Septic rules and requirements in Jefferson County, Alabama

Who issues septic permits in Jefferson County?

Jefferson County Department of Health, at 1400 Sixth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, (205) 930-1230. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.

Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23

Is the soil in Jefferson County suitable for a septic system?

USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 57.4% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

• Very limited — 296,512 acres — 57.4% of 516,341 rated acres.
• Somewhat limited — 218,545 acres — 42.3% of 516,341 rated acres.
• Not limited — 1,284 acres — 0.2% of 516,341 rated acres.
• Not rated — 67,032 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23

What Jefferson County sets itself

The state writes the code. Jefferson County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the Alabama requirements.

• 100 feet

  Applies to an individual water well, measured to the septic tank.

  Table 3.3.1 of the county's own rules sets this distance. Alabama's state rule allows half that distance for an ordinary system.

  Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23

• Certificate of Competency

  Applies to a person who installs, repairs, cleans, or maintains a septic system.

  The state's Onsite Wastewater Board issues a separate installer permit.

  Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23

Sources

Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. USDA's Soil Data Access service supplies the soil records. A script writes them, and nobody types them.

1. Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23
2. Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23
3. Jefferson County Department of Health · checked 2026-09-23
4. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23

Related pages

• Septic rules in Jefferson County
• Soil and perc tests in Jefferson County, Alabama
• Septic rules and requirements in Alabama