Septic permit rules and requirements in Oregon
In Oregon, the state sets the rule. The septic permit comes from your contract county. For some systems the state issues it itself. The code is OAR 340, Division 71. Oregon Administrative Rules 340-071-0120 · checked 2026-09-12
Onsite Wastewater Management Program
Writes the rules
checked 2026-09-23
Your contract county
Issues the permit
checked 2026-09-12
OAR 340, Division 71
Code section
checked 2026-09-23
Who decides a septic permit in Oregon
Your contract county issues an ordinary residential permit. For some systems the state issues it itself. The state sets the floor through the Onsite Wastewater Management Program, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
The rule lets DEQ agree with a county to become its agent for issuing septic permits. DEQ itself issues the permit in every county with no such agreement.
Oregon Administrative Rules 340-071-0120 · checked 2026-09-12
The office's phone number is 541-776-6010.
This is the phone number for the DEQ Medford office.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — Onsite Wastewater Management Program · checked 2026-09-23
The office publishes its own page on this: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — Residential Septic Permitting.
The office's own page names this address as its canonical link.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — Residential Septic Permitting · checked 2026-09-23
The floor state law sets
The rules that govern every septic system in Oregon are OAR 340, Division 71 — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Every local permit is issued under them.
Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 340, Division 71 · checked 2026-09-23
Oregon counties on this site
We have not published a Oregon 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 contract county before you spend money on it.