Connecticut Water Well Drilling Licensing Law

Connecticut Code · 11 sections

The following is the full text of Connecticut’s water well drilling licensing law statutes as published in the Connecticut Code. For the official version, see the Connecticut Legislature.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-47.

Sec. 14-47. Fees for registering motor vehicles eligible for commercial registration and tractors. (a) The commissioner shall determine the gross weight of each motor vehicle which is eligible for commercial registration, including each tractor equipped with rubber tires and, for the purpose of computing fees, gross weight shall be the weight of the vehicle in pounds plus the rated load capacity in pounds as determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall collect fees for registration based on such gross weight, as follows: When all surfaces in contact with the ground are equipped with pneumatic tires, the fee for such motor vehicle or tractor of gross weight not exceeding twenty thousand pounds shall be eleven dollars and sixty cents, for each one thousand pounds or fraction thereof; from twenty thousand one pounds up to and including thirty thousand pounds, fourteen dollars and twenty cents, for each one thousand pounds or fraction thereof; from thirty thousand one pounds up to and including seventy-three thousand pounds, seventeen dollars and seventy cents, for each one thousand pounds or fraction thereof; and seventy-three thousand one pounds or more, nineteen dollars and twenty cents, for each one thousand pounds or fraction thereof. In addition to any other fee required under this subsection, a fee of ten dollars shall be collected for the registration of each motor vehicle subject to this subsection.

(b) The minimum fee for any commercial registration or registration of a tractor equipped with pneumatic tires shall be forty-seven dollars.

(c) For the registration of each motor vehicle classed as an artesian well driller or well drilling equipment, however mounted, when equipped with rubber tires, the fee shall be forty dollars per annum whether the license is issued for the license year or only a portion thereof. On and after July 1, 2011, the fee shall be forty-nine dollars.

(d) For the registration of a motor vehicle equipped with a wood saw rig, if it is used for that purpose only, or a motor vehicle equipped with a spray rig used exclusively for spraying fruit trees or shrubs, when equipped with rubber tires, the fee shall be twenty-two dollars per annum whether the license is issued for the license year or only a portion thereof. On and after July 1, 2011, the fee shall be twenty-seven dollars.

(e) For all other motor vehicles which are eligible for commercial registration, including tractors equipped with rubber tires other than pneumatic tires, the fee shall be, for each such vehicle or tractor of gross weight (1) not exceeding twenty thousand pounds, one dollar and fifty cents, and on and after July 1, 1992, one dollar and seventy-five cents, for each one hundred pounds or fraction thereof, and (2) from twenty thousand and one pounds up to and including twenty-six thousand pounds, two dollars, and on and after July 1, 1992, two dollars and twenty-five cents, for each one hundred pounds or fraction thereof. The minimum fee for any such motor vehicle or tractor shall be fifty dollars. On and after July 1, 2011, the minimum fee shall be sixty dollars.

(1949 Rev., S. 2386; 1961, P.A. 581, S. 6; 1969, P.A. 759, S. 5; 1971, P.A. 355, S. 4; P.A. 75-213, S. 11, 53; P.A. 80-71, S. 25, 30; P.A. 84-254, S. 32, 62; P.A. 87-329, S. 8; P.A. 90-263, S. 11–13, 74; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-4, S. 24; P.A. 11-6, S. 140; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 208.)

