Onsite Sewage Program
Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS), commonly referred to as septic systems, are currently used for wastewater disposal by approximately 30% of Florida’s population. With an estimated 2.6 million systems in operation, Florida represents 12% of the United States’ septic systems.
Proper design, construction and maintenance of systems are important to help protect Florida’s ground water, which provides 90% of the state's drinking water. Permitting and inspection of OSTDS is handled by the Environmental Health section of the Florida Department of Health in each county. If you have a question or concern about an issue that is located entirely within one county, versus statewide, please contact your local county health department directly.
Onsite Sewage Program News & Rule Development
- *NEW* OSTDS Permitting of Enhanced Nutrient Reducing Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (ENR-OSTDS), House Bill 1379
- *NEW* Residential Graywater System Tax Credit
- Private Providers of OSTDS Inspections
- Current program focus areas: implementation of the July 1, 2022 Private Provider Inspections Legislation and updates on rule development
- Onsite Sewage Rule Updates June 2022 Informational PowerPoint
- Sign up to receive rulemaking updates on 62-6, Florida Administrative Code
- Division of Water Resource Management Rule Development for Onsite Sewage
Program Transfer
Please Note: Some documents are still in the process of being updated to reflect the transfer of the Onsite Sewage Program from the Florida Department of Health to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the location of some documents may have changed. If you have questions, please contact OSTDS_Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov.
Effective July 1, 2021, DEP is responsible for implementing the Florida Statutes and regulations applicable to OSTDS. Under Florida's Clean Waterways Act of 2020, the county health department offices will continue to do the permitting and inspection for septic tanks; please continue to work with them for all of your permitting-related needs. For more details, please see our dedicated program transfer page.
For the Public
- Information for Septic System Owners and Buyers
- How do I get a Construction Permit?
- What is the status of my permit?
- Springs Protection and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs)
- Statistics
- Find a Contractor
- Find a Maintenance Entity By County
- Find a Maintenance Entity By Product Type
For Businesses
- Rules and Statutes
- Forms and Publications
- Maintenance Activity Reporting System (MARS) Instructions
- Maintenance Activity Report System (MARS)
- Product Listings and Approval Requirements
- Memos
- Additives
- Alternative Drainfield Repairs
Special Focus
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Benefits of Onsite Systems
- Sewer vs. Onsite White Paper
- Report on Alternative Methods for the Treatment and Disposal of Septage
- Land Application Prohibition Joint Letter
- 2008 Report on Range of Costs to Implement a Mandatory Statewide 5-year Septic Tank Inspection Program
Onsite Sewage Program
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3596
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
850-245-4070
OSTDS_Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov
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Sign UpThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.
Learn MoreTallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 Public.Services@FloridaDEP.gov 850-245-2118
