Septic System FAQ

How does a septic system work?

Wastewater flows from the house into the septic tank. Solids settle to the bottom as sludge, and grease and oils float to the top as scum. The liquid in between flows out to the drain field, a shallow, covered area of unsaturated soil that accepts, treats and disperses it. Pumping removes the sludge and scum before they reach the drain field.

Sources: U.S. EPA: How Your Septic System Works

How a septic system works →

How do I know if my home is on septic or sewer?

Check your utility bill for a sewer charge, your property records, or any past septic pumping or inspection receipts. Homes on larger lots and in unincorporated areas are more likely to have a septic tank. If you are buying, ask the seller, and consider a septic inspection to find the tank and check its condition.

Septic vs. sewer in Florida →

What is an aerobic treatment unit (ATU)?

An aerobic treatment unit adds air to treat wastewater before it reaches the drain field. It has an air pump, alarms and controls, so it needs more upkeep than a conventional tank. In Florida, an ATU needs an operating permit that is renewed every two years and a service contract with a maintenance entity that inspects it at least twice a year. The owner of an owner-occupied single-family home can instead be permitted to maintain the unit after training certified by the manufacturer.

Sources: Florida Statutes s. 381.0065: Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems

Aerobic system service →

How much does septic tank pumping cost in Florida?

Published cost guides put a typical residential pump-out at $290–$600, with a national average of about $400–$420. Larger tanks cost more, digging up buried lids adds about $50–$200, and emergency or after-hours calls can cost 50–100% more than a scheduled visit. Ask whether disposal is included.

Sources: This Old House; Fixr

Read the full cost guide →

How much does a septic inspection cost?

Published ranges run about $100–$650, from a routine visual check to a full real-estate inspection (about $300–$650). Pumping is often extra, so ask whether the inspection includes pumping the tank, checking the drain field and a written report.

Sources: HomeGuide; Fixr

Septic inspection service →

What does a new septic system cost?

Published ranges put a new conventional system at about $3,500–$9,000. The EPA puts the cost of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning conventional system at $5,000–$15,000. Aerobic and mound systems cost more, and lots in some springs and nutrient protection areas need a nitrogen-reducing system. Permit and design fees are usually extra.

Sources: HomeGuide; Fixr; U.S. EPA; Florida DEP: Permitting enhanced nutrient-reducing onsite sewage systems

Septic installation service →

Who regulates septic systems in Florida?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has run the septic program since July 1, 2021. In most counties, the county health department still takes applications and issues septic permits on DEP's behalf. In Marion County, DEP has issued septic permits directly since July 1, 2025. The standards are in Chapter 62-6 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Sources: Florida DEP: Onsite Sewage Program; Florida DEP: Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting

Florida county septic permit offices →

Do I need a permit to pump or repair a septic tank in Florida?

Florida's septic rule does not count routine pumping (removing a tank's contents without disturbing the drain field) as a repair, so it does not need a repair permit. Replacing a broken lid, like-for-like pump or part swaps and minor structural fixes to a tank are also not counted as repairs. Florida law requires a permit to build, repair, modify or abandon a system. Local rules can differ, so your county septic permit office has the final word.

Sources: Rule 62-6.002, F.A.C. (Definitions); Florida Statutes s. 381.0065: Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems

Find your county septic permit office →

Is a septic inspection required when selling a house in Florida?

Florida law bars any government from requiring a septic inspection when a home is sold (s. 381.0065(4)(x), F.S.). A buyer, a lender or the sales contract can still call for one. A 2010 law for statewide inspections every five years was delayed and then repealed in 2012.

Sources: Florida Statutes s. 381.0065: Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; Florida Senate bill analysis, SB 1160 (2014): 2010 inspection program repealed in 2012 (PDF)

Septic systems and real estate in Florida →

What is a nitrogen-reducing septic system, and do I need one?

