New building sites/lots
The purchase of property
is an important financial investment that requires knowledge of land
resources. For a system to function properly it must be installed in a
soil that is capable of treating and disposing the amount of wastewater
generated by the facility the system is serving. Before purchasing a
piece of property it is recommended to have it evaluated for suitability
for an on-site wastewater system.
There are 3 different
permits in the septic permitting process, Improvement Permit,
Construction Authorization, and Operation Permit.
- Improvement Permit: The IP determines if the soil and site are
suitable for a subsurface septic system. This permit is transferable.
- Construction Authorization: The CA allows the system to be
installed and allows for application for building and zoning permit.
This permit is not transferable and is tied to the design of the septic
system.
- Operation Permit: The OP is issued once the system has been
installed correctly. A Certificate of Occupancy and electric power will
not be issued until you have a valid Operation Permit.
The first step of the
permitting process before applying for your Improvement Permit is to
generate a complete site plan for your lot. The site plan should show
the location of the house on the property, location of driveways,
proposed out-buildings, pools, creeks, wetlands, etc.
Once you have a site
plan, you can apply for an Improvement Permit and Construction
Authorization from Environmental Health. Before a specialist will come
to evaluate your property the property lines, corners and house location
must all be clearly identified in the field. It is also helpful to
remove heavy vegetation from the site. The Improvement Permit and
Construction Authorization may be applied for at the same time.
Once the site is
approved for an on-site septic system, the Construction
Authorization can be issued showing the type of system, location of
the system on the property, and size of the system. Once the system is
correctly installed, the department will issue the Operation Permit.
Failing systems/repairs
Environmental Health is
responsible for ensuring that existing systems continue to function
correctly in order to prevent threats to public health.
When a septic system
fails effluent can no longer be absorbed into the soil. Instead it
surfaces on the ground, which causes a public health nuisance. We
investigate failing systems and troubleshoot to detect problems and find
solutions for repairs.
The permitting process
for a septic repair is similar to the process for a new lot, with the
exception of being exempt from fees. For no charge a specialist will
come to your property after you have made an application, investigate
your problem, and come up with a feasible solution.
We also investigate
complaints about failing systems. These complaints can be filed by
calling our office, and can be done anonymously. Once a complaint is
filed we act quickly to get the issue resolved.
Septic reconnect permits
If your lot has an
existing septic system and you wish to build a new home or move a
manufactured home onto your lot you have an option to reconnect to the
system. In order to do so you must apply in our office for a reconnect
permit. Our office will evaluate the existing system and write a permit
to reconnect to the system if found to be in compliance. You will not
be able to get a building permit or move a home onto your lot until you
have a permit from Environmental Health.