Well permits in Arapahoe County
17,030 well permits — 2.8% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 150 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
17,030Permits
150 ftMedian depth
2,972Expired
16,315Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Arapahoe County
This is the part a buyer actually wants, and it is not published anywhere else. The figures below are medians over the permits where the Division was told — a mean would be carried away by a handful of industrial wells.
| Measurement | Median | 90th percentile | Colorado median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 150 ft | 800 ft | 148 ft — deeper here (9,820 permits, 58 %) |
| Yield | 12 gpm | 25 gpm | 10 gpm — higher here (3,502 permits, 21 %) |
| Static water level | 105 ft | 360 ft | 58 ft — higher here (6,665 permits, 39 %) |
What the permits allow
A well permit is not a general right to water: it names what the water may be used for, and the narrowest of them — household use only — means inside the house and nothing else.
| Decreed use | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 6,656 | 39.1% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 4,924 | 28.9% |
| Other | 969 | 5.7% |
| Not stated | 915 | 5.4% |
| Municipal | 889 | 5.2% |
| Irrigation | 829 | 4.9% |
| Commercial | 708 | 4.2% |
| Stock | 612 | 3.6% |
| Household Use Only | 172 | 1.0% |
| Geothermal | 142 | 0.8% |
| Industrial | 138 | 0.8% |
| Dewatering | 41 | 0.2% |
What happened to these permits
8,385 of the 17,030 permits in Arapahoe County ended with a well the Division was told about — 49.2%. And 2,972 expired without one: 17.5%.
An expired permit is the trap in a rural sale. A seller can produce a permit that lapsed years ago, and a permit is not a water right — the two are separate, and a purchase turns on both. What an expired permit does and does not mean.
| Status | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Well Constructed | 8,385 | 49.2% |
| Permit Expired | 2,972 | 17.5% |
| Well Abandoned | 2,328 | 13.7% |
| Permit Issued | 673 | 4.0% |
| NA | 572 | 3.4% |
| Application Information Requested | 528 | 3.1% |
| Permit Canceled | 524 | 3.1% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 279 | 1.6% |
| Application Denied | 252 | 1.5% |
| Application Received | 120 | 0.7% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 9,215 | 54.1% |
| Denver | 2,391 | 14.0% |
| Arapahoe | 1,351 | 7.9% |
| Not stated | 926 | 5.4% |
| Alluvial | 713 | 4.2% |
| Dawson | 493 | 2.9% |
| Laramie Fox Hills | 490 | 2.9% |
| Lower Dawson | 352 | 2.1% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 343 | 2.0% |
| Upper Arapahoe | 326 | 1.9% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,488 | 8.7% |
| 2010s | 1,890 | 11.1% |
| 2000s | 3,310 | 19.4% |
| 1990s | 2,854 | 16.8% |
| 1980s | 1,665 | 9.8% |
| 1970s | 1,417 | 8.3% |
| 1960s | 373 | 2.2% |
| 1950s | 797 | 4.7% |
| 1940s | 1 | 0.0% |
Buying land in Arapahoe County, or need a well drilled?
17,030 well permits are on the Division’s register in Arapahoe County, 2,972 of them expired. This site tells you what a permit says; it does not drill, and it is not advice on a water right. Tell us where and we pass the request to drillers and water-rights advisers working in Colorado.
We take no commission and we recommend no driller. We have no arrangement with any firm today — we are collecting these requests in order to go and find them. What we do with this.
Permits on record in Arapahoe County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird Estates (filing: 1) permit 341821- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1310 | 10 | 2026 |
| Mcfarland permit 342755- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 285 | 10 | 2020 |
| Thunderbird Estates permit 342733- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1310 | 10 | 2026 |
| Dove Hill permit 343281- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 470 | 0 | 1991 |
| Thunderbird Estates permit 343824- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1080 | 10 | 1998 |
| Galbraith Estates (filing: 1) permit 90498-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 360 | 25 | 2026 |
| Resolution No. 25-156 permit 339877- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 65 | 20 | 1975 |
| Southwest Bennett Properties (filing: 3) permit 337578- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 10 | 2025 |
| Strasburg Heights permit 337968- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 0 | 2025 |
| Piney Creek Ranches permit 338711- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 380 | 15 | 2025 |
| Watkins Farm permit 59171-F-R | Well Constructed | Domestic | 670 | 10 | 2025 |
| Box Elder Creek Ranches permit 338155- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 980 | 10 | 2025 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 90038-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 0 | 2025 |
| Strasburg Trails permit 90045-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 440 | 12 | 2025 |
| Parcel 4 permit 339320- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2025 |
| Watkins Ranch permit 232711--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 700 | 10 | 2025 |
| Allred permit 341012- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 803 | 14 | 2025 |
| Wolf Creek Highlands permit 340880- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 420 | 9 | 2025 |
| Chenango permit 341311- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 0 | 1979 |
| Arapahoe Meadows permit 341513- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 518 | 0 | 1999 |
| Sunrise At Bijou Creek permit 333028- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 260 | 12 | 2026 |
| Sierra permit 88855-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1270 | 0 | 2024 |
| Parcel 6 permit 88829-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 455 | 10 | 2024 |
| Krageland Acres permit 333599- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 403 | 15 | 2024 |
| Lazy Vc Bar (filing: 1) permit 334030- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1130 | 10 | 2024 |
| Hart Brown permit 333915- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 26 | 0 | 1966 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 88943-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2024 |
| Parcel D permit 333799- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 10 | 2024 |
| Piney Creek Ranches permit 92947--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 550 | 15 | 2024 |
| Box Elder Creek Ranches permit 333877- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 970 | 12 | 2024 |
| Schmitt (filing: 1) permit 334109- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 320 | 10 | 2024 |
| Thunderbird Estates (filing: 3) permit 334155- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1310 | 12 | 2024 |
| Thunderbird Estates permit 153427--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 800 | 0 | 2024 |
| Parcel 4 permit 335259- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 10 | 2024 |
| Muegge Farms permit 335050- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 8 | 2024 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 335435- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 250 | 11 | 2025 |
| Arapahoe Heights permit 336071- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 582 | 13 | 2024 |
| Chenango permit 336566- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 685 | 13 | 2025 |
