A house on septic comes with a system nobody can see. Before you close on a place in Hazel Green, Toney, Elkmont, Arab or anywhere else outside the sewer lines, it's worth knowing what's in the ground, whether it was permitted, and what shape it's in. Here's how septic inspections work in Madison, Limestone and Marshall County.
Two kinds of inspection
A county health department evaluation
Alabama's onsite rules let the county health department evaluate an existing system when the owner, or a lending institution representing the buyer or seller, asks for it. A few things come with that:
- Proof of recent pumping. Before the evaluation is completed, the owner or lender has to show the tank was pumped within the last 3 years by an AOWB-licensed pumper. If it's been longer, the pump-out comes first.
- Unpermitted systems. If there's evidence a system was installed without a Permit to Install on or after March 18, 1982, the health department may decline to evaluate it and may require a professional site evaluation, a permit application, and either bringing the system into compliance or a new system.
- No guarantee. The rules say plainly that an evaluation does not promise the system will keep working.
A private inspection by a septic contractor
A licensed septic contractor can open the tank, measure the sludge and scum, check the baffles, filter, lids and risers, look for leaks, and walk the field for wet spots or odor. The rules note that an inspection by a home inspector or an AOWB licensee is not done under the state's authority and does not mean the system complies with the rules. It's still the best way to learn the condition of a tank before you own it.
Records to pull first
The Approval for Use that the county health department issued when the system was approved includes a diagram of the installation, which shows where the tank and field are. Owners can ask the county health department for septic records; ADPH says non-owners can request a copy of a permit through its records request process. If a system has an engineered design, look for the covenant the owner had to record (ADPH form CEP-7) before the system was approved, because it can carry maintenance obligations that pass to the new owner.
Tell us the town and the trouble, and we will put you through to a licensed septic contractor. (256) 692-6131
Questions worth asking about any septic house
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is there an Approval for Use on file? | Without one, a later repair goes through a longer process and the field may need a fresh site evaluation. |
| When was it last pumped, and is there a receipt? | A health department evaluation needs proof of pumping within 3 years. |
| Conventional, or pump, mound or aerobic? | Systems with pumps and control panels need yearly attention. See pumps and alarms. |
| Has anything been built, paved or driven over the field? | ADPH says not to build on, pave or drive over a drain field. |
| Is sewer close by? | If the system fails and can't be repaired, a sewer main within 500 feet means a required hookup. |
After you move in
EPA suggests a professional inspection at least every three years for an ordinary system and yearly for systems with pumps, floats or other mechanical parts. ADPH recommends a yearly look and pumping every three to five years. Keep a folder of every pumping, inspection and repair and hand it to the next owner when you sell.
If the inspection turns up a problem, the repair page explains what needs a permit, and the permit guide covers the county process.
FAQ
Does Alabama require a septic inspection to sell a house?
Not as a blanket rule in the ADPH onsite rules. The county health department evaluates an existing system when the owner or a lender asks, and lenders often do.
Why does the tank have to be pumped before a health department evaluation?
The rules require proof that the tank was pumped within the last 3 years by an AOWB-licensed pumper before the evaluation is completed.
How do I find out where the septic tank is?
The Approval for Use from the county health department includes a diagram of the installation. Owners can ask the county office for it.