It is a system that removes at least 50% of the nitrogen before wastewater reaches the drain field, or at least 65% counting the tank and drain field together. Since July 1, 2023, new systems on lots of one acre or less in Florida's nutrient (BMAP) areas must be this type when sewer is not available. Some springs areas set stricter rules.

Sources: Florida Statutes s. 381.0065: Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; Florida DEP: Permitting enhanced nutrient-reducing onsite sewage systems

Nitrogen-reducing septic systems →

How often should a septic tank be pumped?

The EPA says household septic tanks are typically pumped every 3 to 5 years and inspected at least every 3 years. Tank size and how many people live in the house change the right interval, so ask the company to note the sludge and scum levels at each visit and adjust your schedule from there.

Sources: U.S. EPA: How to Care for Your Septic System

Pumping interval calculator →

Do septic additives replace pumping?

No. The EPA says additives are unnecessary for a septic system to work, and pumping is what removes sludge and scum from the tank. Spend the money on regular pumping and inspection instead, and keep grease, wipes and chemicals out of the drains.

Sources: U.S. EPA: Septic Tank Additives fact sheet

Septic tank additives →

How long does a septic tank last?

The EPA says a concrete septic tank may last 50 years or more, while many pumps and controls need replacing every 10 to 20 years. It also notes that drain fields more than 25 to 30 years old may lose capacity. Regular pumping helps the drain field, the most expensive part to replace, last longer.

Sources: U.S. EPA: Why Maintain Your Septic System; U.S. EPA: How to Care for Your Septic System

What are the signs of a failing septic system?

The EPA lists these signs: sewage backing up into toilets, drains or sinks, slow drains, gurgling in the plumbing, standing water or damp spots near the tank or drain field, sewage odors around the tank or drain field, and bright green, spongy grass over the tank or drain field. If you notice them, call a septic company. If sewage backs up into the house, the EPA says to avoid contact with it.

Sources: U.S. EPA: Resolving Septic System Malfunctions

Signs your septic tank is full →

Why does my drain field get soggy after heavy rain?

The EPA describes a drain field as a shallow, covered area of unsaturated soil, and says a drain field overloaded with too much liquid can flood, so sewage comes to the surface or backs up into toilets and sinks. Ground soaked by heavy rain has less room for wastewater, so keep water use low. If sewage is backing up into the house or pooling in the yard, call a septic company.

Sources: U.S. EPA: How Your Septic System Works

Drain fields in the rainy season →

Does pumping fix a failing drain field?

Pumping stops more solids from reaching the drain field, but it will not by itself restore a field that has already clogged. A septic company can check why the field is failing and whether it can be repaired or needs replacing, which in Florida needs a permit.

Sources: Florida Statutes s. 381.0065: Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems

Drain field repair →

How do I check a Florida septic contractor's registration?

Florida DEP registers septic tank contractors. A person's registration number starts with SR (or SM for a master contractor), and a septic business organized as a corporation, LLC, partnership or association holds its own authorization number starting with SA. You can search both on DEP's public lookup. Under s. 489.105(3)(m), F.S., a licensed plumbing contractor may also install, maintain and repair septic tanks without an additional local license, certificate or registration; plumbing licenses are issued by DBPR, so check them there.

Sources: Florida DEP: Septic Tank Contractor Registration; Florida DEP: Septic contractor registration search; Florida Statutes s. 489.105: Definitions (plumbing contractors and septic work)

How to verify a Florida septic contractor →

What should I ask a septic company before hiring?

Ask whether the price includes finding and uncovering the lids and disposing of the septage, whether they will check the baffles and filter and note sludge levels, what their emergency rate is, and whether a repair needs a permit and who applies for it. Get the answers and the price in writing.

How to compare septic quotes →

How are companies chosen for this directory?

We list companies whose own websites show they offer septic services and name the Florida cities or counties they serve. Basic listings are free. Contractors can pay for featured placement; featured listings are labeled "Featured · Paid" and shown first, and payment does not change the information shown. Then come companies based in the area, then the rest, each group in alphabetical order. Inclusion is not an endorsement, so compare quotes before you hire.

About this directory →