On-Lot Sewage Permitting

Required Permits

The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act #537 requires residents planning to construct or modify an on-lot sewage disposal system to obtain a permit from the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD).

Permitting Process

The first phase of permitting requires residents to submit applications to assess their property through evaluation of soil probes and percolation tests.

If the site is suitable, a septic system design and application must be submitted for MCHD approval. Upon permit approval, MCHD Sewage Enforcement Officers (SEOs) will inspect the installed system and provide final approval for use.

After installation a sewage system must be properly operated and maintained to prevent a malfunction. Malfunctioning systems may discharge untreated sewage to the ground surface or into surface waters or groundwater resulting in a public health hazard as indicated in the videos below:

National Environmental Services Center Public Service Announcements (three videos on this site)

Resources

Site Evaluation Application Packet
Re-use Application
Holding Tank Design Sheet 
SEO Municipality Map
 

Individual forms

The five forms contained in the packet can be obtained individually:
Agent Authorization 
Consultant Installer List
Fee Schedule 
Percolation Application
Probe Application

Septic & Sewage Disposal Fact Sheets

Septic Tank Pumping
Preventing On-Lot Sewage System Malfunctions
Elevated Sand Mounds for On-Lot Wastewater Treatment
FAQs - On-Lot Sewage Systems
On-Lot Sewage Systems
At-Grade On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems
Drip Irrigation On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems
Water Conservation Opportunities for Individual Residences Serviced by On-Lot Wastewater Disposal Systems 

Spill / Flood Clean-up Information from the CDC

After a Hurricane or Flood
Cleaning and Sanitizing With Bleach after an Emergency
Mold Protection
Reentering Your Flooded Home
Recovery
First Aid for a Flooded Septic System