Durham County, North Carolina septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Durham County Department of Public Health — Environmental Health, On-Site Water Protection

Durham County Environmental Health Division: 919-560-7800; [email protected]; 414 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701.

North Carolina state and local framework

The N.C. Division of Public Health On-Site Water Protection Branch provides statewide regulatory oversight and technical guidance for subsurface onsite wastewater systems, while local health departments carry out county permitting and inspection functions. NCDHHS directs homeowners to the local health department for septic questions, permits, and inspections.

County onsite section provides regulatory oversight

Durham County states that its On-Site Water Protection section provides regulatory oversight and enforcement for laws and rules governing onsite wastewater systems and private wells.

Site evaluations and construction inspections

The county lists septic site evaluations and septic-system construction inspections among the services performed by On-Site Water Protection, along with complaint investigations involving septic systems.

Existing permit records are available by request

Durham County allows anyone to request existing septic and well records from Environmental Health by providing identifying information such as the site address and, when available, parcel or PIN information.

Official sources

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