Septic recordsState rules

Septic System Regulations in Connecticut

In Connecticut, onsite wastewater (septic) systems are regulated by Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Section - Environmental Engineering Program, which sets the statewide code; some counties are delegated to issue permits and inspect locally, others are handled directly by the state agency. Installing, replacing or repairing a septic system here means, in sequence: a site and soil evaluation, a design, a permit application, an inspection while the system is open, and a final as-built record once it is approved.

9
counties
1
with records we hold
13,564
records held statewide

Who regulates septic systems in Connecticut

The state-level regulator is Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Section - Environmental Engineering Program (official program page). Systems with design flows of 10,000 gallons per day (gpd) or less are permitted by the local Director of Health; plans for systems between 2,000-10,000 gpd must additionally be approved by CT DPH; systems exceeding 10,000 gpd and alternative treatment systems are permitted by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

The statewide onsite-wastewater code is cited as Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Sections 19-13-B100a and 19-13-B103 (Public Health Code), with associated Technical Standards for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems. We link the agency's own page above rather than restating specific numeric requirements from it, since those change by rule revision and by local amendment.

The permit sequence

The order of operations is broadly consistent across the country, even though the specific numbers in each step vary by state and often by county. None of the figures below are specific to Connecticut; treat this as the shape of the process, and get the actual numbers from the agency linked above or from the county office.

  1. Site and soil evaluation. A qualified evaluator (see licensing below) digs test pits or runs a percolation test, and records the soil profile, depth to seasonal water table, depth to any restrictive layer, and slope. This determines whether the lot can support a conventional system or needs an alternative design.
  2. Design. Under most state codes, daily design flow is set from bedroom count, not square footage. That flow drives tank capacity, and the soil evaluation sets the drainfield application rate and therefore its size. The designer also lays out setbacks to wells, property lines, surface water, foundations and a reserve/replacement area.
  3. Permit application. Submitted to whichever office issues permits here (state agency or county/district health office, per the delegation model above), along with the design and soil work.
  4. Installation and open inspection. The installer builds the system, and it is inspected before backfill while it is still open to view.
  5. As-built and approval. A final drawing of what was actually built is filed once the system is approved. That as-built is the document a future owner, pumper or inspector needs, and it is what ends up in the county record.

Who can design and install a septic system

DesignWhere required by the local director of health, plans must be prepared by a Professional Engineer registered in Connecticut; for standard small systems a state-licensed installer may prepare plans depending on local health department requirements.
InstallationCT DPH-licensed Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Installer (exam-based license administered by DPH); a separate license also exists for septic tank cleaners.

Getting septic records in Connecticut

Septic records in Connecticut are generally held by the county or local health jurisdiction that issued the permit, not by the state agency, and are released under the state's public records law. We have not logged the specific statute name and response deadline for Connecticut yet; check with the county office listed on its records page below, or with Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Section - Environmental Engineering Program.

Counties in Connecticut we hold records for

We hold 13,564 septic records across 1 of 9 Connecticut counties. Each county page below shows exactly where its records are kept and how many we hold.

CountyRecords held
Northeastern Connecticut13,564

Full Connecticut county-by-county index · Open the parcel map

Common questions

Who regulates septic systems in Connecticut?

Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Section - Environmental Engineering Program. Systems with design flows of 10,000 gallons per day (gpd) or less are permitted by the local Director of Health; plans for systems between 2,000-10,000 gpd must additionally be approved by CT DPH; systems exceeding 10,000 gpd and alternative treatment systems are permitted by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

What is the septic permit process in Connecticut?

The sequence is a site and soil evaluation, a design sized from the evaluation and (under most state codes) bedroom count, a permit application, an inspection before backfill, and a final as-built filed once the system is approved. Exact numeric requirements are set by the agency's own code, not restated here.

Who can install a septic system in Connecticut?

CT DPH-licensed Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Installer (exam-based license administered by DPH); a separate license also exists for septic tank cleaners.

How do I get septic records for a property in Connecticut?

Septic records are generally held by the county or district health office that issued the permit. See our county-by-county Connecticut index for the specific office and portal in each county.

Sources

Regulatory information on this page was researched against official state agency sources and last verified 2026-08-31. It is informational only: the agency linked above is authoritative, and requirements can change. We are not lawyers, not a government body, and not affiliated with, licensed or certified by any agency named on this page.