Well permits in Boulder County
20,791 well permits — 3.5% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 145 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
20,791Permits
145 ftMedian depth
3,073Expired
3,742Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Boulder 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 | 145 ft | 500 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (13,854 permits, 67 %) |
| Yield | 7 gpm | 15 gpm | 10 gpm — lower here (3,958 permits, 19 %) |
| Static water level | 30 ft | 150 ft | 58 ft — lower here (9,604 permits, 46 %) |
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 | 8,225 | 39.6% |
| Household Use Only | 5,582 | 26.8% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 3,864 | 18.6% |
| Other | 824 | 4.0% |
| Not stated | 773 | 3.7% |
| Geothermal | 453 | 2.2% |
| Commercial | 361 | 1.7% |
| Irrigation | 308 | 1.5% |
| Municipal | 187 | 0.9% |
| Stock | 105 | 0.5% |
| Dewatering | 64 | 0.3% |
| Industrial | 34 | 0.2% |
What happened to these permits
12,169 of the 20,791 permits in Boulder County ended with a well the Division was told about — 58.5%. And 3,073 expired without one: 14.8%.
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 | 12,169 | 58.5% |
| Permit Expired | 3,073 | 14.8% |
| Well Abandoned | 1,510 | 7.3% |
| Permit Issued | 885 | 4.3% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 720 | 3.5% |
| NA | 464 | 2.2% |
| Permit Canceled | 406 | 2.0% |
| Application Information Requested | 381 | 1.8% |
| Pump Installed, No Construction Info Received | 266 | 1.3% |
| Pump Installed in Well Without a Permit | 260 | 1.3% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 18,315 | 88.1% |
| Not stated | 1,382 | 6.6% |
| Alluvial | 479 | 2.3% |
| Laramie Fox Hills | 220 | 1.1% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 129 | 0.6% |
| Laramie-fox Hills | 94 | 0.5% |
| Fractured Crystalline | 41 | 0.2% |
| Fractured Granite | 33 | 0.2% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 31 | 0.1% |
| Denver | 22 | 0.1% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,606 | 7.7% |
| 2010s | 1,617 | 7.8% |
| 2000s | 2,012 | 9.7% |
| 1990s | 3,424 | 16.5% |
| 1980s | 2,358 | 11.3% |
| 1970s | 3,235 | 15.6% |
| 1960s | 829 | 4.0% |
| 1950s | 580 | 2.8% |
| 1940s | 9 | 0.0% |
Buying land in Boulder County, or need a well drilled?
20,791 well permits are on the Division’s register in Boulder County, 3,073 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 Boulder County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle C Ranch permit 342165- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1968 |
| Foothills East permit 342368- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 11 | 10 | 2026 |
| Valle Del Rio permit 66635--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 12 | 0 | 2026 |
| Githens Acres permit 342537- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1956 |
| Tall Timbers permit 343051- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 402 | 0 | 2026 |
| Gold Hill Area permit 343497- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1972 |
| Eldora Town of permit 343374- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 9 | 1992 |
| Moores (filing: 1) permit 343716- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1958 |
| Ertl Farm Nupud Replat A permit 338320- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 100 | 0 | 1957 |
| Ben Hur Eldora permit 339016--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 180 | 10 | 2025 |
| Mattoons Highlands First Addition permit 336986- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 7 | 2025 |
| Golden Rule Lode Mining Claim Us Ms No 19744 permit 337080- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 0 | 2025 |
| Woodbourne Hollow permit 22801--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 13 | 10 | 2025 |
| Foothills East permit 28745--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 13 | 0 | 2026 |
| Se-96-04 permit 338690- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 360 | 8 | 2025 |
| Bonanza Mountain Estates permit 338841- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 302 | 7 | 2025 |
| Forsberg Minor permit 90150-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 575 | 0 | 1994 |
| Gold Hill permit 124110--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 5 | 2025 |
| Grace Mar permit 341069- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 1964 |
| Gold Hill Townsite permit 136294--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 380 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pine Brook Hills permit 341328- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 150 | 0 | 1969 |
| Gold Hill permit 341162- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hidden Lake permit 341011- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1077 | 5 | 2025 |
| Coughlin Meadows permit 341443- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1938 |
| Copeland Lake permit 341352- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 27 | 0 | 1967 |
| Falls Pointe permit 341331- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 602 | 0 | 2025 |
| Gold Run permit 40817--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 5 | 2025 |
| Se-99-02 permit 333653- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 600 | 0 | 1991 |
| Superior permit 333675- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 0 | 0 | 2024 |
| Bow Mountain permit 332988- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 12 | 0 | 2024 |
| Hidden Lake permit 333576- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1052 | 5 | 2025 |
| Vista View permit 333370- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2024 |
| Kuhlmann Heights permit 334313- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 440 | 0 | 2025 |
| Boulder Heights permit 334920- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1254 | 7 | 2024 |
| Steamboat permit 334962- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 5 | 2024 |
| Whispering Pines permit 27341--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 502 | 8 | 2024 |
| Post Hill Replat permit 336236- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bari Don Knolls permit 71942--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 370 | 0 | 2025 |
| Meadow Park Fruit Farms permit 336543- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 60 | 0 | 1865 |
| Tr South Central Nbr 145 820 permit 336547--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2026 |
| Fairview Estates permit 336826- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 260 | 10 | 2025 |
| Ben Hur Addition To Eldora permit 336636- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 10 | 2026 |
| Lyons Park Estates permit 336847- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 850 | 0 | 2025 |
| Tract of Land permit 329821- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 16 | 0 | 1947 |
| Kuhlmann Heights permit 11993--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 402 | 10 | 2023 |
