Septic inspections when buying or selling a house

Arkansas

We found no Arkansas statute or ADH rule that requires a septic inspection or certification when a home is sold. Any inspection is set by the buyer, lender or loan program; for FHA and VA loans see the shared lender section.

• An existing system that ADH finds to be a health hazard or nuisance must be brought up to the current rules within 30 working days of notice (Rule 3.4), which can matter when a failing system is found during a sale.

Sources: Arkansas State Board of Health, Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (effective Sept 5, 2024), Section 3.4; HUD Handbook 4000.1, FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook (Update 18 redline, last revised 8/12/2026), II.D, Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems

Oklahoma

We found no Oklahoma rule that requires a septic inspection when a home is sold. DEQ offers an existing system evaluation for a fee ($250 base in the rule, CPI adjusted), bought through its online payment system. For FHA and VA loans see the shared lender section.

• Final inspection records for a permitted system are held by DEQ; request copies through DEQ Central Records (405-702-1188).

Sources: Oklahoma DEQ, ECLS Online Payments; OAC 252:641, Individual and Small Public On-Site Sewage Treatment Systems (amended through 9-15-24), 252:641-23-1(a)(5)

Missouri

Missouri law does not require a septic inspection or evaluation before a home is sold, but if a lender or buyer asks for one it must be done by a DHSS-licensed inspector or evaluator, and some counties require one on every sale. An inspection includes a hydraulic load test of the soil treatment system; an evaluation reports tank function and visible signs of failure; both include a private well water sample. State law does not require the seller to fix what the report finds.

• Licensed inspectors must send reports to DHSS, the local authority, the requesting party and the owner within 30 days (19 CSR 20-3.070(10)).
• Owners are not obliged to hire the same licensee for repairs or re-inspection (19 CSR 20-3.070(10)(A)10).
• Check with the lender to learn which type of assessment is required, if any.

Sources: Missouri DHSS, Onsite Wastewater Frequently Asked Questions; Missouri DHSS, Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Inspections Versus Evaluations

Tennessee

We found no Tennessee rule requiring a septic inspection at sale, but TDEC issues Inspection Letters documenting an existing system's status, which owners, realtors, lenders and buyers routinely request (the rule fee for inspecting an existing system is $200), and it will test well water for bacteria. Buyers of homes with an advanced treatment system inherit a recorded deed restriction and must keep a maintenance contract in force. Past permit records are searchable online outside the contract counties.

• Water sample fees in the rule: $115 mailed, $215 delivered directly (0400-48-01-.21(1)(h)).
• Records search: https://tdec.tn.gov/document-viewer/search/stp (does not cover the nine contract counties).

Sources: TDEC, Online Application for Septic Related Services; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-48-01, Regulations to Govern Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (April 2014 revised), 0400-48-01-.10(2)(c)2; TDEC, SSDS Frequently Asked Questions

FHA and VA loans

FHA does not require a routine septic inspection. The appraiser must visually observe the system and require an inspection only when there are readily observable signs of failure, and the lender must confirm connection to public sewer when it is feasible at reasonable cost. Otherwise an onsite system is acceptable if it works properly and meets local health department requirements; if it is not sufficient and no sewer is available, the property is rejected unless the system is repaired or replaced.

VA training material for appraisers and lenders says septic inspections are generally not required unless the appraiser notes a specific problem, usually odor or seepage, though some states require them regardless. This comes from a 2017 VA training deck; the controlling VA Lenders Handbook chapter could not be read.

• A VA Notice of Value may require evidence from the local health authority that an individual sewage disposal system is acceptable.

Sources: HUD Handbook 4000.1, FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook (Update 18 redline, last revised 8/12/2026), II.D, Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems; VA Loan Guaranty training slides, Notice of Value Conditions (April 12, 2017)