{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-73-3-25","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 73-3-25","heading":"Well driller's license -- Enforcement.","body":"(1) As used in this section:\n(a) \"Well\" means an open or cased excavation or borehole for diverting, using, or monitoring underground water made by any construction method.\n(b) \"Well driller\" means a person with a license to engage in well drilling for compensation or otherwise.\n(c) \"Well drilling\" means the act of:\n(i) drilling, constructing, repairing, renovating, deepening, cleaning, developing, or abandoning a well; or\n(ii) installing or repairing a pump in a well.\n(2)\n(a) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), a person who installs or repairs a pump in a well on the person's own property for the person's own use is not required to obtain a license under this section.\n(b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), a person who installs or repairs a pump in a well for compensation:\n(i) shall obtain a license as required by Subsection (3); and\n(ii) is subject to all of this section's provisions.\n(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(b), a person who performs electrical repairs on a pump in a well is not required to obtain a license as required by Subsection (3).\n(3)\n(a)\n(i) A person shall obtain a license as provided in this section before engaging in well drilling.\n(ii) The state engineer may enforce Subsection (3)(a)(i) in accordance with Sections 73-2-25 and 73-2-26.\n(b) A person applying for a well driller license shall file a well driller bond:\n(i) with the state engineer; and\n(ii) payable to the Division of Water Rights.\n(c)\n(i) Compliance with this section and the rules authorized by this section is required to obtain or renew a well driller license.\n(ii) The state engineer may refuse to issue a license if it appears an applicant violates a rule authorized by this section.\n(d) A well driller license is not transferable.\n(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the state engineer may make rules establishing:\n(a) the amount, form, and general administrative requirements of a well driller bond;\n(b) the amount of a well driller fine;\n(c) minimum well drilling standards;\n(d) well driller reporting requirements;\n(e) the requirements for obtaining a well driller license, including:\n(i) a well driller license application form;\n(ii) the license expiration date; and\n(iii) the license renewal cycle; and\n(f) a procedure to enforce a well drilling standard or other well drilling requirement.\n(5)\n(a) A well driller shall submit a report to the state engineer:\n(i) containing data relating to each well;\n(ii) within 30 days after the completion or abandonment of the well drilling;\n(iii) on forms furnished by the state engineer; and\n(iv) containing information required by the state engineer.\n(b) In accordance with Sections 73-2-25 and 73-2-26, the state engineer may commence an enforcement action against a person who fails to submit a report required by Subsection (5)(a) within 90 days of the day on which the well driller license lapses.\n(6)\n(a) A well driller shall comply with the rules authorized by this section.\n(b) If the state engineer determines that a well driller has failed to comply with a rule, the state engineer may, in accordance with the procedures established in rule:\n(i)\n(A) order that a well driller pay a fine; or\n(B) revoke or suspend the well driller's license; and\n(ii) exact the bond.\n(7)\n(a) The state engineer shall retain the money from a fine or exacting a bond as a dedicated credit.\n(b) The state engineer may expend:\n(i) money retained from a fine for:\n(A) well drilling inspection;\n(B) well drilling enforcement; or\n(C) well driller education; and\n(ii) money retained from exacting a bond to investigate or correct a deficiency by a well driller that could adversely affect the public interest resulting from noncompliance with a rule authorized by this section.","path":["Title 73 Water and Irrigation","Chapter 73-3 Appropriation"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title73/Chapter3/73-3-S25.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"17b97dda4b379d192a6fd7c8d864c17eff691acfb418709ebb746e11eb56a46c","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-73-3-23","next":"us-ut/utah-code-73-3-26"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}