Well permits in Denver County
13,096 well permits — 2.2% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 30 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
13,096Permits
30 ftMedian depth
2,841Expired
12,712Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Denver 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 | 30 ft | 71 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (6,964 permits, 53 %) |
| Yield | 70 gpm | 530 gpm | 10 gpm — higher here (113 permits, 1 %) |
| Static water level | 18 ft | 45 ft | 58 ft — lower here (2,090 permits, 16 %) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring/sampling | 9,298 | 71.0% |
| Other | 1,649 | 12.6% |
| Not stated | 830 | 6.3% |
| Domestic | 430 | 3.3% |
| Irrigation | 316 | 2.4% |
| Municipal | 126 | 1.0% |
| Geothermal | 124 | 0.9% |
| Commercial | 105 | 0.8% |
| Industrial | 101 | 0.8% |
| Dewatering | 89 | 0.7% |
| Household Use Only | 11 | 0.1% |
| Recharge | 10 | 0.1% |
What happened to these permits
4,951 of the 13,096 permits in Denver County ended with a well the Division was told about — 37.8%. And 2,841 expired without one: 21.7%.
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 | 4,951 | 37.8% |
| Well Abandoned | 4,122 | 31.5% |
| Permit Expired | 2,841 | 21.7% |
| Permit Issued | 411 | 3.1% |
| Application Information Requested | 334 | 2.6% |
| NA | 130 | 1.0% |
| Permit Canceled | 96 | 0.7% |
| Application Received | 58 | 0.4% |
| Application Denied | 44 | 0.3% |
| See Associated Receipts | 40 | 0.3% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 10,201 | 77.9% |
| Not stated | 1,383 | 10.6% |
| Alluvial | 709 | 5.4% |
| Denver | 307 | 2.3% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 228 | 1.7% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 90 | 0.7% |
| Arapahoe | 80 | 0.6% |
| Laramie Fox Hills | 29 | 0.2% |
| Upper Arapahoe | 27 | 0.2% |
| Lower Arapahoe | 19 | 0.1% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,377 | 10.5% |
| 2010s | 1,963 | 15.0% |
| 2000s | 3,018 | 23.0% |
| 1990s | 3,555 | 27.1% |
| 1980s | 574 | 4.4% |
| 1970s | 102 | 0.8% |
| 1960s | 118 | 0.9% |
| 1950s | 447 | 3.4% |
| 1920s | 1 | 0.0% |
Buying land in Denver County, or need a well drilled?
13,096 well permits are on the Division’s register in Denver County, 2,841 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 Denver County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viaduct Addition To Denver permit 87566-F | Well Constructed | Dewatering | 40 | 0 | 2023 |
| Harvey Park permit 84572-F | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 630 | 30 | 2021 |
| University Hills permit 84622-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84623-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84624-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84625-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84626-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84627-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84628-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84629-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84630-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84631-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84632-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84633-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84635-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2016 |
| University Hills permit 84636-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84637-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84638-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84639-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84640-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| University Hills permit 84641-F | Well Constructed | Other | 27 | 0 | 2015 |
| East Denver permit 82818-F | Well Constructed | Dewatering | 25 | 0 | 2019 |
| Inspiration Point Estates permit 314947- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 170 | 8 | 2020 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 300407- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2016 |
| Arlington Park permit 302722- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 45 | 2016 |
| Honneckes Addition permit 303096--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 340 | 0 | 2017 |
| Southern Hills (filing: 4) permit 288094- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 850 | 14.21 | 2012 |
| Range View (filing: 2) permit 287977- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 150 | 0 | 2012 |
| Hughes Mountain View permit 186874--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 64 | 15 | 2012 |
| Rastorfer permit 289917- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 150 | 0 | 2012 |
| Oakesdale permit 289842- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 75 | 0 | 2012 |
| Alameda Heights permit 49644-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 2011 |
| Grandview permit 285584- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 25 | 0 | 2011 |
| Park Club Place permit 286066- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 25 | 0 | 2011 |
| South Capitol Hill permit 286506- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 25 | 0 | 2011 |
| Alameda Heights permit 49190-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 32 | 0 | 2010 |
| Chamberlins University Terrace permit 48959-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 2009 |
| Adams Gardens permit 282228- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 28 | 0 | 2009 |
| Stapleton permit 47974-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 34 | 0 | 2008 |
| Stapleton permit 46845-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2007 |
| Iliffs University Addition permit 272963--A | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 55 | 0 | 2007 |
| Shaffenburgs Addition permit 63971-F | Well Constructed | Industrial | 795 | 450 | 2007 |
| Witters First Addition permit 258391- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2004 |
| Witters First Addition permit 258392- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2004 |
| Witters First Addition permit 258393- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2004 |
| West Colfax permit 258875- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2002 |
| West Colfax permit 258876- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 30 | 0 | 2002 |
| West Colfax permit 258877- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2002 |
| West Colfax permit 258878- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2004 |
| West Colfax permit 258879- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 258880- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2002 |
| Driving Park Place permit 249065- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 42914-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 250588- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 22 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 250589- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 23 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 250599- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 250600- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2003 |
| West Colfax permit 250601- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2003 |
| Bow Mar permit 252403--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 338 | 0 | 2003 |
| Martindale permit 242816- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 100 | 0 | 2002 |
| Belcaro Park permit 245737- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 480 | 10 | 2003 |
| Country Club Annex permit 245384- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 35 | 0 | 2002 |
| Bow Mar permit 234689- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2001 |
| Bow Mar permit 217464- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1999 |
| Santa Fe (filing: 2) permit 249-G | Well Constructed | Geothermal | 260 | 0 | 1999 |
| Park Villa permit 193475- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 1996 |
| Park Villa permit 193476- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 1996 |
| Park Villa permit 193477- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 15 | 0 | 1996 |
| Burlington Capitol Hill Addition permit 27604-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 30 | 0 | 1996 |
| Garwood permit 47153-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Garwood permit 47154-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Lake Archer permit 196193- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 36 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196194- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196195- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196196- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 31 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196197- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196198- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 34 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196199- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196200- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Lake Archer permit 196201- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 35 | 0 | 1995 |
| Boulevard Gardens permit 194370--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 220 | 15 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 45847-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 45848-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 45849-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 45850-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 45851-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Evans Park Estates permit 187887- | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 21 | 0 | 1995 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43173-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43174-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43175-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43176-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43177-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43178-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43179-F | Well Constructed | Other | 20 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43180-F | Well Constructed | Other | 20 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43182-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43183-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43184-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43185-F | Well Constructed | Other | 20 | 0 | 1983 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43186-F | Well Constructed | Other | 19 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43187-F | Well Constructed | Other | 17 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43188-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43189-F | Well Constructed | Other | 20 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43190-F | Well Constructed | Other | 20 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43191-F | Well Constructed | Other | 14 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43192-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Skinner Brothers permit 43193-F | Well Constructed | Other | 18 | 0 | 1993 |
| Southlawn Gardens permit 182153- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 115 | 0 | 1994 |
| East Montrose (filing: 1) permit 175086- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 48 | 0 | 1993 |
| Jersey permit 11733-R-R | Well Constructed | Municipal | 53 | 500 | 1993 |
By decreed use in Denver County
- Other in Denver County — 1,649
Counties with a comparable register
- Park 22,930
- Douglas 22,500
- Larimer 20,919
- Boulder 20,791
- La Plata 18,518
- Elbert 17,636
- Arapahoe 17,030
- Pueblo 12,597
- Yuma 12,410
- Garfield 12,165
- Grand 11,297
- Teller 10,843
- Fremont 10,353
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.