Septic System Design & Permitting
Expert septic system design and permitting services built around your property’s unique soil conditions, local codes, and long-term wastewater needs.
5 Highlights on Septic System Design & Permitting
- Site-Specific Soil Testing and Perc Tests — Our licensed soil scientists conduct percolation tests and full soil profile evaluations to determine absorption rates, water table depth, and restrictive layers before any design work begins.
- Engineered System Design for Residential and Commercial Properties — We design conventional gravity systems, mound systems, pressure distribution systems, chamber systems, and advanced treatment units sized to your property’s daily flow and hydraulic load requirements.
- Full Permit Application Preparation and Submission — We prepare complete permit applications including site plans, as-built drawings, engineering reports, setback distance calculations, and well separation distance documentation for health department review.
- Variance and Alternative System Expertise — Properties with clayey soils, high water tables, or tight lot lines often need a variance or alternative system design. We assess these constraints and submit compliant solutions that local sanitarians approve.
- Coordination from Design Through Certified Installation — Our team manages the entire process from the initial soil test through final health department inspection, ensuring your septic system meets every code requirement before a single trench gets dug.
Our Septic System Design & Permitting Services:
- Residential Septic System Design
- Commercial Septic System Design
- Percolation Testing (Perc Test)
Why Choose Our Septic System Design & Permitting
Septic system design and permitting is the foundation of every reliable onsite wastewater system. A poorly designed drain field fails. A missing permit creates legal liability. We eliminate both problems.
Action Septic Service employs licensed designers and certified installers who’ve permitted hundreds of residential and commercial septic systems across our service area. We don’t guess at soil conditions. We test them. Every project starts with a thorough perc test, a detailed soil profile analysis, and a review of your property’s topography, bedrock depth, and native soil composition.
Our design engineers calculate design flow, peak flow, and loading rates specific to your household or commercial operation. We size septic tanks, select the right distribution box configuration, and specify whether your property needs a gravity-fed system, a low-pressure pipe system, a mound system, or an advanced aerobic treatment unit. Each design accounts for setback distances from property lines, wells, and surface water.
We handle every piece of the permit application. Site plans get drawn to scale. Engineering reports document soil data and system specifications. We submit directly to your local health department and work with the assigned sanitarian through the approval process. If your lot requires a variance or easement documentation, we prepare and file that too.
Our clients don’t chase paperwork. They get a permitted, code-compliant septic system designed to perform for decades.
Signs You Need Septic System Design & Permitting
Septic system design and permitting isn’t just for new construction. Several situations demand professional design work and fresh permits.
You’re Building on Undeveloped Land: Any new home or commercial building on a lot without municipal sewer requires a permitted onsite septic system. Before you pour a foundation, you need a soil test, a perc test, and an engineered system design that your local health department approves. Skipping this step means no building permit gets issued.
Your Existing System Has Failed Beyond Repair: A failing drain field that’s saturated, a septic tank with compromised tank integrity, or a system that overflows repeatedly often can’t be repaired. Replacement requires a new design. The original system’s footprint, the biomat buildup in the old absorption bed, and current code changes all mean your replacement system needs fresh engineering and a new permit.
You’re Adding Bedrooms or Expanding Square Footage: Design flow calculations tie directly to bedroom count and fixture units. Adding a bedroom, a guest house, or converting a commercial space increases your hydraulic load. Your existing system may not handle the added wastewater volume. A licensed designer must recalculate loading rates and determine whether your current leach field and tank compartments can absorb the increase or need an upgrade.
Your Property Has Challenging Soil or Topography: Sandy soils percolate too fast. Clayey soils drain too slowly. High water tables and shallow bedrock create restrictive layers that limit conventional system placement. These conditions require an engineered alternative system — a mound system, a recirculating sand filter, a drip irrigation system, or a denitrification system — each needing specialized design and permitting.
Local Regulations Have Changed Since Your System Was Installed: Health departments update septic codes regularly. Setback requirements shift. Nitrogen reduction mandates get added. If you’re selling your property or refinancing, an outdated or non-compliant system may need a new design to meet current standards and receive certification.
Our Septic System Design & Permitting Process
Septic system design and permitting follows a structured sequence that moves your project from raw land to an approved, buildable plan.
Step 1: Initial Site Assessment We visit your property to survey the terrain, identify slopes, locate wells, and note existing structures. We measure setback distances from property lines, water sources, and any curtain drains or diversion swales that affect drainage patterns.
Step 2: Soil Testing and Percolation Testing Our soil scientist excavates test pits to examine the soil profile — layer by layer. We identify native soil types, check for saturated zones, and measure depth to bedrock or any restrictive layer. We then run perc tests to establish the percolation rate at your proposed drain field location.
Step 3: System Design and Engineering Using soil data, lot dimensions, and your building’s projected daily flow, we design the complete system. This includes septic tank sizing, distribution box placement, lateral line layout, and drain field dimensions. We select the appropriate system type — conventional, mound, pressure distribution, chamber, or advanced treatment unit — based on your site’s specific conditions.
Step 4: Permit Application and Submission We compile the site plan, engineering report, soil test results, and all required documentation into a complete permit application. We submit it to your local health department and respond to any questions the reviewing sanitarian raises.
Step 5: Approval and Pre-Construction Review Once the health department grants approval, we review the permitted design with your excavation crew or our own licensed installers to confirm equipment needs, material specifications, and the construction timeline.
Brands We Use
Septic system design and permitting specifications call for components from manufacturers with proven field performance. We specify and install products from these trusted brands:
- Infiltrator Water Technologies
- Orenco Systems
- Norweco
- Zoeller
- SJE Rhombus
- Polylok
- TUF-TITE
- Sim/Tech
- Presby Environmental
- Consolidated Treatment Systems
Every component we specify meets local code requirements and carries manufacturer warranties.
Other Services
| Septic system design | Onsite wastewater system design | Soil profile evaluation |
| Septic system permitting | Septic permit application | Health department approval |
| Septic design engineer | Licensed septic designer | Engineering report for septic |
| Perc test for septic | Percolation test services | Soil absorption rate testing |
| Septic system site plan | Septic as-built drawing | Setback distance calculation |
FAQs About Septic System Design & Permitting
What is septic system design and permitting?
Septic system design is the engineering process that determines the type, size, and placement of an onsite wastewater treatment system based on your property’s soil conditions, lot size, and projected wastewater flow. Permitting is the regulatory approval process where your local health department reviews the design, confirms code compliance, and authorizes construction.
When do I need a new septic system design?
You need a new design when building on undeveloped property, replacing a failing system, increasing your home’s bedroom count, or converting a property’s use from residential to commercial. Any change that affects daily flow or hydraulic load triggers a design review.
How long does the septic permitting process take?
Timelines vary by jurisdiction. Most health departments process permit applications within two to six weeks after receiving a complete submission. Incomplete applications, variance requests, or sites requiring alternative system designs can extend the timeline.
Can I design my own septic system?
Most states require a licensed designer, professional engineer, or certified soil scientist to prepare septic system designs. DIY designs won’t pass health department review and won’t receive a building permit.
How much does a perc test cost?
Perc test costs depend on the number of test holes required and your property’s accessibility. Most residential perc tests run between $500 and $1,500. Properties with difficult terrain or multiple proposed drain field areas may cost more.
Does my septic design need to account for future expansion?
Yes. A qualified designer calculates design flow based on current and potential future use. Designating a reserve drain field area on your site plan is a code requirement in many jurisdictions and protects your investment if the primary absorption bed ever needs replacement.