| Fritzlers (filing: 1) permit 336244- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1030 | 9 | 2025 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 336261- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 0 | 2025 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 89677-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 330 | 9 | 2025 |
| Parcel 1 permit 336700- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 10 | 2025 |
| Wolf Creek Ranches permit 329461- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 9 | 2024 |
| Windermere Gardens permit 329697- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2023 |
| Parcel 4 permit 329663- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 950 | 9 | 2024 |
| Parcel 2 permit 329717- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 250 | 11 | 2023 |
| Parcel 6 permit 329830- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 500 | 9 | 2023 |
| Parcel 7 permit 329831- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 500 | 10 | 2023 |
| Parcel 8 permit 329832- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 500 | 10 | 2023 |
| Arcadain Acres permit 329871- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2023 |
| Skylark permit 88447-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 460 | 10 | 2023 |
| Skylark permit 88448-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2023 |
| Watkins Ranch permit 88077-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 970 | 12 | 2024 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 88466-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2024 |
| Muegge Farms permit 330142- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 560 | 12 | 2024 |
| Culver permit 330044--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 446 | 15 | 2023 |
| Watkins Farm permit 58229-F-R | Well Constructed | Domestic | 540 | 15 | 2023 |
| Glady's Hills permit 88214-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 380 | 9 | 2023 |
| Forest Rim Estates permit 88422-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 954 | 15 | 2024 |
| Commanche Crossing permit 88488-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 9 | 2024 |
| Forest Rim Estates permit 88424-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 964 | 0 | 2025 |
| Parcel 3 permit 331002- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 253 | 0 | 2024 |
| Our Lady of Light Monastery permit 88463-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 705 | 20 | 2023 |
| Forest Rim Estates permit 88453-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 847 | 15 | 2024 |
| Box Elder Creek Ranches permit 119522--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 970 | 1 | 2024 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 88482-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 11 | 2024 |
| Sunrise At Bijou Creek permit 332671- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 200 | 10 | 2024 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 332175- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2025 |
| Parcel 7 permit 332226- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 13 | 2024 |
| Southwest Bennett Properties permit 265357--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 610 | 12 | 2023 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 88792-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2024 |
| Parcel 2 permit 332741- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 260 | 10 | 2024 |
| Antelope (filing: 2) permit 326569- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 520 | 9 | 2022 |
| Almor Estates (filing: 2) permit 121101--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 285 | 13 | 2022 |
| South Denver Garden permit 325915- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1200 | 0 | 1935 |
| Parcel 7 permit 325145- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 800 | 12 | 2022 |
| Gun Club Estates permit 69255--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 690 | 15 | 2022 |
| Parcel 3 permit 326421- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 9 | 2022 |
| Parcel 1 permit 326323- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 340 | 0 | 2023 |
| Parcel 9 permit 326909- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2022 |
| Parcel 2 permit 326760- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 14 | 2024 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 327692- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 15 | 2023 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 326931- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 290 | 10 | 2023 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 326930- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 265 | 10 | 2023 |
| Prairie Peaks permit 326893- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 10 | 2023 |
| Parcel 2 permit 327206- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 660 | 12 | 2022 |
| Parcel 31 permit 327224- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 15 | 2023 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 326710- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 340 | 15 | 2022 |
| Piney Creek Ranches permit 50985--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 480 | 15 | 2022 |
| Parcel 2 permit 327733- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 990 | 15 | 2022 |
| Comanche Crossing permit 87327-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2023 |
| New World West permit 97700--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 760 | 13 | 2022 |
| Watkins Farm permit 85337-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 645 | 7 | 2021 |
| Chenango permit 321039- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 505 | 0 | 2000 |
| Strasburg Trails permit 85331-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 9 | 2021 |
| Muegge Farms permit 321105- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 560 | 10 | 2022 |
| Kragelund Acres permit 320710- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 245 | 13 | 2021 |
| Parcel 8 permit 321261- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 515 | 7 | 2021 |
| Piney Creek Ranch (filing: 1) permit 68752--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 235 | 15 | 2021 |
| Muegge Farms permit 321347- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 560 | 11 | 2022 |
| Arapahoe Meadows permit 321423- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 340 | 15 | 2022 |
| E11955 permit 321950- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2022 |
| E11955 permit 321951- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2022 |
| E11955 permit 321953- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 11 | 2022 |
| E11955 permit 321954- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2022 |
| Antelope Run permit 127116--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 630 | 11 | 2022 |
| Piney Creek Ranches permit 322403- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 345 | 0 | 2022 |
| Parcel 2 permit 322256- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 380 | 14 | 2021 |
| J permit 322664- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 9 | 2022 |
| Mc Farland (filing: 2) permit 322594- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 11 | 2022 |
By decreed use in Arapahoe County
Counties with a comparable register
- Adams 26,561
- Park 22,930
- Douglas 22,500
- Larimer 20,919
- Boulder 20,791
- La Plata 18,518
- Elbert 17,636
- Denver 13,096
- Pueblo 12,597
- Yuma 12,410
- Garfield 12,165
- Grand 11,297
- Teller 10,843
Neighbours by the size of their register, not a ranking: the list slides with the county you are on, so each of the 63 county pages is reachable from the others. All of them.