Well construction and sealing in Dakota County requires a permit. A licensed well contractor normally completes the permit application.
Permit applications are available for various types of well construction and well sealing:
Water Supply Well Construction Permit Application
Dewatering Well Construction and Sealing Permit Application
Environmental Well Construction Permit Application
Product Recovery Well Construction Permit Application
Well Reconstruction Permit Application
Permanent Well Sealing Permit Application
Permit fees
2026 Well Permit Fees
Required water test
County Ordinance 114 requires new and reconstructed wells and wells on transferred properties to be tested for:
- Coliform bacteria
- Arsenic
- Nitrate-nitrogen
- Manganese
The lab must be certified by the Minnesota Department of Health for the parameters analyzed. To find a certified lab, go to
Search for Accredited Laboratories. Choose
Customize Search.
The following is a list of local certified labs for arsenic, nitrate-nitrogen and manganese.
| Tri-City/William Lloyd Analytical Lab | Bloomington | 952-563-4904 |
| A.W. Research Laboratories, Inc. | Brainerd | 218-829-7974 |
RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc.
| Burnsville | 952-456-8470 |
| Alliance Technical Group, LLC DBA Interpoll Laboratories | Circle Pines | 763-786-6020 |
| UC Laboratory | Janesville | 507-234-5835 |
Pace Analytical Services, LLC
| Minneapolis | 612-607-1700 |
| EMSL Analytical, Inc. | New Hope | 763-449-4922 |
| Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, Inc. | New Ulm | 507-354-8517 |
| Legend Technical Services, Inc. | St. Paul | 651-642-1150
|
Unused wells
Owners of unused wells must apply for a permit and renew that permit annually to keep an unused well. The annual permit fee is designated on the permit application form and must be submitted with the application. Permits are approved or denied based on the condition of the well and its potential to deplete or degrade groundwater.
To request an Unused Well Permit application, please send an email to
wellpermits@co.dakota.mn.us with an explanation of why the well cannot be sealed at this time by a licensed well contractor.
A property (parcel) identification number (PIN) is required on any well permit application. Use Dakota County's
Property Information Online to find the PIN.
Wells in the Prairie du Chien Aquifer
Dakota County maintains an online map showing areas where it is permitted or not permitted to complete a potable water supply well in the Prairie du Chien Aquifer. The map was last updated in December 2014.
See the Prairie du Chien Permitted/Not Permitted map.