Frequently Asked Questions About Your Septic System

Most county health departments recommend that a certified septic installer purchase the soil evaluation permit. The homeowner or builder needs to provide a copy of the plot plan or survey, showing the dimensions of the lot to be evaluated.

The survey must show the approximate location of the house, driveway, garage, pool, deck, barns and/or any other outbuildings or structures. If other public utilities are not available, then the survey must also show the location of a cistern or well and a propane gas tank. The survey must also show all ponds, creeks, streams, drainways, and sinkholes. There are strict code requirements for the installation of septic systems which mandate specific distances from each of the above-listed things, so it is very important that the installer be made aware of all of these before installation begins.

Some counties are also requiring that test holes be dug in order to determine the absorption quality of the soil better. This is done with a backhoe, which will add to the cost of the evaluation. However, some health inspectors will use a hand auger to perform the evaluation.

Costs can vary from county to county. Typically, the on-site evaluation costs from $1,500 to $1,800, which includes on-site permits excavation for test holes, required by the local health department.

It is required to get the soil evaluation and septic permits from the local county health department BEFORE you can apply for your building permit.

This determines the kind of on-site sewage disposal system (or septic system) required by the local health department. It also determines the size of the system depending on the number of bedrooms in the house. If the structure is a commercial building, the size and kind of system would be determined by the number of employees estimated to be using the system on a regular basis.

If sewers are not an option, the first thing to do before purchasing the property would be to have an on-site soil evaluation. A permit is necessary to do this, and it is the recommended procedure to select a certified septic installer to obtain this permit from the local health department.

Two other permits are necessary, which are the septic permit and the building permit. These permits are obtained in this order. 

After the soil evaluation is done, the health department determines the kind of system to be installed, at which time the septic installer obtains the septic permit, which outlines the details of the installation. 

Only after this is done, can a building permit be obtained by the homeowner or builder, who takes the actual construction plans to the planning and zoning commission where it is stamped, and a building permit is issued.