The County of Santa Cruz Environmental Health Division’s Environmental Cleanup Program (ECP) administers and enforces state and local ordinances pertaining to the new construction, alteration, replacement, maintenance, supplemental, and/or destruction of groundwater monitoring wells, cathodic protection wells, and other types of non production wells. To obtain a permit, you will need to submit an Application for Environmental-Cleanup-Program Well Permit and pay the appropriate well permit fee.
The purpose of the permitting groundwater monitoring wells and/or exploratory and geotechnical soil borings is to protect human health and safety and the environment by minimizing pollution and movement of contaminates to the groundwaters of the county. This is accomplished by compliance with County of Santa Cruz Ordinance 4901 and 5022, the California Well Standards and the ECP Standards.
UPDATE: NEW SOIL BORING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS COMMENCING SEPTEMBER 18, 2023
Our goal is to protect human health and the environment by implementing a new soil boring permitting process for any soil boring that encounters groundwater in Santa Cruz County. Our new soil boring permit requirements will commence of September 18, 2023. You may also contact us at EHCleanup@santacruzcounty.us with any questions about this requirement. Soil boring permit inquiries for borings advanced within the City of Watsonville limits should contact the City of Watsonville Public Works Department for further direction at (831) 768-3100.