Local rules · checked Nov 12, 2026

Septic permits and rules around Chattanooga

Who to call, what it costs and the rules most likely to affect a homeowner, from the agencies' own pages.

Hamilton County, Tennessee

Groundwater Protection, part of Hamilton County Development Services, issues septic permits and follows TDEC's standards. Hamilton County runs its own program, so you don't use the state's online form. Phone 423-209-7876, email gwp@hamiltontn.gov. All Groundwater permits have been filed online since March 11, 2024.

• Permit before dirt work. TDEC says to get the septic permit before any dirt work or construction, including the building pad.
• Setbacks for additions: at least 5 feet from the tank and 10 feet from the field lines. In-ground pools, or cuts deeper than 1 foot, need 25 feet from the field lines. A soils map may be required, and an inspector visits within 3 days.
• Installers need a County septic installer license, renewed yearly. The County publishes a list of licensed installers and pumpers.
• Third parties: since October 1, 2024, Tennessee law lets a water resources engineer prepare permit packages and do final inspections, and a certified soil scientist submit permits for systems under 750 gallons a day.
• Records: copies of existing permits and installation certificates are available by email or through the County's document retrieval.
• Short-term rentals on septic need a $205 septic inspection as part of the County's STVR permit.

Sewer: WWTA, and when you have to connect

The Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority (WWTA) runs public sewer in unincorporated Hamilton County and in East Ridge, Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy. It doesn't run sewer in Chattanooga, Collegedale or Walden. Phone 423-209-7842; after-hours sewer emergencies 423-209-6408.

• WWTA says Tennessee law (TCA 7-35-201) lets it require a home on septic to pay sewer charges and connect when sewer is available.
• On Signal Mountain, the whole sewer system is under a TDEC moratorium on new connections.
• Repairs to a sewer service line need a WWTA permit, with a $50 minimum fee.

Catoosa and Walker counties, Georgia

In Georgia, septic permits come from the county Environmental Health office, part of Northwest Georgia Public Health: Catoosa (706) 406-2030, Walker (706) 639-2574. They handle new systems, repairs, additions and modifications, and existing-system evaluations, and a final inspection is required before the system is covered.

• Existing-system evaluations can be triggered by a loan closing or refinance, a pool, a home addition or moving a mobile home. If no inspection record is on file, the tank must be partly uncovered before the visit.
• Owner's duty: Georgia rule 511-3-1-.17 makes the owner responsible for maintaining the system, bans letting sewage reach the ground surface or water, and says an abandoned tank must be pumped by a certified pumper and filled, or removed.
• Certified pros: Georgia DPH publishes certified installer and pumper lists by county.

Before anyone digs: 811

Tennessee 811 requires a locate ticket at least 3 working days before digging; Georgia 811 asks for 3 business days. 811 doesn't mark private lines.