Septic permit rules and requirements in Maine
In Maine, the state sets the rule. The septic permit comes from your local plumbing inspector. For some systems the state issues it itself. 10-144 C.M.R. ch. 241 § 3(J)(2) · checked 2026-09-12
Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Writes the rules
checked 2026-09-23
Your local plumbing inspector
Issues the permit
checked 2026-09-12
Who decides a septic permit in Maine
Your local plumbing inspector issues an ordinary residential permit. For some systems the state issues it itself. The state sets the floor through the Subsurface Wastewater Unit, Drinking Water Program, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
A local plumbing inspector takes each request and grants the permit for the town or city. The state writes the rule and checks that each town or city follows it.
10-144 C.M.R. ch. 241 § 3(J)(2) · checked 2026-09-12
The office's phone number is (207) 287-2070.
The Subsurface Wastewater Unit answers permit questions at this number. Its own page prints the number under contact information.
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention — Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting · checked 2026-09-23
The office publishes its own page on this: Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention — Subsurface Wastewater Unit.
The unit's own page names this address as its canonical link.
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention — Subsurface Wastewater Unit · checked 2026-09-23
Maine counties on this site
We have not published a Maine county page yet. A county earns a page when we hold facts unique to it. Until then this page is the answer for every county in the state.
Telling us your county is how we decide which one to build next.
Sources
State records only. Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. County figures live on the county pages.
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here with your local plumbing inspector before you spend money on it.