History: 1961 act increased all fees; 1969 act increased fees for vehicles with pneumatic tires determined by gross weight by $0.10 per 100 pounds in each weight class, increased minimum fees for such vehicles from $13 to $17, for well drillers with rubber tires from $13 to $20, for rubber-tired vehicles with wood saw rig or spray rig from $7 to $11 and increased fees for vehicles with rubber tires determined by gross weight by $0.25 per 100 pounds in each weight class with minimum fee increased from $16 to $24; 1971 act added exception re tractors restricted for use with trailers registered as heavy-duty trailers; P.A. 75-213 increased fees for vehicles with pneumatic tires determined on gross weight by $0.15, $0.20 and $0.25 per 100 pounds with higher increases for heavier classes, increased minimum fee for such vehicles to $22, for rubber-tired well drillers to $26, for rubber-tired vehicles with wood saw rig or spray rig to $14 and increased fees for vehicles with rubber tires determined by gross weight by $0.25 and $0.30 per 100 pounds with higher increase for heavier class and with minimum fee increased to $32; P.A. 80-71 added heavier class in provisions re vehicles with pneumatic tires; P.A. 84-254 divided section into Subsecs., increased the fees for registration of commercial vehicles, with the increases taking effect as of July first of 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1992; P.A. 87-329 maintained the fees at the levels existing on and after July 1, 1986, and decreased the fees effective July 1, 1992, to the levels formerly existing on and after July 1, 1988; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute motor vehicle eligible for commercial registration for commercial motor vehicle, amended Subsec. (b) to specify minimum fee for any commercial registration or registration of a tractor, deleting reference to commercial motor vehicle and amended Subsec. (e) to substitute motor vehicles eligible for commercial registration for commercial motor vehicles; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-4 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees for registration of commercial vehicles based on weight of vehicle, to add an additional fee of $10 for each registration and to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality and amended Subsec. (b) to increase minimum fee for commercial registration or registration of tractor equipped with pneumatic tires to $44, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 11-6 increased fees in Subsec. (a) for vehicle not over 20,000 pounds, from $1.16 per hundred pounds to $11.60 per thousand pounds, for vehicle between 20,001 and 30,000 pounds, from $1.42 per hundred pounds to $14.20 per thousand pounds, for vehicle between 30,001 and 73,000 pounds, from $1.77 per hundred pounds to $17.70 per thousand pounds, and for vehicle over 73,000 pounds, from $1.92 per hundred pounds to $19.20 per thousand pounds, in Subsec. (b) for commercial registration from $44 to $47, in Subsec. (c) for well driller from $46 to $49, in Subsec. (d) for vehicle with wood saw rig or spray rig from $25 to $27, and in Subsec. (e) for minimum fee for other vehicles or tractors from $56 to $60, effective July 1, 2011; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision re method of determining fee for a tractor restricted for use with a trailer, effective June 30, 2015.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-331.

Sec. 20-331. Examining boards. (a) There shall be in the Department of Consumer Protection separate examining boards for each of the following occupations: (1) Electrical work; (2) plumbing and piping work; (3) heating, piping, cooling and sheet metal work; (4) elevator installation, repair and maintenance work; (5) fire protection sprinkler systems work; and (6) automotive glass work and flat glass work.

(b) The Electrical Work Board shall consist of twelve members who shall be residents of this state, one of whom shall be a general contractor or an unlimited contractor licensed for such occupation under this chapter, two of whom shall be unlimited contractors licensed for such occupation under this chapter, neither of whom at the time of appointment shall be a member or an employee of a member of a trade union or a party or an employee of a party to a contract with a trade union, one of whom shall be an electronic technician licensed under chapter 394, four of whom shall be unlimited journeymen licensed for such occupation under this chapter, who at the time of appointment shall be members of a trade union and four of whom shall be public members.

(c) The Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Board shall consist of twelve members who shall be residents of this state and, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, (1) one of whom shall be a general contractor or an unlimited contractor licensed to perform heating, piping and cooling work under this chapter, (2) two of whom shall be unlimited contractors licensed to perform heating, piping and cooling work under this chapter, neither of whom at the time of appointment shall be a member or an employee of a member of a trade union or a party or an employee of a party to a contract with a trade union, (3) one of whom shall be a limited contractor licensed to perform sheet metal work under this chapter, provided such member's powers and duties on the board shall be limited to matters concerning sheet metal work, as defined in subdivision (13) of section 20-330, (4) three of whom shall be unlimited journeymen licensed to perform heating, piping and cooling work under this chapter, who at the time of appointment shall be members of a trade union, (5) one of whom shall be a journeyman sheet metal worker, who at the time of appointment shall be a member of a trade union, provided such member's powers and duties shall be limited to matters concerning sheet metal work, as defined in subdivision (13) of section 20-330, and (6) four of whom shall be public members. Each person who is a member of the board on October 1, 1999, shall continue to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Only the members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (1), (3), (5) and (6) of this subsection may consider and act upon matters concerning sheet metal work, as defined in subdivision (13) of section 20-330.

