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Permit Activity Update
The Onsite Wastewater Division has seen very steady and consistent permit numbers again this construction season. To date for the 2025 season, the division has received and processed 720 septic permits to construct, 711 compliance inspections, and 128 operating permits and operating permit renewals. We strive to continue to provide excellent customer service and issuing permits within a timely manner. Environmental Specialists continue to conduct final inspections as septic system installations are completed throughout the season. As a reminder, please contact the division 48 hours in advance during normal business hours to schedule a final inspection
Winter Installs: Soils Verification
With the fall season upon us, we encourage designers and installers to get soil verifications completed now before it becomes too difficult to do so. Soil verifications become increasingly difficult to complete with confidence due to sun angles lowering and the possibility of frost/freezing conditions. Contractors intending to install a system during the onset of the winter months should contact the On-Site Wastewater Division as soon as possible regarding soil verifications and proactively navigating the SLC Frozen Ground Installation Policy.
The University of Minnesota hosted 'Being Septic Smart' webinar Focused Toward Homeowner Education
Although Septic Smart Week is over, it's never too late to become SepticSmart!
The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program offers a recorded webinar that teaches property owner the basics about how their septic system work:
- The purpose of the septic tank and drain field or mound
- How a properly operating septic system protects ground and surface water
- How often the septic tank should be pumped
- Whether additives are a good idea
- How to prevent winter freeze-ups, and much more
2025 Being Septic Smart webinar
Point of Sale Requirements During the Winter Season
Please be mindful that frozen ground conditions enact the winter season point of sale requirements. As a friendly reminder, if a system is over 10 years old and hasn't had a compliance inspection in the last three years, the following are required for point of sale transactions:
- Completed Transfer Agreement Form 3030
- Estimate from a licensed and certified installer for the replacement of the system
- Escrowing 100% of said estimate at the time of closing until conditions allow for a compliance inspection
IMPORTANT NOTE: If any questions arise regarding this process, we highly encourage you to contact the Onsite Wastewater Division to confirm the proper steps are being followed. This quick verification can prevent major issues for sellers, buyers, realtors, and closing agencies alike in the future.
County Forms and Submittal Requirements
To better serve you in a timely manner with increased consistency and efficiency, Onsite Wastewater will require the use of our most up-to-date forms, such as the SSTS application and design summary, St. Louis County compliance inspection report and MPCA compliance inspection report, and operating permit renewal, etc. All of the updated forms have been uploaded onto the Onsite Wastewater website for septic professionals to download. Additionally, Onsite Wastewater will require installer documents, such as as-built drawings, abandonments, and pressure tests, during the final inspection within the required time frames.
Below are a couple important requirement reminders for installation contractors:
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Ensure all work is done according to the approved design report.
St. Louis County understands that during the construction of a septic system, issues can arise that may require an alteration of the approved design. When this occurs, the County and the designer need to be notified before the alteration occurs so design changes and permit approvals can be made. Communication with the County and the designer will go a long way in preventing undesirable situations.
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Provide as-built drawings, in addition to other installer documents, if necessary, to the owner and local unit of government per required time frames.
- Design updates: This year, to improve our review time, when a document is returned for corrections, the entire design will need to be amended, repackaged, and resubmitted to the oswinfo@stlouiscountymn.gov, mailed to an office, OR uploaded to the portal. Updated forms must be submitted within 30 days. Subject to denial if updates are not received, and fees will not be refunded.
As-builts are required to be submitted to St. Louis County. If you have any questions regarding this process, please call the County offices for clarification.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Separate checks or fee payment required per application. Onsite Wastewater is no longer accepting single check payments for multiple 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.
Contact Planning and Zoning
The Planning and Zoning Department has implemented a one-phone-number primary line call center system. During business hours, support staff from the department are available to answer incoming calls and will triage calls and inquiries to available Planners and/or Environmental Specialists, dependent on the caller’s needs. This provides greater efficiency in addressing incoming calls received and is more effective with addressing the public’s needs. The new Planning and Zoning Department phone number is 218-471-7103.
**Please note that our Planning and Zoning Department no longer accepts faxed documentation. Please use our email listed below or our mailing addresses**
St. Louis County Government Services Center- Onsite Wastewater Division
201 South 3rd Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
or
320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301
Duluth, MN 55802
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