Oregon Landowner's Water Well Bond
Overview
Oregon's Water Resources Department requires a Landowner's Water Well Bond before a private landowner can drill, alter, or abandon a water well on their own property without hiring a licensed well driller. This bond exists to protect Oregon's groundwater resources and the surrounding community from improper well construction, inadequate casing, or a site left in a condition that allows surface contamination to reach the aquifer. If the work is done wrong — or left undone — the bond gives the state a financial mechanism to recover the cost of corrective action. It is a condition of the permit, not optional.
Who Needs This Bond?
If you own land in Oregon and plan to drill, deepen, alter, or properly abandon a water well yourself rather than contracting a licensed water well constructor, this bond is required by the Oregon Water Resources Department. It applies to landowners who qualify under Oregon's owner-operator exemption but must still demonstrate they will comply with the state's well construction standards. Farmers, rural property owners, and anyone managing irrigation or domestic water supplies under their own permit will encounter this requirement. You cannot get the well permit without filing the bond first.
What is this Bond For?
This bond guarantees that you, as the property owner performing your own well work, will construct, alter, or abandon the well in full compliance with Oregon's well construction standards. The protected parties are the Oregon Water Resources Department and the public — including neighbors whose groundwater supply could be contaminated by a poorly constructed or improperly abandoned well. If you violate well construction requirements or leave a site in a condition that threatens the aquifer, the bond provides the state with funds to remediate the problem. It is not a performance bond for a contractor — it is the state's assurance that a landowner doing their own work won't cut corners.
When is it Required?
Before Oregon's Water Resources Department will issue a well permit to a qualifying landowner acting under the owner-operator exemption, the bond must already be on file. There is no grace period and no permit without it. If you are permitted for a project and later need to alter or abandon an additional well on the same property under a new permit, confirm with the Water Resources Department whether a separate bond is required for that action. Keep your bond current for the full duration of any permitted well work — the permit and the bond go hand in hand.
Where Does it Apply?
This bond is a statewide Oregon requirement administered by the Oregon Water Resources Department and applies to well work performed anywhere in Oregon. It is not a county-level or local health department bond — the state agency holds it. The bond obligation follows Oregon's well construction standards, which apply uniformly across all Oregon counties.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page to open the secure surety portal in a new tab, where you can complete your application and purchase your Oregon Landowner's Water Well Bond immediately. Once the bond is issued, you will receive your bond documents digitally so you can file them with the Oregon Water Resources Department with your permit application. No agent phone call, no waiting — your documents are ready when you need them.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency and gives Oregon landowners direct online access to the exact bonds state regulators require — no appointment, no callback, no delays. Our nationwide catalog is built for operators and property owners who need to move fast to satisfy a permit requirement. Buy online, get your bond documents, and get your well permit application in the door.