(d) The Plumbing and Piping Work Board shall consist of twelve members who shall be residents of this state, one of whom shall be a general contractor or an unlimited contractor licensed for such occupations under this chapter, two of whom shall be unlimited contractors licensed for such occupations under this chapter, neither of whom at the time of appointment shall be a member or an employee of a member of a trade union or a party or an employee of a party to a contract with a trade union, one of whom shall be a well drilling contractor licensed pursuant to section 25-129, four of whom shall be unlimited journeymen licensed for such occupations under this chapter, who at the time of appointment shall be members of a trade union, and four of whom shall be public members.

(e) The Elevator Installation, Repair and Maintenance Board shall consist of eight members who shall be residents of this state, three of whom shall be unlimited contractors, two of whom shall be elevator craftsmen, licensed for such occupation under this chapter, and three of whom shall be public members, provided at least one of the unlimited contractors shall be a member of either the National Association of Elevator Contractors or the National Elevator Industries, Incorporated.

(f) The Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems Board shall consist of nine members who shall be residents of this state, two of whom shall be journeymen sprinkler fitters, two of whom shall be fire protection sprinkler contractors, three of whom shall be public members, one of whom shall be a representative of the State Fire Marshal and one of whom shall be a local fire marshal.

(g) The Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Board shall consist of eight members who shall be residents of this state, one of whom shall be a general contractor or an unlimited contractor licensed to perform automotive glass work under this chapter, one of whom shall be a general contractor or an unlimited contractor licensed to perform flat glass work under this chapter, one of whom shall be an unlimited contractor licensed to perform automotive glass work under this chapter, one of whom shall be an unlimited contractor licensed to perform flat glass work under this chapter, one of whom shall be an unlimited journeyman licensed to perform flat glass work under this chapter and three of whom shall be public members. The initial members appointed under this subsection need not be licensed to perform such work under this chapter before January 1, 2001, provided such initial members shall satisfy the applicable criteria set forth in subsection (e) of section 20-334a. On and after January 1, 2001, each member appointed under this subsection shall be licensed as provided in this subsection.

(h) The contractor and journeymen or elevator craftsmen members of each board established under this section shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of names submitted by employers' and employees' associations in the respective occupations. The Governor may fill any vacancy occurring in the membership of any such board, may remove any member for cause, after notice and hearing, and shall remove any licensed member whose license is not renewed or whose license has become void, revoked or suspended. Each member of such boards shall, before entering upon the duties of such member's office, take the oath provided by law for public officers. Members shall not be compensated for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(February, 1965, P.A. 493, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 789, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 184, 610; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-11, S. 11, 19; P.A. 82-404, S. 2, 4; P.A. 85-352; P.A. 86-293; P.A. 87-588, S. 3, 8; P.A. 89-25, S. 1, 3; 89-164, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-151, S. 2, 4; 93-435, S. 57, 95; P.A. 98-3, S. 24; P.A. 99-73, S. 2; 99-170, S. 2; 99-253, S. 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 06-126, S. 1; P.A. 10-9, S. 8.)

