to a single-family dwelling, including, without limitation, the watering of a family garden and lawn and the watering of livestock and any other domestic animals or household pets, if the amount of water drawn does not exceed two acre-feet annually (about 651,700 gallons per year).
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When is the drilling of a domestic well forbidden?
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A domestic well cannot be drilled if the subject parcel of land can be physically and legally supplied water from a public water supply.
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Can I have two or more homes served by a single domestic well?
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No. Except for the provision described in NRS § 534.185, domestic use as defined under NRS § 534.013 is very specific in that the use is limited to one single-family dwelling. Multiple dwellings are considered a quasi-municipal use and thus, require a permit. A quasi-municipal well is often times referred to as a community well.
However, there is a provision in statute (NRS § 534.180(4)) allowing for the use of a domestic well for an auxiliary dwelling (often referred to as a “mother-in-law quarters”) if it is permitted by local ordinance. The owner of the well shall obtain approval for that use or purpose from the local governing body or planning commission in whose jurisdiction the well is located, install a water meter capable of measuring the total withdrawal of water from the well, and ensure the total withdrawal of water from the well does not exceed 2 acre-feet per year.
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Can I have more than one home on the same parcel of land?
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That is a local government decision. There are counties within Nevada that allow more than one livable structure on the same parcel; you should check with the local governing body. However, if more than one structure is allowed on the same parcel, a domestic well can still only serve one dwelling, which requires that the number of domestic wells equal the number of dwellings being served (see the answer to “Can I have two or more homes served by a single domestic well?” for more information). Septic tank concentration and well separation must be considered and must comply with local or state health laws.
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If water service hook-up is available for my house, do I have to connect to the service?
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The State Engineer may require the plugging of a domestic well drilled on or after July 1, 1981, at any time one year after water can be furnished by a political subdivision of the State or a public utility regulated by the public utility commission of Nevada, but only if the connecting fees are less than $200 (NRS § 534.180). Exceptions for designated basins are noted in NRS § 534.120. However, it has been the Division's policy to not require the hook-up to a water system until such time that the domestic well requires repair work requiring the setting-up of a well rig.
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