Greater Columbus Septic Permits and Code Requirements, by County
Each Greater Columbus county runs its own Sewage Treatment System (STS) program under Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Health authority, applying the technical rules in Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29. Pumping never requires a permit. New installation, system replacement, drain-field replacement, riser additions, and most repairs require a permit and inspection by the county health district.
The table below summarizes the permit authority, current minimum tank size for new residential installs, perc-test posture, and typical permit-issuance timeline for each county in our service area. Code changes; verify with the county health district before any work that touches the system structurally.
| County | Permit authority | Min tank / perc-test / typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware, OH | Delaware Public Health District · STS Program | 1,000 gal min residential. Perc test required for new permits. Permit issuance 1-2 weeks for residential. |
| Licking, OH | Licking County Health Department | 1,000 gal min residential, 1,500 gal for 4+ bedrooms. Perc test required. Permit issuance 2-4 weeks. |
| Fairfield, OH | Fairfield Department of Health | 1,000 gal min residential. Aerobic treatment unit (ATU) common for streamside and high-water-table lots. Permit issuance 2-3 weeks. |
| Union, OH | Union County Health Department | 750-1,000 gal min residential depending on bedroom count. Perc test required. Permit issuance 2-4 weeks. |
| Franklin, OH | Franklin County Public Health | 1,000 gal min residential. Septic concentrated on the rural edges of the county. Permit issuance 1-3 weeks. |
On-site work requires a state-licensed Sewage Treatment System (STS) installer and (for repair work) a registered service provider. All contractors you work with here hold the appropriate Ohio credentials for each county listed above and pull permits on behalf of homeowners. If the county changes its requirements, we flag the change and the installer adjusts scope before the on-site quote.
Routine pump-out is exempt from permit requirements in every county above. Major work (drain-field replacement, ATU install, distribution-box relocation) always requires a permit. Simple riser installs do not require a permit in most counties but do still require a state-licensed installer.
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