History: 1967 act updated statute to conform with Sec. 20-330 and to provide for appointment of members replacing original members, changed requirement that 4 of members be contractors or journeymen, specified contractor, journeymen or craftsmen members be licensed rather than eligible to be licensed and that such licenses be unlimited and changed date for submitting list of names to governor from July first to May first of year in which appointments are to be made; P.A. 77-614 placed boards within consumer protection department, increased number of members from 5 to 7, deleted member who is not engaged in profession or eligible for license, added 3 public members, deleted provision setting May first date for submission of list of nominees, July first appointment date and six-year terms and deleted provision for biennial election of board officers, effective January 1, 1979; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-11 replaced provision whereby members received “only necessary and reasonable expenses” incidental to duties with provision specifying that members receive no compensation but are to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing duties; P.A. 82-404 increased membership of elevator installation and maintenance board from 7 to 8, adding one unlimited contractor to the board, and required that at least one of the unlimited contractors be a member of one of two specified professional associations; P.A. 85-352 provided that the electrical examining board shall include a general contractor among its members, increasing the membership from 7 to 8; P.A. 86-293 increased the membership of the heating, piping and cooling board and the plumbing and piping board from 7 to 9 members, required that such boards include a general contractor and increased number of journeymen members from 2 to 3; P.A. 87-588 established the fire protection sprinkler systems board, effective July 1, 1988; P.A. 89-25 removed the requirement that members of the plumbing and piping board, heating, piping and cooling board, electrical board and elevator installation, repair and maintenance board who are required to be licensed for the occupation overseen by the board on which they serve also be engaged in such occupation; P.A. 89-164 reorganized the membership of the electrical, plumbing and piping and heating, piping and cooling boards, effective July 1, 1991; P.A. 93-151 increased the membership of the plumbing and piping work board from 6 members to 12 members by adding a registered well driller, an unlimited journeyman and a public member effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-435 substituted reference to registration for reference to licensure of well drilling contractors, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 98-3 divided section into Subsecs. and made technical changes; P.A. 99-73 divided existing Subsec. (b) into new Subsec. (b) increasing the membership of the Electrical Work Board from 9 to 12 members and specifying their qualifications, and new Subsec. (c) describing the Heating, Piping and Cooling Work Board, relettering the existing Subsecs. accordingly and making technical changes; P.A. 99-170 made gender neutral change, amended Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (6) placing the Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Examining Board within the department, inserted Subsec. (g) to establish the membership of the Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Board and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 99-253 amended Subsec. (a) to expand jurisdiction of heating, piping and cooling examining board to include sheet metal work, amended Subsec. (b) to delete the reference to the Heating, Piping and Cooling Work Board, creating a new Subsec. (c) re Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Board, and relettered the remaining Subsecs. accordingly; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 06-126 amended Subsec. (c) to specify that only members appointed pursuant to Subdivs. (1), (3), (5) and (6) may consider and act upon matters concerning sheet metal work; P.A. 10-9 amended Subsec. (g) by reducing number of board members from 9 to 8 and deleting requirement re board member who is an unlimited journeyman licensed to perform automotive glass work, effective May 5, 2010.

See Sec. 4-9a for definition of “public member”.

See Secs. 21a-6 to 21a-10, inclusive, re control, powers and duties of boards within Department of Consumer Protection.

Cited. 209 C. 719.

Cited. 22 CA 181.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-428.

Sec. 20-428. Exemptions. This chapter shall not apply to any of the following persons or organizations: (1) The government of the state, municipalities of the state or any department or agency of the state or such municipalities; (2) the government of the United States or any of its departments or agencies; (3) any school, public or private, offering as part of a vocational education program courses and training in any aspect of home improvements; and (4) any person holding a current professional or occupational license issued pursuant to the general statutes, and any person registered pursuant to sections 25-126 to 25-137, inclusive, provided such person engages only in that work for which such person is licensed or registered.

(P.A. 79-606, S. 11, 14; P.A. 90-233, S. 1; P.A. 91-99; P.A. 02-82, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 90-233 extended exemption to those holding licenses under chapter 390, 391 or 393; P.A. 91-99 exempted persons holding a current professional or occupational license from provisions of chapter, deleting reference to licenses issued under chapter 390, 391 or 393; P.A. 02-82 exempted well drilling contractors registered pursuant to Secs. 25-126 to 25-137, inclusive, provided work engaged in is only that work for which contractor is registered, and made technical change for purpose of gender neutrality.

Cited. 224 C. 231; 240 C. 654.

Cited. 33 CA 294; 42 CA 124. Licensed professional exemption applied to professional engineer who drew up plans for home addition and supervised construction. 123 CA 10.

Subdiv. (4):

Cited. 40 CA 351. Licensed public adjusters are exempt from act pursuant to Subdiv. 58 CA 8. Licensed professional exemption applies to plumber's activities to restore site to its original condition which were ancillary to plumbing work for which he was licensed. 115 CA 457.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-126.

Sec. 25-126. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Well” means an artificial excavation or opening in the ground, by which groundwater can be obtained or through which it flows under natural pressure or is artificially withdrawn;

(2) “Abandoned well” means a well whose use has been permanently discontinued;

(3) “Groundwater” means subsurface water;

(4) “Well drilling” means and includes the industry, procedure and all operations engaged in by any person, full time or part time, for compensation or otherwise, to obtain water from a well or wells by drilling, or other methods, for any purpose or use;

(5) “Well driller” means a person who engages in well drilling;

(6) “Person” includes an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or organization, or any combination thereof;

(7) “Board” means the examining board for plumbing and piping work;

(8) “Water-supply well” means a well constructed for the purpose of obtaining or providing water for drinking or other domestic, industrial, commercial, agricultural or recreational use;

(9) “Non-water-supply well” means any well other than a water-supply well.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 30, 55; P.A. 95-79, S. 104, 189; P.A. 96-17, S. 1.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 in Subdiv. (7) changed Connecticut well drilling board to examining board for plumbing and piping work; P.A. 95-79 redefined “person” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 96-17 added definitions of “water-supply well” and “non-water-supply well”.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-127.

