VA · wells & permits

Water wells in Virginia

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

The permit, in plain language

Paper / PDF filinggeneric

Local health department

Va. Code §32.1-176.5; 12VAC5-630

Instrument: permit
Fee: Call to confirm
Who files: Property owner applies
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: Completion report (GW-2) 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
Sydnor	1,651	285 ft
Falwell	766	140 ft
Mitchell	557	164 ft
Dominion	424	273 ft
Pauley	360	75 ft
Nelson-Roanoke	358	293 ft
Moore	356	125 ft
Moore, C. R.	268	100 ft
Claude S. Brewer	261	90 ft
Gochenour	258	97 ft

Get a depth estimate anywhere in Virginia

County by county

Depth statistics across Virginia

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
Albemarle	1,527	1,506	122 ft	68–340 ft
Fairfax	948	931	140 ft	47–432 ft
Loudoun	750	744	105 ft	40–424 ft
Roanoke	711	701	202 ft	75–500 ft
Rockingham	671	667	193 ft	70–500 ft
Prince William	647	644	200 ft	49–490 ft
Campbell	539	537	147 ft	80–300 ft
Spotsylvania	528	524	31 ft	20–300 ft
Augusta	442	439	215 ft	73–500 ft
Southampton	406	393	180 ft	98–349 ft
Accomack	375	369	138 ft	55–311 ft
Grayson	372	371	95 ft	50–205 ft
Frederick	320	316	100 ft	50–310 ft
Shenandoah	317	315	179 ft	60–498 ft
Henry	312	310	245 ft	93–447 ft
Floyd	302	302	79 ft	49–146 ft
Fauquier	275	272	270 ft	72–505 ft
Hanover	275	272	300 ft	130–424 ft
Henrico	265	253	266 ft	122–500 ft
Pittsylvania	254	254	140 ft	78–374 ft
Amherst	241	240	115 ft	56–250 ft
Northampton	241	241	105 ft	22–280 ft
Bedford	238	238	200 ft	76–380 ft
Carroll	236	236	110 ft	70–287 ft
Chesterfield	232	228	200 ft	77–426 ft
Sussex	232	221	93 ft	32–235 ft
Franklin	226	226	219 ft	85–400 ft
Isle of Wight	221	213	355 ft	26–519 ft
Halifax	217	213	135 ft	80–322 ft
James City	210	201	290 ft	124–500 ft
Suffolk (City)	210	207	518 ft	28–953 ft
Prince George	206	199	167 ft	35–299 ft
Westmoreland	204	198	273 ft	183–601 ft
Charlotte	185	182	117 ft	72–222 ft
Norfolk (City)	184	179	100 ft	50–717 ft
King William	177	172	305 ft	156–584 ft
Northumberland	177	175	580 ft	32–751 ft
Botetourt	162	162	240 ft	103–498 ft
Essex	153	151	256 ft	25–460 ft
Page	152	151	225 ft	93–500 ft
Buckingham	151	150	96 ft	62–222 ft
Fluvanna	150	149	97 ft	64–303 ft
Surry	141	133	250 ft	23–413 ft
Rockbridge	138	138	216 ft	60–503 ft
New Kent	137	132	245 ft	90–394 ft
Caroline	134	131	294 ft	127–501 ft
Wise	134	129	300 ft	125–508 ft
Charles City	132	122	190 ft	42–324 ft
Stafford	130	127	250 ft	49–420 ft
Montgomery	128	128	215 ft	70–512 ft
Warren	121	120	150 ft	56–400 ft
Mecklenburg	113	110	250 ft	125–454 ft
Middlesex	113	112	295 ft	24–674 ft
Nelson	113	113	172 ft	63–339 ft
Louisa	111	78	200 ft	84–400 ft
Lancaster	110	104	582 ft	246–741 ft
Appomattox	105	105	125 ft	70–305 ft
King George	103	102	413 ft	50–782 ft
Washington	103	102	106 ft	50–250 ft
Patrick	98	96	110 ft	53–399 ft