Septic rules and requirements in Guilford County, North Carolina
Septic permits in Guilford County are issued by the county environmental health office. A new system permit costs $100. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 67.5% of the rated acres. Guilford County — On-site Wastewater · checked 2026-09-23
$100
Septic system permit
checked 2026-09-23
Very limited
USDA rating, 67.5% of rated acres
checked 2026-09-16
Who issues septic permits in Guilford County?
The county environmental health office, at 400 W. Market St. Suite 300, Greensboro, NC 27405, 336-641-7613. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.
Staffed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for questions about where a system is located or its type.
Guilford County — Water Quality · checked 2026-09-23
What does a septic permit cost in Guilford County?
$100 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.
Applies to a Residential Soil Evaluation, priced per bedroom — the site and soil evaluation for the Improvement Permit.
The county then charges a separate fee to review the design and issue the Construction Authorization. A conventional system costs the least. An alternative system with more than one pump costs the most. An alternative design review and an off-site system approval each carry their own fee. The county sets these fees, not the state.
Guilford County Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-09-23
What does an inspection cost in Guilford County?
These are prices, not permit fees. Each one comes from a government source.
$100 for an inspection.
Applies to a Type Va inspection of an existing system serving one home.
The county charges more to inspect a larger or a pretreatment system.
Guilford County Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-09-23
Is the soil in Guilford County suitable for a septic system?
USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 67.5% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-16
What Guilford County inspects, and how often
Every 5 years for a system with a single pump.
The county follows the state's schedule. A system with more than one pump is checked every three years. A large or pretreatment system is checked every year or every six months.
The county inspects every septic system that has a pump.
Guilford County — On-site Wastewater · checked 2026-09-23
What Guilford County sets itself
The state writes the code. Guilford County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the North Carolina requirements.
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$100
Applies to a Residential Soil Evaluation, priced per bedroom — the site and soil evaluation for the Improvement Permit.
The county then charges a separate fee to review the design and issue the Construction Authorization. A conventional system costs the least. An alternative system with more than one pump costs the most. An alternative design review and an off-site system approval each carry their own fee. The county sets these fees, not the state.
Guilford County Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-09-23
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A lot may already have a septic system or a well. The county inspects it before it approves new construction.
This is the county's own rule. The state's wastewater rules cover a new system and a periodic pump check. They set no inspection for new construction on a lot with an existing system.
Guilford County — On-site Wastewater · 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.
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the county environmental health office, on 336-641-7613.