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Greetings!
The Onsite Wastewater Division is excited to assist you with your septic permitting needs. With the mild winter and early spring, the 2024 construction season is on our heels!
We look forward to the start of the construction season and getting back into the field with you. As permit activity begins ramping up, we will strive to continue to provide excellent customer service by issuing permits and other official documents within a timely manner. As a reminder, contact the Division 48 hours in advance during normal business hours to schedule a final inspection.
Open House Meeting Follow-Up
The Division has had the opportunity to connect with many SSTS professionals during the winter months, and at our recent open house meeting. Thank you for the great discussion and feedback on many of the topics discussed. The collaboration, conversations and improvements will have a positive impact on the SSTS Program.
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Returned for Updates: Environmental Specialists will be emailing designers if updates or corrections are needed on a septic application. When updates are requested, the entire design will need to be amended, repackaged, and resubmitted to OSWInfo@stlouiscountymn.gov, mailed to our office, or uploaded to the portal.
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Soil Confirmation: As conditions improve and allow for soil observation, contact an Environmental Specialist to schedule a site visit to verify soils when soil characteristics are difficult to determine.
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Installer Documents: As-Builts are required to be submitted within 30 days of installation. It is encouraged that installers have the As-Builts prepared and ready to submit to the Environmental Specialist at the time of final inspection. Abandonment forms and pressure tests are also required as necessary. All forms shall be submitted prior to issuance of Certificate of Compliance.
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New Forms: As noted at the Open House meeting, the most recent versions of the St. Louis County forms have been added to the Onsite Wastewater webpage here: Septic Forms. Based on feedback from many designers during the open house meeting, the Division will look to work with the MPCA on incorporating local technical standards to the MPCA’s septic design excel spreadsheets.
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Point of Sale Requirements: Compliance inspections are required prior to the sale or transfer of property. Replacement system designs for systems concerning point of sale must be accompanied by a compliance inspection report. Septic systems identified as failing are required to be replaced within a specified timeline indicated on the failing system notice. Septic systems identified as passing may continue to be used as is. Compliance Inspection Results Fact Sheet
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Site Sketches: Existing site sketches may be utilized for compliance inspections or replacement designs; however, the existing sketches shall be updated to include new development that has occurred on the property since the sketch was last prepared.
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Maintainer and Service Providers: For operating permit renewals, along with Form 3040: SSTS Operating Permit Renewal, Form 3041: Operating Permit 5-1 is also required to be completed. Please ensure all rows have the applicable box checked, and the form is thoroughly completed. Note any changes like if peat or media was added, calibrate pumps, and check timers settings for proper dosing.
Online Septic Permitting
It’s been three years since the launch of our FTG online permitting system. The new online septic permitting system allows contractors and homeowners to apply for, provide necessary attachments, and submit payment by credit card for septic permits online. We encourage all applying for a septic permit, compliance inspection, operating permit renewal, abandonment, owner transfer operating permit, point of sale transfer and disclosure agreement, or annual submittal to do so through OSW-Septic Citizen Portal.
The online system accelerates the process for both the applicant and county staff, resulting in permits being processed and issued faster. For applicants, it saves them a trip to a county office or to the post office and gives them the option of paying online by credit card, debit card, or e-check. Once the application is submitted online, there is less data entry required by county staff, resulting in quicker processing, review, and issuance.
To apply for a septic permit through the Citizen Portal please visit OSW-Septic Citizen Portal Applications.
Septic Record Look-Up
Reminder! The approved SSTS application, design, and permit to construct are posted on the County Land Explorer. It is important that installers, designers, and property owners use the approved design as the project moves forward. Septic records (including historic records) are searchable by parcel identification number (PIN) or Lease PIN numbers on the County Land Explorer. Property owners, realtors, and contractors alike have the option to access records through either search feature at their convenience. For more detailed instructions, see the “Septic Record How-to-search Guide” here: Guide-CLE Onsite Wastewater.
Financial Assistance
St. Louis County in partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), offers financial assistance options to property owners looking to repair or replace their failing SSTS. The deferred (forgivable) loan assistance program aids qualified low-income persons with the repair, replacement, or upgrade of their septic that has been determined failing. The low-interest loan program assists septic owners by providing a 3% interest rate loan with their SSTS compliance needs.
The Division continues to message the resources available, and we encourage septic professionals to relay this information to property owners.
To access the program guidelines and additional information, click here: Septic Financial Assistance.
Property Transfers
Prior to the sale, transfer, contract for deed, or any other conveyance of land that has an existing septic system, it is required to have a licensed inspector perform an existing system compliance inspection on the system, unless there is a valid certificate or system notice on file. Existing certificates and official notices are valid for three years. Sellers must disclose information about the status of the system to the buyer by completing the Form 3030: Disclosure and Transfer Agreement. If the system status is determined to be failing, the seller or buyer must provide sufficient security in the form of escrow to assure the installation of a complying SSTS.
The intent of an escrow is to have the funds set aside for the costs to replace the failing septic system, or if frozen soil conditions prohibit the ability to perform a compliance inspection. Escrow is not intended to be used to meet a closing date when the compliance inspection review is pending. Additionally, the escrow must list the County as having the release authority of the monies. Once the Certificate of Compliance is issued for the replacement system, the monies in the escrow account may be released. Escrow is also not intended to be used to circumvent a compliance inspection. Compliance inspections are required to establish a record of the status of the system and to validate that the system is not an imminent threat to public health or safety (ITPH). Once the system status is determined, if failing, the timeline begins as to when the system is required to be upgraded, repaired, or replaced.
The Division encourages selling property owners and real estate professionals to be proactive in coordinating compliance inspections. The sooner a compliance inspection is performed, and inspection report and forms are submitted to St. Louis County, the easier it will be to meet closing dates. The compliance inspection can and should take place once the property is listed for sale. All permit applications are processed and reviewed on a first in/first out basis.
Contact Us
Onsite Wastewater
If you have any questions about Onsite Wastewater or septic systems, please contact us:
(218) 471-7103
Email: oswinfo@stlouiscountymn.gov
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