Septic permit rules and requirements in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the state sets the rule. The septic permit comes from your local health department. For some systems the state issues it itself. The code is 15A NCAC 18E. N.C. General Statutes § 130A-336 · checked 2026-09-11
Your local health department
Issues the permit
checked 2026-09-11
15A NCAC 18E
Code section
checked 2026-09-23
Who decides a septic permit in North Carolina
Your local health department issues an ordinary residential permit. For some systems the state issues it itself. The state sets the floor.
The statute requires an improvement permit and a construction authorization before a site is built on. The local health department issues them. The statute also lets the state Department issue them, so the state can issue as well.
N.C. General Statutes § 130A-336 · checked 2026-09-11
The office's phone number is 919-707-5000.
The Division of Public Health main line, as printed on the branch page. The branch publishes no separate number there.
N.C. Division of Public Health — On-Site Water Protection Branch · checked 2026-09-23
The office publishes its own page on this: N.C. Division of Public Health — On-Site Water Protection Branch.
The older address ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oswp/ redirects here.
N.C. Division of Public Health — On-Site Water Protection Branch · checked 2026-09-23
The floor state law sets
The rules that govern every septic system in North Carolina are 15A NCAC 18E — Wastewater Treatment and Dispersal Systems. Every local permit is issued under them.
Rule .0101 sets the scope. The subchapter governs wastewater systems serving homes, businesses and places of public assembly.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
What state law requires
Does North Carolina require a septic permit?
A wastewater system needs a permit to build, repair, expand or relocate it.
The county issues an improvement permit, then a construction authorization, before work starts.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
Does North Carolina require a percolation test?
The state requires a site evaluation, not a percolation test, before it issues a permit.
The county evaluates soil texture, depth and wetness by digging pits or borings.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
The minimum septic tank size North Carolina allows.
1,000 gallons.
Applies to a dwelling unit with four bedrooms or fewer (15A NCAC 18E .0801, Table XIV).
A two compartment tank, or two tanks in series, meets the rule.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
How far a system must sit from a well in North Carolina.
50 feet.
Applies to a private well or an upslope spring that serves one home (15A NCAC 18E .0601(a), Table IX).
A shared or public well needs a wider setback under the same table.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
How far a system must sit from the property line in North Carolina.
10 feet.
Applies to a system that treats 3,000 gallons a day or less (15A NCAC 18E .0601(a), Table IX).
The setback runs from the nearest tank or field wall to the line.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
How often North Carolina requires a septic system inspection.
5 years.
Applies to a wastewater system with a single pump or siphon (15A NCAC 18E .1301(b), Table XXXII, Type IIIb).
The health department checks a system with a single pump on this schedule. A basic gravity system for one home has no set state check date.
N.C. Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 18E · checked 2026-09-23
Must the installer be licensed in North Carolina?
A state board must certify anyone who builds, repairs or inspects a system.
G.S. 90A, Article 5 names the levels and sets the rules for renewal.
N.C. General Statutes § 90A-72 · checked 2026-09-23
Whether North Carolina counts what it permits
Yes. North Carolina publishes septic permit counts by county.
Operation-permit counts by system type, with county, year and month filters. It is a dashboard you read by hand, not a file you download. The Division notes the data are not comprehensive.
N.C. Division of Public Health — Onsite Wastewater Program data portal · checked 2026-09-11
Counties with rules of their own
The state writes the code. Each county below adds rules of its own. Open the county to read them with their sources.
| County | Sets itself |
|---|---|
| Brunswick County | well with septic · revisit fee · lss permit fee |
| Catawba County | zoning approval before application · lot corners marked for evaluation · soil pit size |
| Davidson County | watershed overlay · revisit fee · permit fee |
| Forsyth County | septic repair fee · site revisit fee · redraw fee |
| Gaston County | existing system approval · septic verification for changes · health permit for building permit |
| Guilford County | permit fee · new construction inspection |
| Iredell County | permit fee · backhoe pits · permit surcharge |
| Johnston County | permit fee · zoning authorization |
| Lincoln County | in person application · property marking before application · wasted trip fee |
| Moore County | site visit fee · re issue permit fee |
| Orange County | tank size · application expiry · easement attorney review |
| Randolph County | permit fee · zoning authorization |
| Rowan County | two acre evaluation limit · backhoe pits repeat applications · septic repair fee |
| Wake County | permit fee · site visit fee · conditional power validity |
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 health department before you spend money on it.