Customer hires an on-site sewage system design professional: View Design Professionals List

Test holes are excavated for soil evaluation.

Designer evaluates soils and site in order to develop a preliminary plan.

Customer or design professional submits application to Spokane Regional Health District. Applications may be emailed to liquidwaste@srhd.org.

Customer often starts the building permit process at this point. To do this, contact the applicable building department.

On-Site Sewage System Permitting Process

On-Site Sewage System Application

Test Pit Construction Guidelines for On-Site Sewage Systems

Spokane Regional Health District receives application information from customer and an invoice for application fee is generated*. View current Spokane Regional Health District Fee Schedule. Design professional will submit preliminary plans to the health district for review.

The health districts Environmental Public Health division staff will review application and preliminary plans and if all requirements are met, the health district will proceed with site evaluation.

*Application fee must be paid prior to health district review of preliminary plans and site visit.

Environmental Public Health staff from the health district conduct visit to evaluate soils and site to see if the proposed system design complies with regulations. The contact person/designer listed on the application will be notified of approval status via preliminary review letter.

Oftentimes, this is the point in the process where customers pay remaining fees to include Installation Permit fee, Water Adequacy Review fee (for private water systems only), and any other applicable fees. View current Spokane Regional Health District Fee Schedule. 

In this step, the customer, working with a well driller, often provides required well data (well log, 4-hour pump test, bacteria and nitrate test results) and building application prior to building permit sign-off.

Once the design professional receives approval via the preliminary review letter, the professional submits final system design plans. If the final system design plans are found to be in compliance with regulations, Spokane Regional Health District will issue an Installation Permit once all permitting requirements are met. The installation permit and approved plans will be sent electronically to the design professional. 

After the system installation is complete the design professional submits a record drawing of the system, as installed, to Spokane Regional Health District. If the system is found to be in compliance with the regulations an Operational Permit is issued and sent to the property owner along with a copy of the record drawing.