Replacing a Failing Septic System

For more information call the Water Quality Division at (513) 946-7862.

For additional assistance, please call:

Maggie Baldwin
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(513) 946-7863

Mary Ann Robertson
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(513) 946-7872


A malfunctioning household sewage treatment system creates both a public health and environmental nuisance.

Contractors and Installers

All contractors must be registered and bonded to install sewage treatment systems in Hamilton County.

For complete information on replacing or repairing a household sewage treatment system, please review the Household Sewage Treatment System Installer's Manual.

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Homeowners

Please follow these steps to start the process of properly replacing your household sewage treatment system.

  1. Please complete the top grey area of the Application to Construct or Replace a Household Sewage Treatment System, sign and date the lower grey area. Tips are included to help you complete the application.

    Return the application along with the $335.00 application fee (made payable to HCGHD) to the Hamilton County General Health District, 250 Wm. Howard Taft Road, 2nd Floor, Cincinnati OH, 45219. 

    You will receive a completed copy of the application upon approval. Please note that the application fee does not cover any invoice(s) that have been issued for an inspection.  
  2. Upon receipt of the application and application fee, a sanitarian will be assigned to evaluate your property to determine a suitable replacement for your septic system. 

    If the homeowner would like to propose a particular system type, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach it to the application. The proposal will be reviewed to evaluate whether or not it conforms to the Health District’s Household Sewage Code Regulation 529. 

    If circumstances on the property such as limited area, poorly drained soils, steep topography, etc., prevent the sanitarian from designing a system which will meet the current sewage regulation, a variance from the Hamilton County Board of Health may be required. (If a discharging system will be required for the replacement system, our office will notify you by mail. In this case, a letter will be mailed to you explaining what is required of you).  
  3. After the replacement evaluation is completed, the homeowner will be mailed a completed copy of the approved application. This may be used to obtain bids for the replacement. Most installers will want to see a copy of the approved application prior to bidding on the job. When the application is approved by the sanitarian, the homeowner will be given 120 days from the date of the approval to complete the replacement. 

    If you need help finding a contractor to install your system, you can search our database of bonded and registered septic installers. 

    Hamilton County Public Health does not recommend or endorse any company and or individual that is registered and bonded with the Health District. However, we do recommend getting at least three bids for the job before selecting your contractor. 

    If you wish to install the system yourself, you may do so by passing the state exam and obtaining continuing education credits. Please call 946-7863 or 946-7872 for further information and paperwork required to register as an installer.  
  4. Your chosen contractor must obtain a permit to install the household sewage treatment system prior to commencing construction. 

    After the household sewage treatment system is installed, but before it is covered, an open trench construction inspection will be conducted by a sanitarian to ensure proper system installation. 

    When the Health District verifies the system to be properly installed, it will be approved and a green approval sticker containing the inspector’s signature and title will be given to the septic contractor at the site or mailed to the homeowner. These approval stickers are usually placed on the hot water heater in the home. You should ask to see the approval sticker to assure your system has been approved.
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Additional Information

Should you require additional information, please contact our office at one of the following numbers: 

Maggie Baldwin
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
946-7863

Mary Ann Robertson
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
946-7872

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