State guide
Vermont
Vermont regulates most homeowner septic and potable-water permits through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Program, not county health departments. The program issues permits for soil-based wastewater systems with flows of less than 6,500 gallons per day and requires a qualified licensed designer for permit applications.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- The Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division, Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Program regulates most onsite wastewater permitting statewide; Vermont does not use county health departments for this program.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- Site and soil work is handled through the licensed designer system; DEC says permits require a qualified licensed designer, and professional engineers who are ANR Soil compliant may design any size system.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- 560 gpd or less: $306.25
Official resources in Vermont
Official application page for wastewater and potable water supply permits and related forms.
Official licensed designer page with class descriptions and links to current designer lists and the OPR lookup.
Lets residents search state wastewater and potable water supply permits for a property.
Key facts for Vermont
- DEC says permits require a qualified Licensed Designer to design the water or wastewater system.
- The state program issues permits for soil-based wastewater systems with flows of less than 6,500 gallons per day.
- Class A, B, BW designers and Class 1 professional engineers are listed on the licensed designer page.
- Professional engineers who are ANR Soil compliant may design any size system, including high-strength wastewater systems.
- The published statewide wastewater permit application fee for design flow 560 gpd or less is $306.25.
- Vermont says septic system installers are not currently licensed by the State of Vermont.
What to do next
- Start by checking the state septic permit search for existing permits and reserve-area documents for the parcel.
- Hire a Vermont licensed designer early; the state permit application is built around designer-prepared work.
- Use the regional wastewater program contact page if you need help finding permit records or the correct regional office.
Looking for your city or county in Vermont?
No county office-level official pages for Vermont yet. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data (distance from Vermont's population center, for comparison only):
- Town of Holderness Health Officer, New Hampshire · about 50 miles
- Town of New Hampton Selectmen’s Office - Septic Designs, New Hampshire · about 80 miles
- Town of Alton Building & Code / Health Officer, New Hampshire · about 80 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Wastewater Systems and Potable Water Supplies Permit Applications
Website →Phone: (802) 828-1535 (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 Vermont page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.