Wis. Stat. § 280.15 — WI Code / Chapter 280 / Section 280.15
Drilling and pump installing; registration; licensing; qualifications; fee.
Status: in_force

(1) Business registration.

(a) Registration requirement. No person may engage in the business of well drilling or heat exchange drilling in this state unless the person obtains registration under this paragraph as a drilling business, and no person may engage in the business of pump installing in this state unless the person obtains registration under this paragraph as a pump installing business, except as follows:

1. An individual who is a licensed driller or a licensed pump installer is not required to obtain registration.

2. An individual who is employed by a licensed driller or a licensed pump installer is not required to obtain registration.

3. An individual who is employed by a person who is registered under this paragraph is not required to obtain registration.

4. An individual to whom sub. (4) or s. 280.19 applies is not required to obtain registration.

(am) Prerequisite. The department may not grant registration under par. (a) to a person to engage in the business of well drilling or heat exchange drilling unless the person is a licensed driller, a licensed driller has an ownership interest in the business, or the person employs or contracts with a licensed driller. The department may not grant registration under par. (a) to a person to engage in the business of pump installing unless the person is a licensed pump installer, a licensed pump installer has an ownership interest in the business, or the person employs or contracts with a licensed pump installer.

(b) Application. A person who seeks to register a drilling business or pump installing business shall apply to the department for registration of each place of business or retail outlet he or she operates as a drilling business or pump installing business, or both, upon forms prepared by the department for this purpose. The application shall be accompanied by a registration fee for each place of business or retail outlet included in the application.

(c) Renewal. In order to retain registration as a drilling business or pump installing business a person shall apply for registration renewal and pay the required registration fees annually on or before January 1.

(d) Registration fee. The fees required for registration application or annual renewal are as follows:

1. Drilling business, $50.

2. Pump installing business, $25.

3. Drilling business and pump installing business, $75.

(e) Late fees. A person who files an application for registration renewal or who fails to pay the required annual registration fees after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

(f) Expiration. All registrations issued under this subsection expire on December 31 of each year and are not transferable.

(2m) Driller and pump installer licensing.

(a) Application. An individual who seeks a driller or pump installer license shall apply to the department on a form prepared by the department. The individual shall include the fee specified in par. (c) with the application, except that an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay the fee.

(am) Activities authorized under driller license. In issuing a driller license under this subsection, the department may specify that the license is limited to the authority to engage only in well drilling or to the authority to engage only in heat exchange drilling.

(b) Renewal. In order to retain his or her license as a driller or pump installer an individual shall do all of the following:

1. Comply with requirements for continuing education promulgated by the department by rule. The department shall require continuing education specific to well drilling for individuals seeking to retain a driller license that authorizes well drilling and shall require continuing education specific to heat exchange drilling for individuals seeking to retain a driller license that authorizes heat exchange drilling.

2. Apply for license renewal and pay the required license fees under par. (c) annually on or before January 1.

(c) Fees. The license fees required for license application or annual renewal are as follows:

1. Driller, $50.

2. Pump installer, $25.

(d) Late fees. An individual who files an application for license renewal or pays the required annual fees after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

(e) Prerequisites for pump installer license. The department may not issue a pump installer license unless the applicant demonstrates competency in pump installing by passing an examination administered by the department or a department representative.

(f) Prerequisites for driller license.

1m. The department may not issue a driller license that authorizes well drilling unless all of the following apply:

a. The applicant demonstrates competency in well drilling by passing an examination administered by the department or a department representative.

b. Except as provided in par. (g) , the applicant has been a registered drilling rig operator for at least 2 years within the 5 years before applying, has complied with training and continuing education requirements under sub. (3g) , and has the well drilling experience required by the department by rule.

2m. The department may not issue a driller license that authorizes heat exchange drilling unless all of the following apply:

a. The applicant demonstrates competency in heat exchange drilling by passing an examination administered by the department or a department representative.

b. Except as provided in par. (g) , the applicant has been a registered drilling rig operator for at least 2 years within the 5 years before applying, has complied with training and continuing education requirements under sub. (3g) , and has the heat exchange drilling experience required by the department by rule.

(g) Exceptions.

1. The department may issue a driller license to an applicant who does not comply with par. (f) 1m. b. or 2m. b. if the applicant complies with par. (f) 1m. a. or 2m. a. and holds a driller license in good standing from another state and the department determines that the other state has laws and rules governing well drilling and heat exchange drilling and licensing of well drillers and heat exchange drillers that are substantially similar to this state’s laws and rules.

2. The department shall establish alternative requirements to par. (f) 1m. b. for applicants who have gained well drilling experience before June 1, 2008. The department shall establish alternative requirements to par. (f) 2m. b. for applicants who have gained heat exchange drilling experience before April 1, 2015.

(3g) Drilling rig operator registration.

(a) Application. An individual who seeks registration as a drilling rig operator shall apply to the department on a form prepared by the department. The individual shall include a fee of $25, except that an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay the fee.

(b) Renewal. In order to retain registration as a drilling rig operator an individual shall do all of the following:

1. Complete training approved by the department.

2. Comply with requirements for continuing education promulgated by the department by rule. The department shall require continuing education specific to well drilling for individuals seeking to retain a drilling rig operator’s registration that authorizes well drilling and shall require continuing education specific to heat exchange drilling for individuals seeking to retain a drilling rig operator’s registration that authorizes heat exchange drilling.

3. Apply for registration renewal and pay a fee of $25 annually on or before January 1.

(d) Late fees. An individual who files an application for registration renewal or who pays the required annual fee after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

(3r) Supervision.

(a) Requirement. Except as provided in par. (b) and sub. (4) , an individual who is not a licensed driller or a registered drilling rig operator may engage in drilling a well or heat exchange drillhole only if the individual is under the supervision of a licensed driller or a registered drilling rig operator who is on the site of the drilling.

(b) Exception. Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual performing well drilling of a public well for a local governmental unit if the individual applies for registration under sub. (3g) no later than 14 days after the day on which the individual begins to perform the well drilling.

(4) Work on own real estate. No individual is required to obtain a registration or license under this section for well drilling or heat exchange drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual, but the well or heat exchange drillhole and the work done on the well or heat exchange drillhole shall comply with the law and the rules promulgated by the department.

History: 1983 a. 27 ; 1995 a. 227 s. 940 ; Stats. 1995 s. 280.15; 1999 a. 85 ; 2001 a. 107 ; 2005 a. 360 ; 2011 a. 150 , 209 ; 2013 a. 165 ; 2023 a. 261 .