State guide
Georgia
Georgia regulates onsite sewage through the Department of Public Health and county boards of health. Construction permits come from the county health department, while private soil work must be done by Department-certified or otherwise Department-approved professionals meeting the state rules and manual requirements.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Georgia onsite wastewater is regulated by the Georgia Department of Public Health and implemented locally by county boards of health and county environmental health offices.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- Soil evaluations must be done by individuals certified by the Department; the rule also references soil classifiers, engineers, geologists, or other professionals approved by the Department, with required liability insurance attached.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
Official resources in Georgia
Main statewide septic page with approved soil classifiers, installer and pumper lists, rules, and county office links.
Official rules stating permits come from county health departments and describing who may conduct soil evaluations.
Explains applications and fees for soil classifiers and engineer/geologist approvals.
Official statewide list of approved soil investigators by region.
State environmental health page directing residents to their county environmental health office for records, services, inspections, and other local questions.
Key facts for Georgia
- Georgia rules say no one may begin physical development for onsite sewage use without first getting a construction permit from the county health department.
- County boards of health issue onsite sewage permits on sites deemed suitable by soil evaluations meeting the DPH manual checklist.
- Soil evaluations must be conducted by individuals certified by the Department, with engineers, geologists, or other approved professionals also allowed under the rule.
- Georgia DPH publishes an official statewide list of individuals approved to conduct soil investigations.
- The DPH certification page lists a $100 application fee for new soil classifier applicants and engineer/geologist applications.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Georgia
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County Health Department Environmental Health Division – Septic Information Packet Gilmer | Ellijay | Not published* | County septic packet for OSSMS permits says house corners must be staked before application and includes checklist and application materials. |
| Fannin County Environmental Health Department – OSSMS Application Fannin | Blue Ridge | Not published* | County OSSMS materials require a Level 3 soil report and direct applicants to contact the county health department once requirements are met. |
| Cherokee County Environmental Health Cherokee | Canton | 770-479-0444 | North Georgia Health District lists this county office for septic permit applications, septic drawings, and general OSSMS questions. |
| Pickens County Environmental Health Pickens | Jasper | 706-253-0900 | North Georgia Health District lists this county environmental health office among locations handling septic permit applications and records. |
| Gwinnett Environmental Health Department Gwinnett | Lawrenceville | Not published* | GNR Health’s septic page says its environmental health departments require a Level 3 soil report for septic permits. |
| Newton Environmental Health Department Newton | Covington | 770.784.2121 | GNR Health lists this environmental health office for county environmental services; GNR’s septic page publishes county septic forms and fee schedules. |
| Rockdale Environmental Health Department Rockdale | Conyers | 770.278.7340 | GNR Health lists this county environmental health office and its septic page includes county-specific fee schedule links. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Start with the county environmental health office because Georgia’s permit is county-issued and local boards can have local lot-size rules.
- Order the soil evaluation from someone on DPH’s approved list before finalizing plans for rural land.
- If you are in Gwinnett, Newton, or Rockdale, note GNR Health requires a Level 3 soil report for septic permits.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Georgia's population center, for comparison only):
- Greenwood Office, South Carolina · about 114 miles
- Aiken Office, South Carolina · about 125 miles
- Hamilton County Groundwater Department, Tennessee · about 138 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Georgia DPH Onsite Sewage
Website →Phone: (478) 956-1525 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Georgia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.