State guide
Maine
Maine's residential onsite wastewater program sits in Maine DHHS through the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program's Subsurface Wastewater Unit, but permits are issued locally by the municipal Local Plumbing Inspector. Maine no longer relies on percolation tests for design; the state says on-site soil evaluations became the required design method in July 1974.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Maine DHHS, through the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program's Subsurface Wastewater Unit, sets the statewide program, while municipal Local Plumbing Inspectors issue permits and inspect installations.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- Maine's official pages say licensed site evaluators perform the on-site soil evaluation used to design non-engineered systems, and engineered-system applications may be prepared by a professional engineer or a licensed site evaluator.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- Complete Non-Engineered System: $250.00; Water Quality Surcharge: $15.00.
Official resources in Maine
Main permitting page with process rules, forms, and statewide fee schedule.
State licensing page for site evaluators, installers, and inspectors.
Official statewide list of licensed site evaluators.
State page explaining town/LPI paperwork, state fee share, and online septic design search.
Official permit application form used for subsurface wastewater disposal systems.
Key facts for Maine
- A subsurface wastewater disposal system may not be installed until a permit is issued by the Local Plumbing Inspector.
- For non-engineered systems, permit applications must be prepared by a licensed site evaluator and require a site evaluation.
- For engineered systems, the application may be prepared by a professional engineer or a licensed site evaluator.
- Maine says soil evaluations replaced percolation tests for system design, with rules effective in July 1974.
- The scheduled fee for a complete non-engineered system is $250.00, plus the listed 25% state share and a $15.00 water quality surcharge.
- Municipal Office Resources says the DEP water quality surcharge is $15.00 on all non-engineered systems listed there.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Maine
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subsurface Wastewater Team | Augusta | (207) 287-2070 | State team contact listed on the permitting page for assistance with subsurface wastewater permitting. |
| State Site Evaluator Brent Lawson | Augusta | (207) 592-7376 | State contact listed on the licensing page for site evaluator information and on municipal resources for guidance. |
| Maine CDC Drinking Water Program / Subsurface Wastewater Unit | Augusta | Not published* | The HHE-200 permit application shows this contact for the state subsurface wastewater program. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Hire a licensed site evaluator first for a non-engineered residential system; Maine's permit application must be based on that site evaluation.
- Before any installation work starts, make sure your town's Local Plumbing Inspector has issued the disposal system permit.
- Check the state's licensed site evaluator list and ask your town office who the Local Plumbing Inspector is before paying for design work.
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 Maine's population center, for comparison only):
- Town of Moultonborough Code, Compliance & Health Office, New Hampshire · about 78 miles
- Town of Wolfeboro Health Department, New Hampshire · about 78 miles
- Town of New Hampton Selectmen’s Office - Septic Designs, New Hampshire · about 101 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting
Website →Phone: (207) 287-2070 (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 Maine page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.