State guide
Tennessee
Tennessee’s septic program is run by the Department of Environment and Conservation through the Division of Water Resources, with certain contract counties handling their own local septic assistance. Tennessee also maintains a state-approved soil consultant program, and state permit fees are published on the SSDS construction permit page.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Tennessee regulates onsite wastewater through TDEC’s Division of Water Resources SSDS program, while listed contract counties provide their own septic system assistance services.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- TDEC says its Environmental Scientist conducts the site evaluation; private TDEC-approved soil consultants may submit soils maps, and a department-certified soil scientist may submit certain permit packages.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- New Conventional or Large Diameter Graveless Pipe SSDS Permit: $400 up to 1000 gallons per day design flow; New Alternative SSDS Permit: $500 up to 1000 gallons per day design flow; Repair Permit: No permit fee.
Official resources in Tennessee
Explains when a construction permit is required, what to submit, and the statewide permit fees.
Explains TDEC site evaluations and what to prepare before an Environmental Scientist visits the property.
Explains the approved soil consultant program and links to the current consultant list.
Current statewide list of approved soil consultants for SSDS work.
Key facts for Tennessee
- A septic construction permit is required to install, modify, or repair a septic system.
- TDEC says an Environmental Scientist will conduct the site evaluation.
- TDEC may request a soils map from a private licensed soil consultant.
- Approved private soil consultants are regulated by TDEC.
- TDEC says there is no fee for new soil consultant applications or renewals.
- New conventional SSDS permits are $400 up to 1000 gallons per day design flow.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Tennessee
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson County Department of Sewage Disposal Management Williamson | Franklin | (615) 790-5751 | Handles county sewage disposal management, septic information, and publishes county fee-justification materials. |
| Hamilton County Groundwater Department Hamilton | Chattanooga | 423-209-7876 | Handles new septic installations, lot reviews, septic repairs, water sample testing, and malfunction complaints. |
| Knoxville Environmental Field Office Knox | Knoxville | (865) 594-6035 | TDEC field office for septic-related inquiries and forms assistance for the Knoxville region, including several rural counties. |
| Columbia Environmental Field Office Maury | Columbia | (931) 380-3371 | TDEC field office serving south-central rural counties and linking residents to septic-related services contacts. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check whether your county is a TDEC-served county or a contract county before calling for septic help.
- Stake property lines and the house pad, clear brush, and gather surveys or old soil maps before the site visit.
- If your project needs a soils map, use TDEC’s approved soil consultant list before paying for private 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 Tennessee's population center, for comparison only):
- Wayne County Health Department - Lake Cumberland District, Kentucky · about 106 miles
- Lake Cumberland District Health Department - New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, Kentucky · about 127 miles
- Gilmer County Health Department Environmental Health Division – Septic Information Packet, Georgia · about 130 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.TDEC Soil Consultants
Website →Phone: (865) 804-3456 (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 Tennessee page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.