Sewage Permit Application Informational Guide

The Law

The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act of Jan. 24, (1966) 1965, P.L. 1535, No. 537 Cl. 35 requires local governments to provide for the issuance of permits for on-lot sewage disposal systems. Section 7(a)(1) of the act further states that no person shall install, construct, or award a contract for construction, or alter, repair or connect to an individual sewage system or construct, or install or occupy any building or structure for which an individual sewage system is to be installed without first obtaining a sewage permit indicating that the site and the plans and specifications of such system are in compliance with the provisions of this act and the standards adopted pursuant to this act.

Where the scope of work requires the installation and or modification to an on-lot sewage disposal system such as constructing a new home or increasing the number of bedrooms to an existing home, a sewage permit must first be acquired before a building permit may be issued.

Getting Your Sewage Permit

To obtain a permit for an on-lot sewage system, these steps must be followed:

The lot owner, or an agent for the owner, applies for a permit through the Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO). If the lot is in a subdivision, the lot owner should first ensure that all other state, county and local planning, zoning and land use requirements have been met by checking with the Building Code Official.
The SEO measures the slope and conducts soil profile examinations and percolation tests to determine if the site is suitable for an on-lot system. If suitable, the SEO determines which type of on-lot system will work best. If suitable, the SEO will identify the type of system that can be permitted based on the soil and percolation test results.
If the site is suitable, the SEO informs the lot owner or agent to proceed with the system design. The system must be designed with certain factors in mind, including site conditions, isolation distances, percolation test results and the number of bedrooms in the home. The SEO is prohibited from designing the system.
Once the lot owner or agent has the design and plot plan, they are submitted as part of the permit application to the SEO. The SEO must approve or deny the permit after receiving a complete application. If approved, the SEO issues the sewage permit and the applicant may apply for a building permit. A sewage permit is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance.
If denied, the SEO notifies the applicant.

Sewage Enforcement Officer

Timothy Wargo, Sewage Enforcement Officer

Hoover Engineering Services, Inc.

658 Gaumer Road, Suite 100
New Cumberland, PA 17070

Office: 717-770-0100
Direct: 717-836-6905
Mobile: 717-443-2878

twargo@hooverengineering.com

NOTE:

The lot owner, or an agent for the owner is responsible for all costs associated with obtaining a sewage permit.

Building & Zoning Quick Links

Contact Us