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Septic Permit Steps
The process to have a septic system (also called an "on-site sewage system" or "OSS") designed, installed, and permitted can be a long one. Below are the steps for the two main phases you'll need to go through to get your system in the ground and approved.
Depending on your property and what you want to do, there may be more requirements with other regulatory agencies such as the Department of Planning & Development Services (PDS) in addition to what the Health Department requires.
How to print these steps
For a printable version of these steps, view the resources below:
- Application and Design Overview and Detailed Guide
- Permitting and Installation Overview and Detailed Guide
Questions? Reach out to us by emailing SHD-EHQ@snoco.org or calling 425-339-5259.
Phase I: Design & Application
Begin with this phase if you do not already have an approved application and design on file and are doing any of the following:
- Building a new home or other structure that will not be connected to sewer
- Having a major repair done to your existing system that requires a permit
- Replacing your existing septic system
- Home addition/remodel that requires you to increase the size of your system or alter it
Hire a designer or professional engineer
The first thing you’ll need to do is hire someone to design your septic system. The only people allowed to design septic systems are licensed on‐site wastewater designers and professional engineers. You can find licensed designers and engineers by using the Washington State Department of Licensing Lookup online. You may want to click on Advanced Search with License Details to narrow your results to those with an active license in our county and surrounding areas. You could also do an internet search for septic system designers and use the DOL lookup to verify that they have an active license. We recommend getting multiple quotes to find a fair price.
Your system design
The professional you hire will work with you to design a septic system that meets state and local code. They will consider many factors such as the number of bedrooms your house/structure has or will have, the type of soil on your property, and how close you are to a water source. They will need to dig soil test holes in your yard to analyze the soil on your property. Below are a few things to keep in mind for this part:
Hazards: It is your responsibility as the homeowner to secure your property for any hazards created by the soil test holes. If you cover the openings with something (like plywood) our staff will move it when they go out to your property in Step 4 to conduct their review and then put it back in place.
Filling in holes: You must wait until an official decision is made by the Health Department regarding your application and septic design before filling in the holes. However, note that the designer or Health Department may later request holes be re-dug for a reevaluation.
Submitting the application & paying the fee
Your system designer will complete the Application for an On-Site Sewage System Permit and submit this form along with their proposed design to the Health Department. When the Health Department receives the application, it will be reviewed for completeness.
If it is complete, an invoice to pay the application fee will be emailed to you and your designer. Some designers include this fee in their cost and others do not. You’ll need to talk with your designer to see if they cover this fee as part of their service. Fees can be found on our online fee schedule – select Septic, Water, Land Use and see the fees under On-Site Sewage Dispersal System. If the application is incomplete, you and your designer will be notified. Once corrections are made the application can be resubmitted.
Money-saving tip: If you also need to submit an Application for an Individual Water Supply to the Health Department, submit it at the same time and the fee will be less than if it’s submitted on its own!
Help keep our staff safe: Please remind your designer to use the comments section of the application to warn the Health Department of any potential hazards on your property (for example pets/animals or electric fences). Additionally, if your property is locked and will need a key or code, have them make a note so our staff can contact you to coordinate entry onto your property.
Health Department review
Once the fee has been paid, the Health Department will review the complete application and design. They will go out to your property to check the soil and other site conditions, making sure the proposed system design will treat water effectively.
Once the review is done, the Health Department will send a response to you and the designer. If everything looks good, they will approve the design and application! If it’s not approved, the Health Department will send a letter of explanation to you and your designer letting you know what needs to be fixed. Once corrections are made, the designer can submit a redesign.
Your app & design was approved! what's next?
If your application and design got a stamp of approval from the Health Department, great! With your approval notice, you will receive the resources you need to take the next step which is getting a permit issued and installing the system. While waiting for installation, please keep these important points in mind:
This is not a permit: Getting your app and design approved is NOT a permit for installation of the system.
Leave the soil alone: Do not disturb the soil on your property in the designated drainfield and reserve areas.
Notify of any changes: Your approval is based on the location of existing or proposed structures at the time of review. If you are contemplating any changes to existing or proposed structures, be sure to contact your designer! All revisions are subject to review and approval by the Health Department. You may need to pay an additional fee for review of the revision, when applicable.
Phase II: Permitting & Installation
If you already have an approved application and design on file with the Health Department, you can move on to the steps below.
Note: Snohomish County Health Department (SCHD) makes no representations/determinations as to full compliance with other land use/disturbance regulations including, but not limited to, the Indian Graves and Records Act (Chapter 27.44 RCW), the Archeological Resources Protection Act (Chapter 27.53 RCW), or the necessity for compliance with any other regulations.
