License required to drill well; revocation of or refusal to reissue license; order to plug well; penalty for allowing unlicensed person to drill.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 534.160
in effect1. A person shall not drill a well for water in this State without having first obtained a well-drilling license.
2. Well drillers must comply with the regulations adopted by the State Engineer governing the drilling of water wells.
3. If the State Engineer determines, upon investigation and after hearing held upon at least 15 days notice sent by registered or certified mail to the licensed well driller, that the well driller has failed to comply with the law or the required regulations, the State Engineer may revoke the license. The State Engineer may refuse to reissue a license to a well driller if the well driller has violated the law or the regulations.
4. The order revoking or refusing to reissue a license is final unless an action for review by the district court is filed pursuant to NRS 533.450 .
5. The State Engineer shall order any person who drills a well without a license to plug that well. If the well is not plugged within 30 days after the order, the State Engineer shall plug the well at the expense of the person who owned or drilled the well.
6. If any licensed driller who owns, rents, leases or has a contract to purchase a well-drilling rig allows an unlicensed person to drill or perform any work in connection with well drilling, except under the supervision of the licensed driller, the license must be revoked or not reissued.
Source: NV Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-534.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026