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 and businesses that are not served by a public sewer system. The treated wastewater is then returned to the water table.
Septic systems are a reliable, eco-friendly solution when properly designed, installed, and maintained.
What Do You Want to Do?
All applications can be accessed and submitted through our online portal.
Applications
- For connecting new buildings to an existing septic system, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adamscountyco.gov or 303.288.6816.
- If you are adding a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or a mobile home, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adamscountyco.gov 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@adamscountyco.gov along with the septic system design and soils report. Alternatively, you may submit these items through the online portal or in person at our 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 office.
- Our team will review the septic system design and issue the permit if the application complies with Regulation O-26.
- 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.
Related Documents
Applications
A use/transfer of title permit is required to sell a home or business with an existing septic system in most cases.
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@adamscountyco.gov. These can also be submitted through the online portal or can be paid in person at our 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 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.
Related Documents
A Use Permit is required to make an addition to a home or business with an existing septic system. Please note that additions that exceed the number of bedrooms a septic system was designed for may need an expansion or repair permit as well.
Applications can be submitted by emailing EHWaterProgram@adamscountyco.gov.
Related Documents
If you plan to add an additional unit or connect a mobile home, please contact us at EHWaterProgram@adamscountyco.gov or 303.288.6816 to determine what is needed.
For homeowners looking to educate themselves and maintain their own septic systems, please view our maintenance guide pages:
Needed Application
Please note that for permits related to installation, expansion, major repairs, and minor repairs, you will fill out the Application for a Septic System Permit.
- For replacing an existing septic tank or adding a septic tank to an existing system, please choose “minor repair” as the permit application type.
- For replacing the leach field of an existing septic system, please choose “major repair” as the permit application type.
- For replacing a leach field and septic tank(s), where at least one original septic will still be used, please choose “major repair” as the permit application type.
- For replacing a leach field and septic tank(s), where none of the existing septic tank(s) will still be used, please choose “install” as the permit application type.
- For adding an additional leach field or expanding an existing leach field, please choose “expand” as the permit type.
- For mechanical remediation techniques to remediate a leach field, such as “Terralift”, a permit is required. Please choose “major repair” as the permit application type.
- For any repair that does not involve adding, repairing, replacing, expanding, mitigating, or abandoning any septic tank, leach field, sewer line, or effluent line, a permit is not required. Examples include replacing septic tank risers, septic tank lids, and distribution boxes.
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@adamscountyco.gov along with the septic system design and soils report. Alternatively, you may submit these items through the online portal or in person at our 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 office.
- Our team will review the septic system design and issue the permit if the application complies with Regulation O-26.
- 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.
Related Documents
License & Application Portal
Access everything you need for applying and licensing in one place, as well as making payment to the Adams County Health Department.