The Environmental Health Division regulates all private, individual household sewage treatment systems in accordance with Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code and any other resolutions adopted by the Ashtabula County Health Department. This includes all 1, 2 and 3 family residential dwellings served by an individual household sewage treatment system.
Sanitary sewage systems that convey sewage to a central wastewater treatment plant are regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
For household sewage treatment systems the Health District provides the following: site evaluations for new systems, permits for new systems, permits to alter or replace existing systems, investigations of complaints for malfunctioning systems and enforcement measures for failure to comply with these regulations, which include hearings before the Ashtabula County Board of Health and referral to the Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s Office.
A lot evaluation determines the feasibility of installing a home sewage treatment system on a parcel of land, whether it is a vacant parcel or has an existing home on the lot and the home is being replaced, or the home is being sold or refinanced. This evaluation will determine the type and location of the sewage system to be installed. The following items need to be completed before the sanitarian will perform this site evaluation:
1. Complete the Site Evaluation form and include copies of the current deed, a survey or tax map of the property, and a survey description of the lot. The cost of this evaluation is $150.00.
2. If an existing home needs replaced an OK to Use Site Inspection form will need to be completed and include a floor plan of the new home, and a property layout showing where the septic, well and outbuildings are located. The cost of this evaluation is $150.00.
OK to Use Site Evaluation Form
3. If the home is being sold or refinanced a septic and water sample can also be completed. Requirements are that the home must be occupied on a full time basis 30 days prior to the home sewage treatment system inspection, and the system cannot be pumped 60 days prior to the inspection. The homeowner must complete and sign the application. This site evaluation is usually done on a Monday or Tuesday and takes one (1) week to complete after the application and fees are received. The cost of this evaluation is $200.00 for the home sewage treatment system inspection and $50.00 for the water sample.
Real Estate Site Inspection Form
Household Sewage System Permits
**New Permit Fees Effective January 1, 2017**
The cost of a new septic permit is $429.00.
The cost of an replacement permit is $354.00.
The cost of an alteration permit is $315.00.
The hours to receive these permits are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. weekdays.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at 440-576-6010 option 3 during these hours.
Sewage System Installers
Individuals and companies that install sewage treatment systems, or service sewage treatment systems in any way must be registered with the Ashtabula County Health District, and maintain a $40,000 surety bond in compliance with OAC 3701-29-04 (D).
A list of those individuals and companies currently registered as household sewage treatment system installers can be obtained from the Ashtabula County Health Department by calling 440-576-6010 option 3 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Complaints
All variance requests must be submitted in complete form seven (7) days prior to the Ashtabula County Board of Health meetings. These meetings are generally held the second Wednesday of every month. The variance approval must be executed within two (2) years of the date that a variance is granted. Variance approvals not executed within two (2) years of the date that the variance was granted become null and void.
The cost of the variance request is $75.00.