Septic Systems
How Septic System Installation Works in Ohio
If you're building a new home, replacing a failed system, or converting from an old setup, knowing what actually happens during septic installation makes the process far less stressful. Ohio's rules add a few steps that other states skip, and understanding them up front helps you plan around permit timelines instead of being surprised by them. Here's what the installation process looks like from first call to final grading, based on how BS Farms & Contracting handles installs across Champaign, Logan, Miami, Clark, and Union Counties.
Step by step
The installation process.
What happens from first call to final grading.
- 01
Initial call
We start with a short conversation about your property: address, lot size, household size, and water source. This lets us scope the visit before anyone drives out.
- 02
Free site evaluation
Our crew walks the property to assess terrain, identify likely tank and drain field locations, and flag anything that could complicate the install, such as tight setbacks, slope, tree lines, or a high water table.
- 03
Certified soil evaluation
Ohio's county health districts require a soil evaluation to determine what type of system your lot can support. Soil texture, drainage, and depth to groundwater or bedrock all factor into whether you qualify for a conventional leach field, an aeration system, or another approved design.
- 04
Permit submission
Once the soil evaluation and system design are ready, we submit the permit application to your county health district. This is the step homeowners most often underestimate on timeline, since it depends on the district's review queue, not on how fast the installer works.
- 05
Excavation and installation
With the permit in hand, we bring equipment on-site and build the system to the approved specifications. For a typical residential install, the physical digging and installation work itself takes one to three working days.
- 06
Health district inspection
Before anything gets backfilled, a county health district inspector has to verify the installation matches the approved permit. This inspection happens with the trench still open, which is why installation timelines always build in inspector availability.
- 07
Final grading
Once the inspection passes, we backfill, regrade, and reseed the area so the yard is restored.
Permits and inspections
What Ohio requires before and after the dig.
New septic installations and most replacements in Ohio fall under the state's onsite sewage treatment rules (Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29), which require both a permit before work begins and a final inspection before the system is buried. Every county health district enforces these rules locally, which is why the permit and soil evaluation happen through your county's health department rather than through the state directly.
We handle the paperwork coordination with the local health district and schedule the required inspection as part of the job, so you aren't the one tracking down a county office to find out where your permit stands.
Timeline
Typical installation timeline.
The honest answer has two separate phases.
- Permit review: typically two to six weeks from a complete submission to permit in hand, depending on the county health district's current workload.
- On-site installation: typically one to three days once the permit is issued and equipment is on-site.
Where we install
County health district coordination.
BS Farms & Contracting is an approved installer in five county health districts and works directly with each one.
- Champaign Health District (Urbana, St. Paris, Mechanicsburg, North Lewisburg and surrounding townships)
- Logan County Health District (Bellefontaine, West Liberty, De Graff, Lakeview and surrounding townships)
- Miami County Public Health (Troy, Piqua, Tipp City, West Milton, Bradford and surrounding townships)
- Clark County Combined Health District (Springfield, New Carlisle, Enon, North Hampton and surrounding townships)
- Union County Health Department (Marysville, Plain City, Richwood, Milford Center and surrounding townships)
Common questions
Installation FAQ
Real answers, including timelines and permit requirements.
It starts with a site and soil evaluation, moves through county health district permitting, then excavation and installation, a pre-backfill inspection, and final grading. The state's onsite sewage treatment rules (OAC 3701-29) require both a permit and a final inspection for new systems and most replacements.
After the permit is approved, a crew excavates and installs the tank and drain field (or aeration system) to the approved design, typically over one to three days. A county health district inspector then checks the open trench before it's backfilled.
Plan on two to six weeks for permit review, followed by one to three days of on-site installation once the permit is issued. Total project time depends heavily on your county health district's current review queue.
Yes. New installations and most replacements require a permit and a final inspection from your county health district under Ohio's onsite sewage treatment rules.
We schedule and coordinate the required inspection as part of the installation, working directly with your county health district so you don't have to manage that step yourself.
Free Estimates
Planning a new septic system or a replacement?
Free site evaluation and a straight answer on what your lot needs, anywhere in Champaign, Logan, Miami, Clark, or Union County. See our full [septic system installation](/services/septic-system-installation) service or check our [service area coverage](/service-areas) to confirm we serve your township.