Septic Systems
Septic systems treat wastewater. But before adding a new system or making changes, review the regulations and all required permits and applications.
What is a Septic System?
Septic systems, also called Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), are designed to treat wastewater for individual homes, businesses, or small groups of buildings. Septic systems are a reliable, eco-friendly solution when properly designed, installed, and maintained.
What Do You Want to Do?
Applications
- Please complete the Application for License to Install Onsite Water Treatment Systems for new buildings without an existing septic system.
- For connecting new buildings to an existing septic system, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adcogov.org or 303.288.6816.
- If you are adding a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or a mobile home, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adcogov.org or 303.288.6816.
Application Process
- Get a soils report and a septic system design from a designer who has passed the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT) septic system design course. A Colorado-registered professional engineer may be required in some cases. Please note: A full design is not needed to replace only a septic tank.
- Submit a septic system permit application to EHWaterProgram@acogov.org along with the septic system design and soils report. You may also submit these items through the online portal or in person at our Commerce City office.
- Pay the appropriate permit fee. You can pay this online when applying, over the phone when our team contacts you, or in person at our Commerce City office.
- Our team will review the septic system design and issue the permit if the application complies with Regulation O-22.
- Find an installer who the Adams County Health Department licenses to install the septic system. Once the installer is near completion, they will request a final inspection.
- If no issues are found in the final inspection, we will approve the installer’s backfilling of the system.
- Upon passing inspection, the designer will send us a letter ensuring the system matches their design. We will then issue a use permit for the system. Adams County Code Compliance requires this permit for the house to be certified for occupancy.
Applications
A use/transfer of title permit is required.
Application Process
- Have an inspector certified by the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT) or the National Sanitation Foundation inspect the system. In most cases, they must pump out the septic tank(s).
- Submit the application and inspection forms to EHWaterProgram@adcogov.org. These can also be submitted through the online portal or can be paid in person at our Commerce City Office.
- Pay the appropriate permit fee. You can pay this online when applying, over the phone when our team contacts you, or in person at our Commerce City office.
- Our team will review the submitted forms. If no issues are found, we will issue a permit and send it to the email address listed on the application.
A use/transfer of title permit is required for this. Please note: Additions that exceed the number of bedrooms a septic system can handle may need an install or repair permit as well.
If you plan to add an additional unit or connect a mobile home, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adcogov.org or 303.288.6816 to determine what is needed.
Needed Application
- For replacing an existing septic tank or adding a septic tank to an existing system, please complete the minor repair permit.
- For replacing a leach field of an existing system, please fill out the major repair permit.
- For replacing a leach field and septic tank(s), where at least one original septic tank is not replaced, please fill out the major repair permit.
- For replacing a leach field and septic tank(s), where no original septic tank remains, please fill out an install permit.
- For adding an additional leach and/or a septic tank to an existing system, please fill out an expansion permit. Please note: An expansion permit and a major repair permit have the same cost and requirements.