Overview of the Permit Process

When you submit an application to receive a permit to operate a water well, the application travels through five distinct steps. At each step, decisions are made or actions taken based on the information you put on the application form. For this reason, it is very important that you provide the best available information when you complete the form. Inaccurate or incomplete information can delay or prevent us from issuing you a permit.

The 5 Steps in the Permit Process

Step 1 Application with Fee
  The permitting cycle begins when we receive your application and application fee.
   
Step 2 Public Hearing
  Your application is then scheduled for a public hearing with the Hearing Examiner
   
Step 3 Board Action
  After the hearing, your application is scheduled for action by the Districts' Board of Directors at their next Board Meeting.
   
Step 4 Issue Permit Fee Statement
  If the Board of Directors approves your application, we will issue a Permit Fee Statement based on  the allocation and use
   
Step 5 Permit Fee Paid then Permit Issued
  Once you have paid the Permit Fee, a Water Well Permit will be issued and you may begin to withdraw water. 
   

If there are only 5 steps, why does the process sometimes seem to take so long?

An Example Based on a Renewal Application:

For a permit that expires in January 2004, the renewal for its new permit term beginning on February 1, 2004 is mailed out the 3rd week of September . (Nearly 4 months in advance.) January renewals/expirations are automatically scheduled for the November Hearing which is normally the second Tuesday of each month. After the hearing, the January renewals/expirations are scheduled for the December Board Meeting which is the second Wednesday of each month. Renewal applications that have had their application fees paid and their forms properly filled out are brought before the December Board for approval.

Applications that have not been returned, have not paid their application fees, or have additional information that is needed are continued to the next board meeting. ( January ) At the January Board Meeting applications are acted upon that have met the above criteria. Those applicants that did not send in their renewal forms or have not paid their application fees, have let their permits expire effective the end of the month and will have to go through the hearing and board meeting process again once they have submitted their application and fees.