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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

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FAQ - Permitting

Contact the Statewide Headquarters of the Onsite Sewage Program

  •  850-245-4250
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    Fax

    850-487-0864
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    Mailing Address

    Bureau of Environmental Health, Onsite Sewage Programs 

    4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-08 

    Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710 

How do I get a permit to construct a septic tank system or other onsite sewage treatment and disposal system (OSTDS)? 

Permits for septic tank systems and other onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems are issued by the Environmental Health Section of the Florida Department of Health's county offices (html).  Please note that many counties have local ordinances that may exceed state requirements for onsite septic systems.

How do I apply for a permit? 

To apply for a permit, download and complete an Application Form (DH4015, page 1) and submit it, along with a Site Plan (DH4015, page 2), a building floor plan, and the required application fee to your county's department of health office.  A Site Evaluation (DH4015, page 3) is needed to determine the conditions on your property and must be performed by a qualified professional.  If you want, your county's department of health office can perform the site evaluation for a fee.  Your county health department will determine the total permitting fee based on the type of system needed for your property and the services you ask them to perform.  The information in your application, site plan, building plan, and site evaluation will allow the Department of Health to determine the construction needs for the system to serve your property.

Septic Tank Standards 

Standards for septic tank systems and other onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems are found in 381.0065, Florida Statutes (FS) and Chapter 64E-6, F.A.C. (785 kb pdf).

General Questions 

If you have any general questions about septic tanks or other onsite sewage treatment and disposal system permits, please contact the Florida Department of Health office in your county (html).

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.