Septic Permits

Process for Wastewater (Septic) Treatment System and Well Permits

You may apply for a septic permit in our office between the hours of 8am-12pm and 1-5 p.m Monday through Friday. Applications may also be faxed or mailed.

Fee Sheet

Septic Permit Application

Septic permit applications are available in our office and online under useful forms.
Our office staff will help you fill out the application. Please do not hesitate to ask for help.
All on-site wastewater treatment system must follow Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Regulations

Failure to obtain a septic permit before beginning construction may result in a per day fine of $1000 for the contractor and $500 for the property owner.

Read the EPA's Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems

What You Need to Bring

Please be able to provide the following items:

Property owner’s name
Property address (we will not issue a permit without a legal address)
Tax ID
Geocode #, subdivision name
Name of installer
The correct amount of money for the permit and/or site evaluation fee

Much of this information can be obtained from your tax assessment and/or property records. We also may be able to assist you with locating this information.

What You Need to Do

You must complete a permit application for the proposed wastewater treatment system.

DEQ Approval

If the wastewater treatment system has received approval through the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sanitation-in-subdivision regulations, please provide a copy of the subdivision approval statement or subdivision name for our staff to obtain a copy of the approval.

Site Evaluation

If the wastewater treatment system has not received DEQ approval, a site evaluation must be completed. It is the property owner’s responsibility to schedule the site evaluation, pay the site evaluation fee ($200), and hire an excavator to dig a soil test hole at least eight (8) feet in depth while the RCEHD representative is present. It is also the owner’s responsibility to mark the test hole with a 10-foot long, perforated 4-inch PVC pipe installed vertically to a depth of at least 8 feet.

Groundwater Monitoring

If the site evaluation identifies the need for groundwater monitoring (e.g., reveals evidence of seasonally high groundwater based on soil characteristics, observed groundwater, wetland vegetation, or irrigation), monitoring must be conducted during the seasonally high groundwater period, typically March to October. The RCEHD will conduct the monitoring after the owner has completed a groundwater monitoring application and paid the applicable fees .

Floodplain Determination

If the proposed wastewater treatment system is near the floodplain, a floodplain determination is required prior to issuance of the permit. Please contact the Ravalli County Planning Department for a floodplain determination.

Nondegradation Analysis and Water Sample

If the permit is for a new dwelling or structure, you may need a nondegradation analysis. For parcels with DEQ approval, a nondegradation analysis should have already been completed. For parcels without DEQ approval, the analysis will require a water sample for total nitrogen (nitrate plus nitrite) completed from the nearest well.

The RCEHD will provide the sample container, and the sampling and the cost for analysis will be the responsibility of the property owner. After we receive a copy of the water sample report, the RCEHD will perform the nondegradation analysis. Non degradation analysis is $100.