Marion County, Oregon septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Marion County Public Works — Building Inspection, Onsite Sewage Disposal Program (Oregon DEQ contract agent)

Marion County Building Inspection / Onsite Sewage Disposal Program — 503-588-5147. The county states that it issues septic permits as a contract agent of Oregon DEQ.

Oregon county-agent framework

Oregon DEQ states that it may authorize counties as its agents for onsite septic permitting under OAR 340-071-0120. County agents can receive and process applications, issue permits, enforce onsite requirements, and perform required inspections. Property-specific local instructions should be followed because application and land-use procedures vary by county.

County is the DEQ contract agent for septic permitting

Marion County expressly states that Building Inspection issues septic system permits within the county as a contract agent of Oregon DEQ. County permits are issued under Oregon’s DEQ onsite sewage disposal rules, except for community-sewer properties and systems reserved to DEQ under Water Pollution Control Facilities rules.

Site evaluation determines sewage-disposal feasibility

The county requires a septic site evaluation to determine sewage-disposal feasibility for a specific property before construction of a new onsite system. Its site-evaluation packet requires a site plan and test pits and provides county setback guidance.

Land Use Compatibility Statement in specified locations

Marion County states that a Land Use Compatibility Statement is required with a site-evaluation application for properties inside urban growth boundaries, in the Urban Transition zone, and inside city limits.

Large-flow systems are referred to Oregon DEQ

Marion County directs applicants with systems over 2,500 gallons per day to Oregon DEQ for Water Pollution Control Facilities permitting rather than the normal county residential onsite process.

County septic-history records

Marion County provides online scanned septic records for many properties and directs users to the onsite office when a property’s septic history cannot be located online.

Official sources

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