Contact a designer or professional engineer
Reach out to a septic designer or professional engineer, as you'll need to hire one to do some of the work in the next steps that must be done by a designer (such as requesting a permit from the Health Department, reviewing the installer’s work, and creating an as-built drawing). This can be the same professional you hired for the application and design phase or a different one.
Complete any permit requirements that apply to you
Before you hire an installer, it’s a good idea to complete all of your permit requirements. Depending on your situation, you may need to complete all, some, or none of the items listed below. Before the Health Department can issue a permit for installation, they will check to make sure any requirements for your situation have been met. Please see the list of items below that may be required before a permit is issued.
Permit Fee
- This applies to: New systems. There is no permit fee for OSS repairs & alterations.
- To complete this requirement: Pay the fee. Fees can be found on our online fee schedule – select the Septic, Water, Land Use category and see the fees under Permit for On-Site Sewage Dispersal System. Payments can be made online through our payment portal – Select the On-Site Sewage tab, then select Permit Payment.
Drinking Water Requirements
- This applies to: For those seeking a building permit, Planning & Development Services (PDS) will determine if this applies to your situation. Your proposed source of drinking water may be subject to Health Department requirements and building permit requirements of RCW 19.27.097.
- To complete this requirement: See Growth Management Act info for details. Until these requirements are met, an OSS or building permit will not be issued.
Building Permit Requirements
- This applies to: Those seeking a building permit.
- To complete this requirement: Meet any requirements for building permits required by the Department of Planning & Development Services (PDS). Contact PDS for details. An OSS permit will not be issued before the city/county building permit is issued. The OSS permit that gets issued will be valid so long as the city or county building permit is valid. If the building permit is withdrawn, revoked, or expires, the OSS installation permit will no longer be valid.
Declaration of Covenant & Monitoring and Maintenance Agreement
- This applies to: All system types except for gravity and pressure distribution systems. An example of a Declaration of Covenant will have been sent with your application approval if it applies to your system type.
- To complete this requirement: Declaration of Covenant is just a fancy way of saying you’ll need to sign a document stating you’ll follow certain requirements after install. Use the steps below for this requirement:
- Sign a declaration of covenant and have it notarized. Most designers will assist with this step, but if not please reach out to us!
- Submit the declaration of covenant to the county Recording Office along with their required recording fee. Unsure what your fee will be? Give the Recording Office a call at (425) 388-3483.
- Find a service provider and sign a two-year monitoring & maintenance agreement with them saying you will have your system inspected at the frequency stated in the declaration of covenant. A list of certified monitoring & maintenance providers is available online.
- Submit the notarized and recorded declaration of covenant along with the maintenance agreement to the Health Department. You can email these to SHD-EHQ@snoco.org
Hire a certified installer
Only those certified as an OSS installer with Snohomish County can install your septic system. You can find certified installers on our list of OSS contractors available online. We recommend getting multiple quotes to find a fair price. One exception to hiring certified installers is for gravity-only systems – homeowners can act as the installer for this type of system only. If you plan to install your own gravity system, contact us for more details.
Sometimes a pre-construction meeting is required at the Health Department’s discretion for properties that have more complex site conditions. The designer or installer may also request this meeting. Property owners are not required to attend these meetings, but just know that at some point the installer, designer, and Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) from the Health Department may need to meet at your property to go over any concerns and clarify details together before the permit is issued.
Installing the system
Once the fee is paid and any other requirements have been met, the permit will be issued and the installer is allowed to install the system. Make sure they have the permit before they start any work! Coordinate an installation date with the installer. Keep in mind installation may be subject to dry weather and dry soil conditions, and some installs may take more than one day. The permit should be placed in a very visible location on your property by the installer. Once the installer is done, they will notify the designer that the job is complete.
final inspection & as-built record
Now that the system is in the ground, it will remain uncovered until it can be inspected by both the designer and the Health Department. First, the designer will go out to the property to review the installer’s work. For any systems that use a pump, the designer and installer will test the system together to make sure it functions properly (staff from the Health Department may or may not be present for these tests). If the system was installed according to the approved design and any tests go smoothly, the designer signs the permit and notifies the Health Department for final inspection. They do this by submitting an as-built (record drawing) of your system.
Next, the Health Department will go out to your property to do a final inspection and make sure the as-built is accurate. If all looks good, the permit will be signed and they will give final approval to the installer to cover it. Keep the signed permit for your records! If there are issues with the installation or as-built, the Health Department will send a letter to you, the designer, and the installer listing what needs to be corrected before the permit is signed.
Finally, the installer will backfill/cover the system once it has been approved, and then you can start using your septic system! Now that your system is approved, the Health Department will send you a copy of the accepted as-built record, as well as info about how to care for your septic system and make sure your investment lasts.