| Sunny Slope Acres permit 330134- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 25 | 0 | 1967 |
| Foothills East permit 330470- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 12 | 0 | 1885 |
| Ferncliff permit 330667- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 7 | 12 | 1950 |
| Giggey Placer, Mining Survey No. 140 permit 158096--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 9 | 10 | 2023 |
| Carline Tract Minor permit 331680- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 700 | 8 | 2024 |
| Riverside Alpine permit 331771- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 9 | 0 | 1962 |
| Moffat Lakes First Addition permit 3714--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 136 | 10 | 2024 |
| Heathermeade permit 332023- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 8 | 0 | 1932 |
| Government Lot permit 60808--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 800 | 0 | 2025 |
| I O U Lode and Lone Widow Lode permit 332044- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 640 | 0 | 2024 |
| Pine Valley permit 327428--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1004 | 5 | 2023 |
| Haas permit 332080- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 10 | 0 | 1900 |
| Eldora Town of permit 332189- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 5 | 2024 |
| Kuhlman Heights permit 332220- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 402 | 7 | 2024 |
| Winigers permit 332358- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 4 | 0 | 1950 |
| Eldora permit 328740- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 40 | 0 | 2021 |
| Cold Spring permit 34112--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 7 | 10 | 2022 |
| Kuhlmann Heights permit 325472- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 602 | 0 | 2024 |
| Bow Mountain permit 67547--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 11 | 10 | 2022 |
| Mesa Valley permit 326327- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 66 | 0 | 1954 |
| Trogen Lode Ms 17879 permit 326151- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 800 | 5 | 2023 |
| Tr Nbr 803-830 Rural Bo & Lgt permit 325945- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2022 |
| Boulder Heights permit 73671--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 700 | 5 | 2022 |
| Se-18-0008 permit 327093- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 15 | 15 | 2024 |
| Rough Rider and Little Giant Lodes Ms#15374 permit 241996--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 902 | 0 | 2022 |
| Oxford Farm permit 86986-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 240 | 15 | 2023 |
| Bow Mountain permit 326744- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 902 | 5 | 2024 |
| Chance Acres permit 327746- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 12 | 0 | 1940 |
| Little Giant and Rough Rider Lodes Survey 15374 permit 327231- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 752 | 5 | 2022 |
| Saddle Club Estates permit 327352- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 21 | 0 | 1959 |
| Lakeshore Park permit 13364--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 402 | 10 | 2023 |
| Carriage Hills Estates permit 238336--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 1004 | 5 | 2023 |
| Gold Hill permit 327937- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 660 | 5 | 2024 |
| Cold Springs permit 328107- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 9 | 10 | 2022 |
| Sugarloaf permit 27511--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 502 | 5 | 2022 |
| Pinecliffe Resort permit 328703- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 601 | 5 | 2023 |
| Grand View Estates First Addition permit 10903--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 20 | 10 | 2022 |
| Bari Don Knolls permit 328603- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 265 | 0 | 1966 |
| Paragon Estates permit 328386- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 320 | 0 | 1955 |
| Githens permit 5129--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 19 | 0 | 2023 |
| Copperdale Lane permit 329303- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 7 | 1950 |
| Boulder Town of Original permit 61791-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2021 |
| Githens Acres permit 322882- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1955 |
| Wondervu Project permit 320049- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 5 | 2021 |
| Gold Hill permit 320090- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1886 |
| Kneales permit 320112- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 15 | 0 | 1924 |
| Tall Timbers permit 320303- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 8 | 2022 |
| Post Hill permit 320900- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 952 | 0 | 2021 |
| Steele Ranch N.u.p.u.d permit 322167- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 33 | 0 | 1867 |
| Bonanza Mountain Estates permit 322241- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 3 | 2021 |
| Jorgensen Nupud permit 322128- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 11 | 10 | 2021 |
| Fairview Estates permit 323024- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2021 |
| North Star permit 86147-F | Well Constructed | Dewatering | 0 | 0 | 2021 |
| Tony Placer Survey 5826 permit 323613- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 11 | 10 | 2021 |
| Gould permit 323477- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1965 |
| Beaver Valley Estates permit 323427- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 303 | 10 | 2021 |
| Marshall Eldorado permit 323847- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2021 |
| Lark Meadows permit 323888- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 10 | 2021 |
| Mesa Valley permit 324108- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2021 |
| Anoka Lode 19559 permit 323941- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 440 | 3 | 2024 |
| Golden Eagle & Extension 9604 permit 60480-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 2020 |
| Golden Eagle & Extension 9604 permit 60599-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 2020 |
| Lucille Lode Ms 17421 permit 316941- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 740 | 0 | 2023 |
| Willow Glen permit 317076- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 0 | 10 | 2020 |
| Lakeshore Park permit 317044- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 200 | 4 | 2020 |
By decreed use in Boulder County
- Domestic in Boulder County — 8,225
- Household Use Only in Boulder County — 5,582
- Monitoring/sampling in Boulder County — 3,864
Counties with a comparable register
- El Paso 46,491
- Weld 43,473
- Jefferson 42,751
- Adams 26,561
- Park 22,930
- Douglas 22,500
- Larimer 20,919
- La Plata 18,518
- Elbert 17,636
- Arapahoe 17,030
- Denver 13,096
- Pueblo 12,597
- Yuma 12,410
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.