Septic rules and requirements in Yavapai County, Arizona

Septic permits in Yavapai County are issued by the Yavapai County Development Services, Environmental Services Unit. A new system permit costs $550. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 91.9% of the rated acres. Yavapai County — Environmental Services Unit · checked 2026-09-23

Yavapai County Development Services, Environmental Services Unit

Issues the permit

checked 2026-09-23

$550

Septic system permit

checked 2026-09-23

Very limited

USDA rating, 91.9% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-13

Who issues septic permits in Yavapai County?

Yavapai County Development Services, Environmental Services Unit, at 1120 Commerce Drive, Prescott, AZ 86305, 928-771-3214. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.

A division of Development Services. The state hands this unit its septic duty. The unit issues septic permits. It also reviews and inspects each system.

The Prescott office.

Yavapai County — Environmental Services Unit · checked 2026-09-23

What does a septic permit cost in Yavapai County?

$550 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.

Applies to a residential conventional system with a design flow under 3,000 gallons a day. It is the smallest of five tiers.

In effect from February 5, 2026.

The county's fee table for this permit
Residential Conventional System less than 3000 GPD shown above	$550	a home with a conventional system of up to 3,000 gallons a day
Commercial Conventional System	$750	a business with a conventional system
Conventional System more than 3000 GPD but less than 75,000 GPD	$2,500	a conventional system of 3,000 to 75,000 gallons a day
Alternative System Residential and Commercial	$1,050	a alternative system
Composting Toilet	$400	a system the source lists as composting toilet system

The county sets this fee itself, not the state. It took effect February 5, 2026. It costs more for a business system. It costs more still for a bigger system. A tank-only or repair permit costs less. The other system type costs the most.

Yavapai County Development Services — Approved Fees and Refund Policy · checked 2026-09-23

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

USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 91.9% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 2,839,873 acres — 91.9% of 3,090,975 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 149,024 acres — 4.8% of 3,090,975 rated acres.
Not limited — 102,078 acres — 3.3% of 3,090,975 rated acres.
Not rated — 1,073,486 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13

Does Yavapai County inspect a septic system when a house is sold?

Yes. The Environmental Services Unit inspects the system when the property changes owners.

This is a state rule. It applies to every county under the state's program.

Yavapai County — Environmental Services Unit · checked 2026-09-23

What Yavapai County sets itself

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

$550

Applies to a residential conventional system with a design flow under 3,000 gallons a day. It is the smallest of five tiers.

The county sets this fee itself, not the state. It took effect February 5, 2026. It costs more for a business system. It costs more still for a bigger system. A tank-only or repair permit costs less. The other system type costs the most.

Yavapai County Development Services — Approved Fees and Refund Policy · checked 2026-09-23
The county must certify each tester.

The county tests and certifies people for free. An owner may instead hire a licensed engineer or sanitarian. The county then charges a small review fee. The state sets no such rule.

Yavapai County Ordinance No. 1996-1, Requiring Perc Testers to Be Certified · 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.

Yavapai County — Environmental Services Unit · checked 2026-09-23
Yavapai County — Septic Permits · checked 2026-09-23
Yavapai County Ordinance No. 1996-1, Requiring Perc Testers to Be Certified · checked 2026-09-23
Yavapai County Development Services — Approved Fees and Refund Policy · checked 2026-09-23
Yavapai County — Development Services · checked 2026-09-23
Arizona Administrative Code, R18-9-A314, Septic Tank Design, Manufacturing, and Installation for On-site Wastewater Treatment Facilities · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13

Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Yavapai County Development Services, Environmental Services Unit, on 928-771-3214.