Septic System Operation Permits

Search Operation Permit Online

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When will we be there? 
Who gives Clermont County Public Health permission to inspect?

Sewage Treatment Systems (STS) located in Clermont County are all part of the Clermont County Public Health's Operation Permit Program. There are over 20,000 onsite systems in Clermont County.  All onsite systems in the county are actively assessed as part of this program. Systems with electrical components are currently assessed once every 19 months and all other types of systems are assessed once every 38 months.  Systems that have been granted the Acceptable Operation and Maintenance (AOM) designation can double their routine inspection interval by maintaining their system in good working order.

Inspections are done on a township by township basis over a 19 month rotation period. Because of the number of systems located in Miami Township, three of the nineteen months are dedicated to assessments in that area. Since some systems are assessed in every 19 month rotation while others are only assessed in every other 19 month rotation, we may be at your home and not your neighbor’s home even though both homes are on a household sewage treatment system. It is also possible that your neighbor’s home has not yet been scheduled into the active inspection schedule. Systems that are not yet scheduled were typically installed prior to age of the computer database and the old installation records simply were not maintained. We will be using GIS to identify these missing systems.

If your system is operating properly at the time of the inspection and there are no sewage nuisances or code violations observed, you are issued an Operation Permit and are charged an Operation Permit fee. Systems that are found failing will be required to be repaired or replaced. Failing systems are charged the Operation Permit fee and then a reassessment fee for each additional visit required to ensure the system is operating properly. Large repairs require an alteration or replacement permit and are charged reinspection fees under the Operation Permit program.

View Clermont County Public Health's Fee Schedule to find amount of assessment fee.

Public Health Inspectors drive vehicles that are clearly marked with a Clermont County Public Health logo on each front door and they all carry Public Health photo ID badges.