MO · wells & permits

Water wells in Missouri

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

The permit, in plain language

No pre-drill permitgeneric

MoDNR MGS Well Installation

contractor annual permit

Pre-drill gate: None — report after drilling
Fee: —
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.
No statewide pre-drill permit for typical domestic wells — confirm local/district overlays.
Still complete post-drill filing (registration / well log) on the deadline below.

After drilling: Report via WIMS 2.0 within 60 days → MoDNR MGS Well Installation

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
TIMOTHY	3,740	220 ft
THOMAS	3,447	100 ft
GREG	2,394	310 ft
MARK	2,284	170 ft
JEREMY	2,242	240 ft
JOHN	2,053	14 ft
DAVID	1,915	17 ft
BRANDON	1,887	120 ft
LLOYD	1,358	280 ft
GREGORY	1,315	150 ft

Get a depth estimate anywhere in Missouri

County by county

Depth statistics across Missouri

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
Franklin	8,090	1,812	175 ft	97–265 ft
Jefferson	7,365	2,067	200 ft	110–375 ft
Greene	6,945	2,270	290 ft	100–410 ft
Webster	5,873	2,173	200 ft	120–300 ft
Camden	5,534	1,851	140 ft	50–280 ft
Newton	5,423	1,548	246 ft	80–440 ft
Christian	5,335	1,727	320 ft	143–460 ft
Polk	4,548	1,729	200 ft	130–300 ft
St. Francois	4,409	1,113	165 ft	87–366 ft
Stoddard	4,258	1,461	18 ft	10–65 ft
Stone	4,178	1,515	310 ft	140–500 ft
Barry	3,949	1,429	310 ft	133–480 ft
Morgan	3,943	1,432	100 ft	40–210 ft
Benton	3,903	1,471	120 ft	40–250 ft
Howell	3,866	1,247	160 ft	60–342 ft
Lincoln	3,688	581	240 ft	50–420 ft
Lawrence	3,664	1,506	290 ft	140–412 ft
Dallas	3,574	1,347	180 ft	105–272 ft
St. Charles	3,351	578	243 ft	21–400 ft
Washington	3,307	1,105	120 ft	60–240 ft
New Madrid	3,243	1,254	12 ft	8–23 ft
Jasper	3,202	960	202 ft	120–421 ft
Taney	3,186	1,164	280 ft	125–540 ft
Phelps	3,186	582	146 ft	65–260 ft
Miller	3,021	941	120 ft	60–220 ft
Crawford	2,989	814	150 ft	65–240 ft
Pettis	2,984	1,267	92 ft	35–250 ft
Texas	2,911	1,221	160 ft	60–300 ft
Warren	2,901	602	240 ft	90–400 ft
Douglas	2,852	1,210	180 ft	50–325 ft
Wright	2,845	1,165	200 ft	100–350 ft
Butler	2,821	1,223	35 ft	15–160 ft
Cole	2,684	619	140 ft	62–240 ft
Dunklin	2,551	1,332	16 ft	6–40 ft
Cape Girardeau	2,332	787	160 ft	15–390 ft
McDonald	2,287	782	387 ft	96–584 ft
Ozark	2,219	906	200 ft	77–330 ft
Gasconade	2,028	493	160 ft	60–264 ft
Scott	2,019	791	12 ft	6–140 ft
Cedar	2,019	819	247 ft	60–405 ft
Dent	1,970	714	155 ft	65–320 ft
Bollinger	1,956	601	150 ft	23–280 ft
St. Clair	1,915	748	230 ft	105–350 ft
Pemiscot	1,897	1,182	14 ft	8–22 ft
Osage	1,884	413	140 ft	60–240 ft
Hickory	1,877	784	240 ft	117–380 ft
Laclede	1,777	707	190 ft	110–300 ft
St. Louis	1,711	380	240 ft	60–400 ft
Ste. Genevieve	1,695	481	168 ft	85–318 ft
Oregon	1,612	657	120 ft	45–272 ft
Pulaski	1,498	429	180 ft	80–305 ft
Moniteau	1,493	486	140 ft	60–300 ft
Shannon	1,436	625	180 ft	40–310 ft
Maries	1,416	344	120 ft	40–220 ft
Madison	1,335	428	155 ft	62–300 ft
Dade	1,316	678	244 ft	70–417 ft
Perry	1,280	288	200 ft	90–465 ft
Montgomery	1,228	187	200 ft	58–368 ft
Wayne	1,159	351	125 ft	21–272 ft
Henry	1,080	378	240 ft	74–420 ft