Chambers County, Alabama septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Chambers County Health Department, Environmental Office (Alabama Department of Public Health)

Chambers County Health Department Environmental Office — 334-756-0758; 5 North Medical Park Drive, Valley, AL 36854.

Permit before installation or repair

Alabama requires a permit from the local county health department before installing a new onsite sewage disposal system or repairing an existing system. The county environmental office is the local point of contact for the permit and inspection process.

Site and soil evaluation

ADPH directs property owners to have the site evaluated by an appropriate registered professional. Depending on site conditions and system type, this can involve a professional soils classifier, land surveyor, geologist, or engineer; engineered design is required for certain restricted sites or designed systems.

What goes into the application

State guidance identifies soils information, property or legal-description information, a plot plan and vicinity information among the materials used for permit review. The local health department reviews the application and site information before a Permit to Install is issued.

Installation and inspection

Do not begin construction until the Permit to Install has been issued. ADPH says system installers must be properly licensed, and county inspection or approval is required before the system is covered or placed into use.

Finding existing septic records

ADPH says property owners or their agents can contact the local health department for existing septic-system information. A completed permit or Approval for Use may include a diagram showing the installed tank and field-line layout.

Official sources

SepticScope summarizes public-agency information for planning purposes. The permitting agency's current instructions control if they differ from this guide.