Homes with permit-exempt wells

If you own a home and use a private well for small-scale water usage, we recommend that you read our focus sheet: Adjudication and Your Home.

As the name implies, permit-exempt wells have not historically required a water right permit from the state. According to state law (RCW 90.44.050) these wells must meet the following conditions:

• Domestic use, established before 2020, of up to 5,000 gallons per day with outdoor watering of lawn or garden up to half of an acre (21,780 square feet).
• Domestic use, established after 2020, of up to 500 gallons per day indoors with outdoor watering of lawn or garden up to 1/12 an acre (3,630 square feet).
• Industrial use, including commercial irrigation, up to 5,000 gallons per day.
• Water for livestock with no daily limitation.

Only groundwater use can be permit-exempt, not surface water. As with other water users, people who use permit-exempt wells must follow the state and local rules for water use and ensure that their water use does not affect other water users.

Learn more

Watch a video where we walk through filling out your court claim form.

The court claim form is divided into four parts. Everyone will complete Part A (Claimant names) and Part D (signatures). Then, based on your water use you will choose whether to complete Part B, Part C, or both. Part B is the simplified part of the form designed for small-scale home groundwater use.

• Court claim form Part B walkthrough - November 2025
• Court claim form Part C walkthrough - November 2025