Sec. 25-127. Connecticut Well Drilling Board. Section 25-127 is repealed.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 139; P.A. 77-614, S. 179, 323, 610; P.A. 80-184; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-11, S. 14, 19; P.A. 82-431, S. 1, 6; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 54, 55.)

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-128.

Sec. 25-128. Duties of board. Well Drilling Code. (a) For the purpose of safeguarding the public health, the board shall promote and encourage cooperation among well drillers and governmental agencies in the development and protection of records of underground water formations and resources. The board shall prepare and print such bulletins as may be necessary for the benefit of the industry and furnish copies to the industry and to the public upon request.

(b) (1) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, with the advice and assistance of the board, shall promulgate, in accordance with chapter 54, regulations for the well drilling industry in cooperation with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, with due regard for the preservation of public health, the preservation, allocation and management of the groundwater of the state, the protection of the consuming public and the maintenance of geological and other scientific data. Such regulations, together with the regulatory provisions of this chapter and the section of the Public Health Code relating to wells, shall be collectively known as the Connecticut Well Drilling Code. From time to time, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, with the advice and assistance of the board, shall similarly adopt such amendments or additions to such regulations as are necessary and proper governing the construction, repair and abandonment of wells. (2) Said Well Drilling Code shall be enforced and violations thereof shall be punished in the same manner as is provided for the Public Health Code of the state by sections 19a-36 and 19a-207.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 140; P.A. 75-567, S. 16, 80; P.A. 77-614, S. 180, 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-17, S. 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: 1971 act replaced water resources commission with department of environmental protection; P.A. 75-567 substituted chapter “54” for chapter “48” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 77-614 transferred board's regulatory power to commissioner of consumer protection, retaining board in an advisory capacity, and substituted department of health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-17 amended Subsec. (b) to change reference to “water wells” to simply “wells”; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (b)(1), effective July 1, 2011.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-129.

Sec. 25-129. Certificate of registration. Insurance requirement. Limited contractor and limited journeyperson well casing extension certificates of registration. Regulations. (a) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, with the advice and assistance of the board, shall establish the requirements of registration for well drilling contractors. Each person, before engaging in the business of well drilling or pump installing, shall obtain annually from the Department of Consumer Protection a certificate of registration as a well drilling contractor, using an application blank prepared by said department. Each application for issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration shall be accompanied by a certificate of liability coverage for bodily injury of at least one hundred thousand dollars per person with an aggregate of at least three hundred thousand dollars and for property damage of at least fifty thousand dollars per accident with an aggregate of at least one hundred thousand dollars. The applicant shall pay a registration fee of eighty-eight dollars with the application and an annual renewal registration fee of two hundred fifty dollars for renewals on and after April 1, 1984. A certificate of registration is not transferable and expires annually. A lost, destroyed or mutilated registration certificate may be replaced by a duplicate upon payment of a lost fee of fifteen dollars.

(b) A well drilling contractor shall place in a conspicuous location on both sides of his well drilling machine his registration number in letters not less than two inches high.

(c) A governmental unit engaged in water-supply well drilling shall be registered under this chapter, but shall be exempt from paying the registration fees. A governmental unit engaged in non-water-supply well drilling shall be exempt from the requirements for registration under this chapter if the drilling is done by regular employees of, and with equipment owned by, the unit and the work is on non-water-supply wells intended for use by the governmental unit.

(d) This chapter shall not restrict a plumber or electrician from engaging in the trade for which he has been licensed.

