Tennessee septic permit requirements
Statewide program run through TDEC Environmental Field Offices, except nine contract counties that run their own septic programs: Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby and Williamson.
- Issuing agency: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources
- Sourced from the agency itself
The permit process, step by step
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Soil evaluation | TDEC may request a soils map from a private soil consultant. Soil consultants must be approved by TDEC, and the Division publishes the approved list. Large conventional systems and alternative systems also need a design by a licensed engineer. |
| 2. Septic System Construction Permit | Required before any subsurface sewage disposal system is installed and before a faulty system is repaired. Apply online or on form CN-0971 to your Environmental Field Office. Review generally takes 10 days and must be finished within 45 days. The permit expires three years after it is issued. |
| 3. Installation | Anyone in the business of installing, altering, extending or repairing septic systems needs an annual TDEC installer permit, earned by passing a test with a score of at least 70 percent. Installer permits are valid statewide. |
| 4. Final inspection | When installation is complete, the installer contacts the local TDEC Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered. |
Source: www.tn.gov. rules change; confirm with the agency before starting work.
What trips people up
- In the nine contract counties, apply through the county program, not TDEC. Those counties may require an additional local permit from installers.
- Installer and pumper permits expire every December 31 and must be renewed each year, so confirm a contractor's permit is current.
- Septic tank pumping requires a separate annual TDEC pumper permit, which includes a truck inspection through the Environmental Field Office.
- A property owner or tenant may do the work at their own residence without an installer permit, but still needs the construction permit.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New conventional system permit, up to 1,000 gallons per day | $400, plus $100 per additional 1,000 gallons per day |
| Conventional construction inspection | $100 |
| New alternative system permit, up to 1,000 gallons per day | $500, plus $150 per additional 1,000 gallons per day |
| Alternative construction inspection | $200 |
| Experimental system permit | $500 |
| Repair permit | No permit fee; $100 repair inspection |
County-specific requirements
Local rules that differ from, or add to, the state process.
- Bedford County
- Blount County
- Bradley County
- Cumberland County
- Davidson County
- DeKalb County
- Gibson County
- Giles County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hamilton County
- Hawkins County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Knox County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Loudon County
- Madison County
- Maury County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Putnam County
- Rutherford County
- Sevier County
- Shelby County
- Sullivan County
- Sumner County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Wilson County
Find a licensed pro in Tennessee
- Bristol
- Clarksville
- Cleveland
- Columbia
- Cookeville
- Crossville
- Dandridge
- Flintville
- Goodlettsville
- Greeneville
- Hixson
- Humboldt
- Jackson
- Johnson City
- Knoxville
- Lawrenceburg
- Lebanon
- Lenoir City
- Madisonville
- Maryville
- Mcminnville
- Memphis
- Morristown
- Mountain City
State licensing records: official roster. Every SepticNear listing is checked against it. All Tennessee coverage →
Common questions
Who issues septic permits in Tennessee?
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources. Statewide program run through TDEC Environmental Field Offices, except nine contract counties that run their own septic programs: Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby and Williamson.
Do I need a soil or percolation test?
TDEC may request a soils map from a private soil consultant. Soil consultants must be approved by TDEC, and the Division publishes the approved list. Large conventional systems and alternative systems also need a design by a licensed engineer.
Can I install my own septic system in Tennessee?
Installation is restricted to licensed or registered installers in nearly all cases.
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