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
Lot Split Requirements
Building on a new lot generally requires two acres of usable land and 200 feet of road frontage. Some townships may require even more acreage or frontage to build on.
Site Evaluations
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. The Site Evaluation Form must include a copy of the current deed, and a survey or tax map of the property.
The cost of this evaluation is $150.00.
OK to Use Site Evaluation
If an existing home needs to be replaced, an OK to Use Site Inspection Form will need to be completed and must include a floor plan of the new home, as well as a property layout showing where the septic, well and outbuildings are located.
The cost of this evaluation is $150.00.
Real Estate Site Inspection Form
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.
Household Sewage System Permits
The Ashtabula County Health Department issues permits for installing new sewage treatment systems and for alterations and/or replacements of existing systems. After a site evaluation is approved a permit may be obtained.
**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
The Environmental Health Division investigates complaints on failing or malfunctioning household sewage treatment systems. A signed written complaint must be submitted to this office before the department can investigate a complaint. The Board of Health enforces regulations for land owners who fail to comply with these regulations through Ashtabula County Board of Health hearings and the Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s Office.
The complaint must include the nature of the complaint, the address, property owners name and directions to the residence or business in noncompliance. This complaint must be signed by the person filing the complaint.
Variance Requests
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.