(e) (1) A certificate of registration may be refused, or a certificate of registration duly issued may be suspended or revoked, or the renewal thereof refused by the board if said board has good and sufficient reason to believe or finds that the applicant for or the holder of such a certificate has: (A) Made a material misstatement in the application for a registration of any application for renewal thereof; or (B) obtained the registration through wilful fraud or misrepresentation; or (C) demonstrated gross incompetency to act as a well driller; or (D) been guilty of failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the State Well Drilling Code, as from time to time amended; or (E) refused to file reports of wells drilled as required by subsection (a) of section 25-131; or (F) been found guilty by the board, the Commissioner of Public Health or by a court of competent jurisdiction, of any fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetency or misconduct in the industry, operations or business of well drilling.

(2) Before any certificate of registration shall be refused, suspended or revoked, or the renewal thereof refused, the board shall give notice of the intended action and afford opportunity for hearing in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(3) Appeal from the decisions of the board may be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(4) After one year from the date of refusal or revocation of a registration, application to register may be made again by the person affected.

(f) The department shall prepare a roster of all registered well drillers and distribute it annually to the local director of health or his agent and the building inspector, if there is one, of each town. The posting of such roster on the Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site shall constitute compliance with the requirements of this section.

(g) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, with the advice and assistance of the board, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish certificates of registration for limited contractor and limited journeyperson well casing extension. Such certificates of registration shall permit persons licensed to perform plumbing and piping work pursuant to chapter 393 to perform well casing extension, repair and maintenance work. Upon initial application, an applicant shall demonstrate knowledge of well casing extension, repair and maintenance work by passing an examination subject to the provisions of section 20-333. The applicant shall pay a registration fee of fifty dollars upon initial application and an annual renewal registration fee of fifty dollars. A certificate of registration under this subsection is nontransferable and expires annually.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 4; P.A. 76-436, S. 600, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 110, 125; 77-614, S. 181, 182, 323, 610; P.A. 80-205, S. 4, 6; P.A. 81-361, S. 38, 39; P.A. 82-431, S. 2, 6; 82-472, S. 99, 183; P.A. 83-574, S. 18, 20; P.A. 89-251, S. 159, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-36, S. 37, 42; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 27, 130; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-17, S. 3; P.A. 03-68, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c), (d), (h); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-217, S. 122; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 302; P.A. 10-9, S. 5; P.A. 13-196, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provisions with requirement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 transferred responsibility for establishing registration requirements from board to consumer protection commissioner, retaining board in advisory capacity, deleted detailed hearing procedure in Subsec. (e), requiring instead that notice be given of intended action and that opportunity for hearing be given in accordance with regulations established by commissioner, replaced previous appeal provision with requirement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183 and replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-205 deleted August first as deadline for distribution of roster and deleted requirement that roster be distributed to town clerk in Subsec. (f); P.A. 81-361 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to provide that registration certificates are obtained from the department instead of the board, that application blanks are to be prepared by the department and that the department, not the board, furnishes seals for certificates; P.A. 82-431 eliminated regulations relating to proficiency and financial resources required for registration, imposed certificate of insurance requirement, increased renewal fee from $25 to $100, provided for renewal in holder's birth month commencing January 1, 1983 and transferred duty to prepare roster from the board to the department; P.A. 82-472 made a technical correction in Subsec. (a); P.A. 83-574 amended section to provide for $25 renewal fee for renewals prior to April 1, 1984, and $100 fee on and after that date, effective July 8, 1983, and applicable to registration renewed on or after January 1, 1983; P.A. 89-251 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the registration fee from $35 to $44, to increase the renewal fee from $100 to $125, to increase the late fee from $10 to $13, to increase the replacement fee and fee for additional seals from $2 to $3; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-36 deleted the reference to the “April thirtieth” certificate of registration expiration date and the provision allowing late renewal of certificate of registration fees in Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 1995; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-17 amended Subsec. (b) to change “Connecticut registered water well drilling contractor” to “Connecticut registered well drilling contractor” and amended Subsec. (c) to replace reference to “municipal unit” with “governmental unit” and to exempt non-water-supply well drilling by such units from the requirements of this chapter; P.A. 03-68 added new Subsec. (g) re certificates of registration for limited contractor and limited journeyperson well casing extension, effective July 1, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Commissioner and Department of Consumer Protection with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 12, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsecs. (a) and (g) to increase fees; P.A. 10-9 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions requiring 1 seal to be issued to each registrant and re $3 fee for additional seals and amended Subsec. (b) to delete requirement re seal to be affixed adjacent to registration number, effective May 5, 2010; P.A. 13-196 amended Subsec. (f) to add provision re posting of roster on department's web site to constitute compliance with requirements of section, effective June 21, 2013.

