Sourced from Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-1-.06 and 420-3-1-.04, ADPH documentation, and AOWB licensing rules at 628-X-3 — last checked August 2026.
Step 1: Soil and Site Evaluation
Everything starts here, and it’s performed by a registered professional such as an engineer or soil scientist, who conducts percolation tests or soil profile studies.
The evaluator digs observation pits — under 420-3-1-.04, soil inspection trenches a minimum of 3 feet wide and 60 inches deep unless hard bedrock is encountered, constructed to be safely accessible, parallel to the contour, and level.
What comes out of it determines everything downstream: whether a conventional system is possible, whether advanced treatment is required under Rule 420-3-1-.25, and whether an engineer must design the system.
You should receive the test results recorded on a permit application form, plus a plot plan showing the proposed system.
Step 2: The Application and the “Responsible Person”
Alabama’s rules use a specific term for who signs. The responsible person is defined as:
So even though a licensed installer does the work and a registered professional does the evaluation, you sign the application. That matters, because the permit is issued to the responsible person and the obligations attach there.
You complete and sign the owner/applicant section on the form you received from the professional who evaluated the site, then submit it to your county health department environmental division with the fee and the required enclosures — typically two sets of the completed application form and plot plan.
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Step 3: Permit to Install (Repair)
Under 420-3-1-.06(1): no person shall begin the installation or repair of an OSS/EDS, or component thereof, until the responsible person has been issued a valid Permit to Install (Repair) an Onsite Sewage System by the LHD.
Note what that covers — installation or repair, or component thereof. Alabama’s permit requirement reaches further into repair work than many states.
A health department environmentalist reviews the application, soil test results and calculations.
The Permit Can Be Revoked
This provision is unusually explicit and worth knowing. Under 420-3-1-.06(1)(b), ADPH may revoke a Permit to Install (Repair) if there are changes in lot conditions, the system isn’t installed in accordance with the permit, or other factors affect the permit’s approval.
The rule lists possible invalidating conditions: information submitted for the purpose of obtaining the permit found to be misrepresented, materially false or inaccurate; changes to statutory provisions; acts of eminent domain; natural changes; man-made alterations; or water impoundments.
The practical version: the permit is issued on the basis of what the application said. If the site changes, or the installation deviates, the permit isn’t a shield.
Step 4: Installation by a Licensed Installer
Installation must be performed by an installer licensed by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board — a separate body from ADPH. Under Chapter 628-X-3 the license tiers run Basic, Advanced Level I, and Advanced Level II, with Advanced Level II covering effluent discharge systems, large flow systems, multiple pump systems with timed dosing, and other advanced technology. There’s also a Manufacturer’s License for those making tanks and lids.
Homeowners may not install their own systems. To do it yourself you’d have to become a licensed installer, which means classes with a state-registered sponsor, a test, forms, fees and renewals.
Where an Engineered OSS is required, no installation or construction of any part may begin without installer consultation with the design engineer.
Step 5: Inspection and Approval for Use
The installer certifies the installation against ADPH’s checklist, which covers items including the tank set level, the approved manufacturer’s number engraved at the inlet end, sanitary or vent tee in place and sealed, an NSF Standard 46 effluent filter installed, and solid Schedule 40 pipe with joints sealed.
Large flow systems, engineered systems and some larger conventional systems also require coordination with and approval by the design engineer.
Approval for Use is the authorization to use the system, issued by the local health department after all conditions of the rules and permits are satisfied.
Who’s Who
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| ADPH | Writes and enforces Chapter 420-3-1 |
| County health dept (LHD) | Issues the Permit to Install and the Approval for Use. Where you apply. |
| AOWB | Licenses installers under Chapter 628-X-3 |
| ADEM | Handles UIC permits for community wastewater systems |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to get a septic permit in Alabama?
Soil and site evaluation by a registered professional, permit application signed by the responsible person, Permit to Install (Repair) from the county health department, installation by a licensed installer, then Approval for Use.
Who is the responsible person?
For a private dwelling, the property owner or their authorized agent. For a corporation, a principal executive officer. For a partnership, a general partner. For a sole proprietorship, the proprietor. This is who signs the permit application.
Can Alabama revoke a septic permit?
Yes. Under 420-3-1-.06(1)(b) ADPH may revoke a Permit to Install (Repair) where lot conditions change, the system is not installed per the permit, or submitted information was misrepresented, materially false or inaccurate.
Can I install my own septic system in Alabama?
No. Installation must be performed by an installer licensed by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board. To do it yourself you would have to become a licensed installer.
What is an observation pit?
A soil inspection trench used in the site evaluation. Under 420-3-1-.04 it must be a minimum of 3 feet wide and 60 inches deep unless hard bedrock is encountered, safely accessible, parallel to the contour, and level.