Official sources checked September 8, 2026

Hillsborough County, Florida septic permits and requirements

DOH-Hillsborough is the current local septic permitting office

Florida DEP’s current county-by-county permitting FAQ lists Hillsborough among the counties where OSTDS permits are issued by the Environmental Public Health Program of the local Florida Department of Health county office. DEP administers the statewide OSTDS statutes and Chapter 62-6 rules, but Hillsborough applicants currently file through DOH-Hillsborough rather than a DEP-administered county office.

The local program handles construction permits and inspections

DOH-Hillsborough states that its septic services include septic-system construction permitting and inspection. The same program also handles land-application sites and pump-truck permitting and inspection, specified wastewater and performance-based treatment systems, septic-tank manufacturer facilities, contractor licensing, and operating permits and inspections for aerobic treatment units and commercial systems.

Use the project-specific application package

DOH-Hillsborough publishes separate application packages for new construction, existing-system modifications, repairs, septic-system abandonment, and holding tanks. The county page states that applications may be submitted to Environmental Health by hand delivery, mail, fax, or email. Use the package that matches the proposed work instead of assuming a new-system application covers an existing-system repair or modification.

Site plans, floor plans, and a site evaluation are part of the state permitting path

Florida DEP’s current permitting guidance for DOH-administered counties says applicants submit the construction application, a site plan, a building floor plan, and the required application fee to the county health department. A site evaluation is also required and must be performed by a qualified professional; the county health department may perform that evaluation for a fee. DEP notes that local ordinances can exceed statewide minimum requirements, so the final Hillsborough review controls for the parcel.

Existing permit and inspection records are available through Environmental Health

DOH-Hillsborough provides its eBridge public-record system for Environmental Health files. The agency says users can retrieve available inspections, permits, and correspondence by fields such as permit number, facility name, street address, ZIP code, document date, or document type. Check the available county record before planning an addition, repair, replacement, or abandonment around an existing septic system.

Confirm current counter hours and submission details before traveling

DOH-Hillsborough’s Main Office page places Environmental Health at 1105 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa and lists Environmental Health at 813-307-8059. The septic-program page publishes separate application-counter hours and a midday closure, so call or use the current county page to confirm same-day Environmental Health availability, payment instructions, and the current application package before making a trip.

Official sources

• Florida DEP — Onsite Sewage Program
• Florida DEP — Current OSTDS Permitting by County
• Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County — Septic Systems
• Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County — Main Office / Environmental Health
• Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County — Environmental Health Public Records

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