See Sec. 21a-4(c) re fines for late registration renewals.

See Sec. 21a-10(b) re staggered schedule for registration renewals.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-130.

Sec. 25-130. Permit to drill. Before commencing work on any water-supply well, the registered well driller shall apply to the board for a permit to drill such well. A fee of five dollars shall accompany such application. If the water-supply well conforms to the Well Drilling Code, as from time to time amended, the board shall issue such permit which shall contain the name and address of the well driller, the date of issuance and the specific location of the well. The driller shall then submit the permit with a fee to be determined by the legislative body of a town, city or borough or the board of a district department of health, as the case may be, to the local director of health or his agent who shall sign such permit if said proposed water-supply well conforms to the Public Health Code. No water-supply well shall be drilled until such a permit is issued and countersigned and until the driller has informed his client, in writing, that well drilling is subject to regulation by the Department of Consumer Protection and that complaints may be directed to that department.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 5; P.A. 82-431, S. 3, 6; P.A. 83-207; P.A. 89-251, S. 160, 203; P.A. 96-17, S. 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 82-431 required permit to show “specific” rather than “approximate” location of well and well driller to inform client, in writing, that complaints may be made to the department; P.A. 83-207 provided that the permit fee, formerly $1, should be set by the local authority; P.A. 89-251 increased the application fee from $4 to $5; P.A. 96-17 changed references to “wells” to “water-supply wells”; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-131.

Sec. 25-131. Well records. Drilling, excavating and pumping activities affecting underground water resources. (a) Within sixty days, or other period established by the board, after the completion of a water-supply well, a well drilling contractor shall provide the owner, the board and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with a copy of a record indicating the well owner's name and address, location of the well, well depth, geologic materials and thickness of materials penetrated, amount of casing, static water levels and any other information which may be required by the regulations adopted under this chapter. Standard forms for the record shall be provided by the board. A record for a drive point well where no earth materials are removed from the well bore shall be sufficient if the owner's name, well location, depth, casing, static water level and screen data are indicated. Such records shall bear the signed statement of the local director of health that he has approved such well.

(b) Drilling, excavating and pumping associated with the oil, gas or brine well industries and the construction, quarrying and mining industries and the disposal of any materials shall be subject to this chapter only insofar as they relate to the pollution and depletion of underground water resources.

(c) Within sixty days, or other period established by the board, after completion of a non-water-supply well, a well drilling contractor shall provide the owner, the board, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the local director of health or his agent with a copy of a record indicating the well owner's name and address, well depth, geologic materials and thickness of materials penetrated, amount and type of casing, static water levels, a site map indicating the location of the well and any other information which may be required by the regulations adopted under section 25-128.

(d) The abandonment of non-water-supply wells shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations adopted under section 25-128 regarding abandonment of wells.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 6; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 141; P.A. 96-17, S. 5; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: 1971 act replaced water resources commission with department of environmental protection in Subsec. (a); P.A. 96-17 amended Subsec. (a) to apply previously existing provisions to water-supply wells and added new Subsecs. (c) and (d) re records for non-water-supply wells and abandonment of non-water-supply wells, respectively; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-135.

Sec. 25-135. Penalty. Any person who engages in well drilling or offers to engage in well drilling, or advertises or holds himself out or acts temporarily or otherwise as a well driller, without first having obtained the required registration and any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.

(1969, P.A. 659, S. 10; P.A. 12-80, S. 20.)

History: P.A. 12-80 replaced provision re violation of the Public Health Code with provision re fine of not more than $250.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-9.

Sec. 25-9. Registration of well drillers. Permit. Report. Section 25-9 is repealed.

(1955, S. 2118d; 1957, P.A. 364, S. 15; 1959, P.A. 378, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 187; 1967, P.A. 735; 1969, P.A. 659, S. 13.)

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

PART II

REMOVAL OF SAND AND GRAVEL

Secs. 25-10 to 25-12. Transferred to Chapter 446i, Secs. 22a-383 to 22a-385, inclusive.

(Return to Chapter Table of Contents) (Return to List of Chapters) (Return to List of Titles)

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)