Official sources checked August 29, 2026

Pima County, Arizona septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities Program

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality regulates septic construction, replacement, ownership transfer, and closure under delegated ADEQ authority. Use the county onsite-wastewater page and Land Permitting Customer Portal for current forms, inspections, payments, and records.

Arizona permitting framework

ADEQ has statewide authority for onsite wastewater treatment facilities and states that permitting authority is delegated to each of Arizona’s 15 counties. ADEQ rules continue to apply statewide, while delegated counties may have additional local requirements. Applicants should therefore use the county process for the property location unless the county or ADEQ identifies a project that remains under direct state jurisdiction.

State construction and discharge sequence

Arizona’s Type 4.02–4.23 general-permit framework covers many residential and light-commercial onsite systems up to 24,000 gallons per day. The state process requires authorization before construction and a discharge-authorization step after construction, inspection, and testing; county delegation and local limits determine which agency performs those steps for a particular project.

PDEQ regulates septic construction, replacement, transfer, and closure

Pima County states that it regulates construction, including replacement, ownership transfer, and closure of septic systems. Designs must comply with Arizona Aquifer Protection Permit rules and Pima County Code Title 7.

Construction Authorization is required before building or replacing the system

Pima County requires a Construction Authorization before a septic facility is constructed or replaced. Property owners should not begin installation based only on a design or preliminary site information.

Site investigation determines conventional versus alternative design

The county identifies site investigation as an essential part of permitting because it determines the type of septic system needed for the site. Pima organizes its permitting instructions around the resulting conventional or alternative system path.

Final field inspection is required before use

After construction, the facility must pass Pima County’s final field inspection. The county then issues the Discharge Authorization; the system should not be buried and placed into use before that authorization is issued.

Transfer and abandonment use separate county processes

Pima County publishes dedicated forms and instructions for transfer-of-property septic inspections and for system closure or abandonment. It also provides septic-record searches through its permitting and records tools.

Official sources

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