Official sources checked August 30, 2026

Douglas County, Colorado septic permits and requirements

Colorado state and local framework

Colorado Regulation 43 establishes statewide minimum standards for onsite wastewater treatment systems. Colorado law also requires local boards of health to adopt detailed OWTS rules for their jurisdictions consistent with state requirements, so the county or local public-health agency is the key permitting authority for ordinary residential systems and may impose locally adopted procedures or requirements.

Douglas County Health Department is the local OWTS authority

Douglas County’s Regulation 26-01 states that the Health Department administers permitting, installation, repair, use permits, contractor licensing, inspections, and enforcement for onsite wastewater treatment systems in the county under Colorado Regulation 43 and state law.

Public sewer availability can prevent an OWTS permit

The county regulation states that an OWTS permit will not be issued when the property is within a municipality or special district that provides public sewer service, unless the sewer connection is determined infeasible by that provider or the provider otherwise authorizes the OWTS. Applicants should resolve sewer-service status before paying for a septic design.

Repairs and expansions have defined permit categories

Douglas County requires a Major Repair Permit for work such as replacing, adding, or expanding a soil treatment area and for soil-based remediation. A Minor Repair Permit covers work such as adding or replacing a septic tank or adding a lift station or pump not included in the original system. A major remodel that exceeds the system’s original design can require an Expansion Permit, and a complete system replacement requires a new-install permit.

Use Permits are required for specific post-installation and change-of-use events

Under Regulation 26-01, a Use Permit or renewal is required after a new installation, construction, alteration, or repair; for a major remodel; for a residential-to-commercial change of use; for an auxiliary building or accessory structure with plumbing; for an ADU; before county approval of a short-term rental; and for certain other listed events. The current regulation specifically excludes covered property transactions from this Use Permit trigger, so owners should not rely on older Douglas County material that treated every sale as requiring a Use Permit.

Use Permit inspections require a qualified inspector and recent pumping verification

A Use Permit application must include an inspection report completed within the prior 12 months by a licensed systems inspector with an accepted certification. The current regulation requires verification that the septic tank was pumped within 12 months of the Use Permit inspection and requires documentation of the tank, soil treatment area, mechanical components, deficiencies, and specified photographs.

Licensed system contractors must handle regulated repair work

Douglas County’s current regulation provides a local Systems Contractor licensing program and states that malfunctioning systems requiring repair must be repaired by a licensed Systems Contractor. Systems determined to be in failure must be reported to the Health Department within 48 hours, and required repair permits must be obtained before repair work is completed.

Published 2026 fees distinguish new, repair, and use permits

The Douglas County Board of Health fee schedule effective November 1, 2025 lists an OWTS new permit at $1,060, a major repair or expansion permit at $695, a minor repair permit at $390, and a Use Permit application at $65. It also lists separate renewal, reinspection, installer-license, cleaner-license, and enforcement fees. Because fee schedules can change, applicants should confirm the current schedule before payment.

Higher-level treatment systems carry ongoing maintenance obligations

For higher-level treatment systems, Regulation 26-01 requires additional Use Permit information including the treatment technology and service provider plus an operation-and-maintenance service contract of at least one year. Inspections and maintenance must be performed by a licensed O&M contractor under the manufacturer’s recommendations or the county’s more stringent requirements.

Official sources

• Colorado Secretary of State — Regulation 43, On-site Wastewater Treatment System Regulation
• Colorado Revised Statutes Title 25 — local boards of health and OWTS rules
• Douglas County Health Department — OWTS Regulation 26-01 (effective April 26, 2026)
• Douglas County Health Department — current fee schedule
• Douglas County Health Department — OWTS Use Permit application

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