Cullman & Talladega County, AL
New septic systems, permitted and installed right
Building on rural land, or replacing a system that has finally given out. Either way this is the permitted end of septic work and there is a real process behind it.
Alabama requires a site evaluation before a system gets approved, and installation has to be done by someone the state licenses to do it.
Book installation
When you need this
- You are building on land without municipal sewer
- The existing system has failed beyond repair
- The drain field is saturated and no longer treating
- You are adding bedrooms and the current system is undersized
- A perc test or site evaluation is required before you can build
What actually happens
- 01
Site evaluation
ADPH publishes a Site Evaluation Form (CEP-2/3 Part C) used to assess whether a property can support a system, and what kind. Soil, slope, and groundwater decide this, not preference.
- 02
Permit application
Small flow systems, meaning under 1800 gallons per day or 12 bedrooms or fewer, apply on form CEP-2. Larger systems use CEP-3 Section B. Both go through your county health department.
- 03
Licensed installation
The Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board licenses installers across Basic, Level I, and Level II classes. Verify anyone you hire against the board's public roster before work starts.
- 04
Certification and approval
Installers certify completed work on form CEP-5. Keep your copy. It is the record that the system was installed and approved, and the next owner will want it.
Questions people ask
- Can I install my own septic tank in Alabama?
- The Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board was created in 1999 to license people engaged in the manufacture, installation, or servicing of onsite wastewater systems, and permitting runs through your county health department. Confirm your county's requirements before assuming any work can be self-performed.
- What is a perc test and do I need one?
- Site and soil evaluation determines whether land can support an onsite system and what type. ADPH publishes a Site Evaluation Form for this. It generally happens before a permit is issued.
- How much does a new septic system cost?
- It depends entirely on the system type the site conditions require. A conventional gravel field on good soil and a mound system on shallow bedrock are very different projects.