State Septic Tank Regulations
Buying or replacing a septic tank is a state-by-state compliance exercise. OneSource's state guide index cites real statutes and state agencies, not internet lore.
How we write these guides. Every statute number, every setback distance, every tank-capacity table on a OneSource state page is sourced from the state's actual administrative code or regulatory agency publication. We cite the agency, the rule number, and the document URL. We never invent statute numbers, never paraphrase "standard industry practice" as if it were state law, and we update when rules change. If you find any state content that doesn't hold up to your local environmental health officer's scrutiny, email us and we will correct or retract within 24 hours.
Published State Guides
These guides are live with verified statutory citations.
California
OWTS Policy (State Water Board) + CPC Chapter 7 + Tier 1 setbacks
1.2 million OWTS statewide; Tier 1-4 framework; 100/150/200 ft setbacks
→ Read full guide
Texas
30 TAC Chapter 285 + Health & Safety Code Chapter 366 + TCEQ Authorized Agents
gpd-per-bedroom tank sizing; Class I/II installer licensing; aerobic ATU common
→ Read full guide
Florida
FS §381.0065 + Chapter 62-6 FAC (DEP) / 64E-6 FAC (DOH legacy)
Multi-chamber tanks + outlet filter required; hurricane-zone anchoring
→ Read full guide
Ohio
OAC Chapter 3701-29 + Rule 3701-29-12 (ODH) + local Boards of Health
1,000/1,500/2,000 gal capacity table; 2-compartment for 3+BR; NSF 46 effluent filter
→ Read full guide
North Carolina
15A NCAC Subchapter 18E (effective Oct 2021) + NCDHHS OSWP
Tables XIV/XV capacity; 2-compartment or in-series required; grinder pump doubles capacity
→ Read full guide
Georgia
Chapter 511-3-1 (effective 2016) + Rule .05 capacity + county EH permits
Flat 1,000 gal for 1-4 bedrooms; +50% for garbage disposal; gray water bonus
→ Read full guide
Washington
WAC 246-272A (2025 revision) + DOH + Local Health Jurisdictions
120 gpd/BR design flow; Puget Sound nitrogen-sensitive areas; 2024 rule rewrite
→ Read full guide
New York
10 NYCRR Appendix 75-A + NYSDOH Design Handbook + NYSDEC intermediate
5-day-retention sizing; Long Island I/A advanced treatment; NYC sewer-only
→ Read full guide
Arizona
AAC R18-9-A314 + R18-9-E302 (4.02 permit) + ADEQ + 15 county delegations
1,000/1,250/1,500 gal capacity; seepage pit option; 100% reserve area; Transfer Inspection pre-sale
→ Read full guide
Colorado
Regulation 43 (5 CCR 1002-43, rewritten March 2025) + CDPHE + 64 counties
Table 9-1 capacity; 48-hour detention graywater provision; mountain frost engineering
→ Read full guide
Oregon
OAR 340 Divisions 71 & 73 + DEQ Approved Tanks list
Simple 2-tier capacity (1,000 or 1,500 gal); county-agent permitting; coastal + volcanic soils
→ Read full guide
Michigan
Part 128 Public Health Code + EGLE Criteria + 45 local health departments
Distinctive no-uniform-state-code model; 1.3M systems; Great Lakes watershed; pending statewide legislation
→ Read full guide
Pennsylvania
25 Pa. Code Chapter 73 + Act 537 Official Plans + municipal SEO model
400 gpd baseline + 100 per extra BR; multi-compartment required; SEO-at-municipality permitting
→ Read full guide
States In Research Pipeline
We are building guides for every state. Each state guide is hand-researched against the governing state agency's actual administrative code, which takes time and is why we're not publishing placeholder pages. If you need immediate guidance for an un-published state, call us — we have the underlying research for most states already, we just haven't finished writing up the customer-facing guide.
Arizona
ADEQ — AAC Title 18 Chapter 9 Article 3 (ATUs)
Research in progress
Colorado
CDPHE — 5 CCR 1002-43 (Regulation 43, OWTS)
Research in progress
Washington
WA State Department of Health — WAC 246-272A
Research in progress
Oregon
Oregon DEQ — OAR Chapter 340 Division 071
Research in progress
Pennsylvania
PA DEP — 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73
Research in progress
Ohio
Ohio Department of Health — Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29
Research in progress
Michigan
EGLE — Michigan Public Health Code Part 124
Research in progress
New York
NY DEC — 10 NYCRR Appendix 75-A
Research in progress
Tennessee
TN Department of Environment & Conservation — Rule 0400-48
Research in progress
South Carolina
SC DHEC — Regulation 61-56
Research in progress
Kentucky
Kentucky Department for Public Health — 902 KAR 10:085
Research in progress
Virginia
Virginia DEQ / VDH — 12 VAC 5-610
Research in progress
Alabama
Alabama Department of Public Health — Chapter 420-3-1
Research in progress
Missouri
MO DNR — 10 CSR 20-8
Research in progress
Indiana
ISDH — 410 IAC 6-8.3
Research in progress
Wisconsin
WI DSPS — SPS 383
Research in progress
Minnesota
Minnesota PCA — MR 7080
Research in progress
Iowa
Iowa DNR — 567 IAC 69
Research in progress
Regulations change. Septic-system rules are amended by state agencies on a rolling basis. We monitor for changes in the states we have published but cannot guarantee real-time freshness. Before committing to a tank purchase, confirm the current rule with your county or state agency. If the rule has changed since our page was published, email us and we will update the guide.
Why State Rules Matter for Tank Selection
A polyethylene septic tank that ships compliant in Texas might fail inspection in Florida because Florida requires a multi-chamber configuration and outlet filter that Texas does not. A California Tier 1 installation may need anti-buoyancy anchoring that a Colorado install doesn't. The tank body is largely similar state-to-state — it's the specification details (number of chambers, outlet filter, anchor straps, manway size, vent configuration) that vary.
When you order from OneSource, we verify your state's requirements against the specific tank configuration before shipment. This is not an automatic service offered by every tank reseller.
Getting Started
- Identify your state and county. Follow a state link above, or contact our team with your ZIP code.
- Call your local permit office. Every state defers to county or local-agent administration for the actual permit. Confirm current fees, timelines, and any county-specific requirements.
- Get your site evaluation. A soils or perc test (depending on state) locks in your system design before you order the tank.
- Order the tank with state-specific configuration. Anchor straps, outlet filter, chamber count, manway size. Call us with the permit number and we'll ship the exact spec.
