Georgia runs septic permitting at county level, not state level. If you've only built in South Carolina, almost everything here works differently.
Georgia onsite sewage is governed by state rule under the Department of Public Health, but permits are issued by the County Board of Health. The county has 20 days to approve or deny a completed application, a construction permit is valid no more than 12 months, and final inspection by the county before backfill is mandatory on every job. Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie and Burke counties all sit in the East Central Health District, reachable at (706) 721-5800.
Every Georgia county we serve falls under the same district, which makes this simpler than it looks. The East Central Health District, based in Augusta, covers thirteen counties including Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie and Burke. Same rules, same process, same phone number: (706) 721-5800.
Owner and applicant names, property location, plans and specifications, nature of the facility, water supply locations, number of bedrooms or persons served, soil characteristics and seasonal groundwater data.
Must be performed by an individual certified by the Department per the state Manual. Evaluators are required to carry liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000,000 coverage.
Permits issue only after a County Board of Health site inspection confirms favourable absorption rates, soil characteristics and groundwater conditions.
The County Board of Health must approve or disapprove within 20 days of receiving completed paperwork.
By a Georgia-certified contractor working for a Georgia-certified company. Out-of-state certifications are not recognised.
Mandatory, every job. No person may backfill or use a system until a final inspection has been made by the County Board of Health and written approval issued. There is no self-inspection option in Georgia.
Some of these differ meaningfully from South Carolina, and they catch contractors who work mainly on one side of the river.
| Requirement | Georgia standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum, 1 to 4 bedrooms | 1,000 gallons |
| Each bedroom over 4 | +250 gallons |
| Garbage grinder | Capacity increased by 50 percent |
| Retention | Minimum 24 hours |
| Tank compartments | Two required, first at least 2/3 of liquid capacity |
| Outlet filter | Approved filter required |
| Inlet and outlet tees | ASTM 3034 rated or equivalent |
| Conventional system range | 1,000 to 10,000 gallons |
Georgia certifies both the company and the individual contractor, and out-of-state certifications are not recognised. Individual contractors must be employed by a certified company in good standing, pass an exam, and complete continuing education: eight CEUs per renewal period for installers, six for pumpers.
Company certifications expire on 28 February of even-numbered years and renew on a two-year cycle. Pumping companies must additionally hold a current County Septage Removal Permit, applied for at least ten days before beginning operations in the county where the business is based, and vehicles must display the business name and permit number on both sides in letters at least two inches high.
Practical takeaway: if you're hiring a contractor in Georgia, their Georgia credentials are a separate thing from any South Carolina licence they hold. Ask for both. Our credentials →
Georgia offers a formal instrument through County Environmental Health performance evaluation reports, alongside private inspectors certified by Georgia DPH. Performance evaluations of existing systems must follow the procedures in the state Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems, which was updated in March 2026. If you're buying or selling, see our septic inspection page.
Tell us about the property and what it's doing. We'll come look, tell you straight what it needs, and give you a number you can plan around.