MI · wells & permits

Water wells in Michigan

Real drilling records, county depth medians, active contractors, and exactly what it takes to pull a well permit in Michigan.

The permit, in plain language

Paper / PDF filinggeneric

Local health department

Part 127 PA 368/1978

Instrument: permit
Fee: Call to confirm
Who files: Driller or owner may file
Timeline: Varies

Confirm current fee with authority

Before the rig arrives

Confirm parcel allows a private well (vs required public water connection).
Select a licensed well contractor; obtain owner authorization as required.
File permit with Local health department (PDF/email/mail — WellMap prepares the packet; lawful submitter files).
Do not drill until authorization is issued (or notification accepted, per regime).

After drilling: Water Well Record via Wellogic within 30 days → Local health department

WellMap prepares estimate-backed quote packets and dual-party approvals. It does not issue permits and never auto-submits to government systems. The licensed driller (and/or owner where required by law) is the submitter of record. Verified 2026-07-14.

Top drillers on record

Contractor	Wells	Median depth
78-1607	16,202	115 ft
81-2014	11,500	102 ft
13-1593	11,246	102 ft
47-1924	10,966	91 ft
81-0524	9,544	92 ft
03-1601	7,559	79 ft
28-1244	7,536	104 ft
80-0112	7,366	90 ft
47-1861	7,201	91 ft
37-2084	7,080	89 ft

Get a depth estimate anywhere in Michigan

County by county

Depth statistics across Michigan

Medians from wells with verified total depth. Click a county for its permit authority, fee and filing channel.

County	Wells	With depth	Median	p10–p90
Oakland	70,463	69,711	89 ft	49–174 ft
Genesee	56,407	56,199	180 ft	67–247 ft
Kent	54,595	54,467	88 ft	44–185 ft
Livingston	50,176	50,103	87 ft	51–160 ft
Washtenaw	33,230	33,132	92 ft	53–173 ft
Allegan	33,025	32,905	82 ft	41–160 ft
Muskegon	28,162	28,009	46 ft	30–99 ft
Kalamazoo	26,533	26,425	85 ft	42–155 ft
Lapeer	25,068	25,025	185 ft	77–275 ft
Jackson	24,753	24,564	115 ft	61–185 ft
Ottawa	24,538	24,488	80 ft	31–200 ft
Grand Traverse	23,857	23,792	107 ft	51–225 ft
Berrien	23,764	23,650	93 ft	48–170 ft
Calhoun	21,496	21,442	100 ft	56–162 ft
Van Buren	21,254	21,208	80 ft	46–138 ft
Barry	20,250	20,146	81 ft	41–205 ft
Lenawee	19,929	19,870	86 ft	46–155 ft
Montcalm	19,098	19,043	70 ft	41–145 ft
Newaygo	18,803	18,785	74 ft	40–163 ft
Monroe	18,715	18,651	80 ft	51–128 ft
Cass	17,402	17,298	81 ft	44–146 ft
Clare	17,395	17,321	80 ft	45–152 ft
Eaton	15,954	15,834	140 ft	74–256 ft
Ingham	15,441	15,358	155 ft	95–290 ft
Roscommon	15,233	15,109	81 ft	44–165 ft
St. Clair	15,217	15,171	107 ft	52–162 ft
Clinton	14,864	14,833	216 ft	110–280 ft
Shiawassee	14,767	14,708	140 ft	49–230 ft
Gladwin	14,721	14,673	89 ft	45–260 ft
Isabella	14,384	14,358	87 ft	45–160 ft
St. Joseph	14,362	14,327	70 ft	40–132 ft
Macomb	14,295	14,237	76 ft	34–160 ft
Ionia	13,609	13,578	108 ft	47–260 ft
Mecosta	12,973	12,907	72 ft	41–152 ft
Tuscola	12,837	12,749	180 ft	100–275 ft
Hillsdale	12,406	12,352	86 ft	46–151 ft
Leelanau	12,384	12,340	105 ft	45–263 ft
Saginaw	12,379	12,353	120 ft	55–210 ft
Midland	11,811	11,793	98 ft	40–330 ft
Oceana	11,446	11,419	70 ft	35–172 ft
Ogemaw	11,025	10,969	75 ft	42–175 ft
Branch	10,347	10,299	59 ft	35–106 ft
Cheboygan	10,315	10,213	109 ft	55–234 ft
Chippewa	9,839	9,745	105 ft	52–217 ft
Antrim	9,769	9,726	104 ft	47–219 ft
Emmet	9,536	9,450	140 ft	60–320 ft
Otsego	9,281	9,212	95 ft	46–179 ft
Wexford	9,226	9,176	104 ft	50–210 ft
Marquette	9,192	9,161	78 ft	38–205 ft
Manistee	9,071	9,047	92 ft	41–195 ft
Osceola	8,905	8,845	100 ft	45–189 ft
Mason	8,619	8,599	70 ft	40–150 ft
Lake	8,505	8,482	69 ft	40–150 ft
Kalkaska	8,417	8,404	80 ft	45–168 ft
Charlevoix	7,972	7,911	101 ft	45–235 ft
Benzie	7,938	7,906	96 ft	45–203 ft
Sanilac	7,929	7,901	100 ft	40–200 ft
Iosco	7,479	7,434	70 ft	35–258 ft
Gratiot	7,165	7,136	111 ft	51–290 ft
Huron	7,081	7,045	130 ft	60–235 ft