Tehama County Well Driller Bond
$5,000 Bond – $100 Flat, No Credit Check
General Information
The Tehama County Well Driller Bond — also called the Tehama County water well bond, the Tehama well drilling bond, the $5, the 000 well driller bond or the Tehama County Environmental Health well bond — is a $5,000 surety bond required by County of Tehama, Environmental Health Department for drilling, constructing, altering, or destroying wells in Tehama County and pulling the required county well permits. It guarantees the driller will follow Tehama County's well construction and destruction standards under the county well ordinance and the California Well Standards, which exist to protect groundwater from contamination. The price is a flat $100 for the full typically 1 year from effective date; tied to the county licensed-and-bonded driller list — confirm surety term term, with no application and no credit check, and your bond is prepared and emailed directly to you, typically by the end of the next business day, ready for signature.
| Bond | Bond Amount | Premium | Term | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well Driller Bond | $5,000 | $100 | Typically 1 year from effective date; tied to the county licensed-and-bonded driller list — confirm surety term | Buy Now |
Purchase Now
Who Needs This Bond?
Well drillers who drill, construct, alter, or destroy wells in Tehama County. To pull county well permits, a driller must be licensed (C-57 Water Well Contractor) and bonded with the county, which maintains a list of licensed and bonded well drillers. This is the driller's bond — a property owner having a well drilled does not post it; the licensed driller does.
Why California Requires This Bond
Tehama County requires well drillers to be bonded before they can pull the permits needed to drill, alter, or destroy wells in the county. The bond is filed with the Tehama County Environmental Health Department, which maintains the county's list of licensed and bonded well drillers and enforces the county's well ordinance and the California Well Standards. It guarantees that the driller will follow those construction and destruction standards — the rules that protect the county's groundwater, which its rural communities and agricultural operations depend on, from contamination caused by improperly built or abandoned wells.
The bond protects the public and the county, not the driller. If a bonded driller violates the county's well ordinance or causes damage in the course of the work, a harmed party or the county can file a claim against the bond, and the surety pays valid claims up to the $5,000 amount. The driller must then reimburse the surety in full. In a county where groundwater is the primary water source for homes and farms alike, the bond is a small but meaningful layer of accountability on everyone licensed to drill.
The requirement comes from Tehama County Code / County Well Ordinance, administered under the California Well Standards (DWR Bulletins 74-81 and 74-90); confirm exact ordinance section via Municode.
The $5,000 bond amount is the coverage guaranteed to County of Tehama, Environmental Health Department — it is not a cost to you. What you pay is the premium, the flat $100.
How to Get Your Tehama County Well Driller Bond
- Confirm your bond details. You need the $5,000 bond with a typically 1 year from effective date; tied to the county licensed-and-bonded driller list — confirm surety term term — no choices to agonize over.
- Complete the form below. We need the name exactly as it should appear on the bond and your business address. No application and no credit check.
- Choose your delivery. Standard email delivery by the end of the next business day is included at no extra cost; faster options are available.
- Sign and file. Your bond arrives ready for signature — sign it and file it with County of Tehama, Environmental Health Department.
Bond Details at a Glance
- Bond Name: Tehama County Well Driller Bond
- Also Known As: Tehama County water well bond, Tehama well drilling bond, $5, 000 well driller bond, Tehama County Environmental Health well bond
- Bond Amount: $5,000
- Premium: $100 flat
- Term: Typically 1 year from effective date; tied to the county licensed-and-bonded driller list — confirm surety term
- Obligee: County of Tehama, Environmental Health Department, Tehama County Environmental Health — (530) 527-8020; confirm mailing address before publishing
- Governing Law: Tehama County Code / County Well Ordinance, administered under the California Well Standards (DWR Bulletins 74-81 and 74-90); confirm exact ordinance section via Municode
- Exemptions: Available — see "Who May Not Need This Bond" above
- Underwriting: None — no credit check or application
- Delivery: Emailed directly to you, ready for signature
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Tehama County well driller bond cost?
It's $100 for the $5,000 bond, with no application and no credit check. The $5,000 is the coverage amount guaranteed to the county, not a cost to you — you pay the $100 premium.
Who requires this bond?
The Tehama County Environmental Health Department, which maintains the county's list of licensed and bonded well drillers and administers well permitting under the county's well ordinance.
Do I need a credit check?
No. This bond is issued at a flat $100 with no application and no credit check. Because Tehama County requires an original signed bond, we mail the bond to you — it cannot be delivered by email.
How is the bond delivered — can you email it?
No. Tehama County requires an original signed bond on file, so we mail the physical bond to you rather than emailing a copy. Plan for standard mail time when scheduling your permit filing, and let us know if you need it expedited.
Do I need this bond as a homeowner having a well drilled?
No. This is the driller's bond. If you're a property owner, the licensed C-57 well driller you hire carries the bond and pulls the county permit — you don't buy it yourself.
What does the bond guarantee?
That the driller will follow Tehama County's well construction and destruction standards, which protect groundwater from contamination. If the driller violates those rules, a claim can be filed against the bond.
How long is the bond good for?
The bond term is typically one year from its effective date. You keep it in force to stay on the county's licensed-and-bonded driller list and continue pulling well permits.
What happens if my bond lapses?
You come off the county's approved driller list and can't pull well permits until the bond is restored. Keeping it active is directly tied to your ability to work in the county.
Can I post a cash deposit instead of a bond?
Tehama County references a well-ordinance deposit option, so a cash deposit may be accepted in place of a bond in some cases. Confirm with Environmental Health — most drillers choose the $100 bond rather than tying up cash.
Do I qualify for an exemption from this bond?
Possibly — not everyone has to post it. This is a requirement placed on the well driller, not the property owner. If you're having a well drilled on your property, you don't buy this bond — the licensed C-57 well driller you hire carries it and pulls the county permit. Tehama County also references a well-ordinance deposit option, so a cash deposit may be accepted in place of a bond in some cases; most drillers choose the $100 bond rather than tying up cash. Confirm with Environmental Health which applies to your situation. If you qualify, you don't need to buy the bond at all; check with County of Tehama, Environmental Health Department before purchasing.