Septic rules by state
Checked against official rules, October 2026
Septic rules are set by states and applied by counties and towns. Iowa and Massachusetts require an inspection whenever a home is sold, Washington will from February 1, 2027, and Maine requires one for shoreland property. Pick your state for permits, tank sizes and sale rules, each with its official source.
| State | Inspection required at sale? | Who regulates |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Some areas | Your county or local public health agency, under Regulation 43 (5 CCR 1002-43) |
| Florida | No statewide rule found | Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Onsite Sewage program |
| Iowa | Yes, statewide | Iowa Department of Natural Resources (567 IAC Chapter 69) and your county |
| Maine | Some areas | Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater program and your local plumbing inspector |
| Massachusetts | Yes, statewide | MassDEP Title 5, applied by your local board of health |
| Michigan | Some areas | Your local (county or district) health department |
| New Jersey | No statewide rule found | Local board of health, under N.J.A.C. 7:9A (NJ DEP standards) |
| North Carolina | No statewide rule found | Your county health department, under 15A NCAC 18E |
| Ohio | No statewide rule found | Your county or city board of health, under OAC Chapter 3701-29 |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide rule found | Your municipality's Sewage Enforcement Officer, under PA DEP rules |
| Texas | No statewide rule found | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), OSSF program |
| Washington | From Feb 1, 2027 | Your local health jurisdiction, under WAC 246-272A (WA Department of Health) |
"No statewide rule found" means we found no state rule; counties and towns may still have one. More states are being added.