(a) A person owning or controlling a residence, place of business or a place of public assembly shall provide an approved wastewater system. Except as may be allowed under another provision of law, all wastewater from water-using fixtures and appliances connected to a water supply source shall discharge to the approved wastewater system. A wastewater system may include components for collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater.

(a1) Any proposed site for a residence, place of business, or a place of public assembly located in an area that is not served by an approved wastewater system for which a new wastewater system is proposed or repair is necessary for compliance may be evaluated for soil conditions and site features by a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 89F of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as a licensed soil scientist. For purposes of this subsection, “site features” include topography and landscape position; soil characteristics (morphology); soil wetness; soil depth; restrictive horizons; available space; and other applicable factors that involve accepted public health principles. A person licensed pursuant to Chapter 89E of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as a licensed geologist may evaluate the proposed site or repair area, as applicable, for geologic and hydrogeologic conditions.

(a2) Evaluations conducted by a licensed soil scientist or a licensed geologist pursuant to subsection (a1) of this section shall be used in developing design and construction features for a new proposed wastewater system or a proposed repair project for an existing wastewater system, including the addressing of any special hydrologic conditions that may be required under the applicable rules for an Improvement Permit or a Construction Authorization, shall be approved by the applicable permitting authorities under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-336 provided both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The evaluation shall not cover areas outside the scope of the applicable license.

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(2) The licensed soil scientist or licensed geologist conducting the evaluation maintains an errors and omissions liability insurance policy issued by an insurer licensed under Chapter 58 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. in an amount commensurate with the risk.

(a3) When an applicant for an Improvement Permit submits to a local health department an Improvement Permit application, the permit fee charged by the local health department, the common form developed by the Department, and a soil evaluation pursuant to subsection (a2) of this section, the local health department shall, within five business days of receiving the application, conduct a completeness review of the submittal. A determination of completeness means that the Improvement Permit includes all of the required components. If the local health department determines that the Improvement Permit is incomplete, the local health department shall notify the applicant of the components needed to complete the Improvement Permit. The applicant may submit additional information to the local health department to cure the deficiencies in the Improvement Permit. The local health department shall make a final determination as to whether the Improvement Permit is complete within five business days after the local health department receives the additional information from the applicant. If the local health department fails to act within any period set out in this subsection, the applicant may treat the failure to act as a determination of completeness. The Department shall develop a common form for use as the Improvement Permit.

(a4) The licensed soil scientist or licensed geologist submitting the evaluation pursuant to subsection (a2) of this section shall have the right to request that the local health department revoke or suspend the Improvement Permit for cause. Upon written request by the licensed soil scientist or licensed geologist, the local health department shall suspend or revoke the Improvement Permit pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-23

(a5) When an applicant for a Construction Authorization, or an Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization together, submits a Construction Authorization, or an Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization application together, the permit fee charged by the local health department, the common form developed by the Department, and any necessary signed and sealed plans or evaluations conducted by a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 89C of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as a licensed engineer or a person certified pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 90A of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator, the local health department shall, within five business days of receiving the application, conduct a completeness review of the submittal. A determination of completeness means that the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization includes all of the required components. If the local health department determines that the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization is incomplete, the local health department shall notify the applicant of the components needed to complete the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization. The applicant may submit additional information to the local health department to cure the deficiencies in the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization. The local health department shall make a final determination as to whether the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization is complete within five business days after the local health department receives the additional information from the applicant. If the local health department fails to act within any period set out in this subsection, the applicant may treat the failure to act as a determination of completeness. The applicant may apply for the building permit for the project upon the decision of completeness of the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization by the local health department or if the local health department fails to act within five business days. The Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator or licensed engineer submitting the evaluation pursuant to this subsection may request that the local health department revoke or suspend the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization for cause. Upon written request of the Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator or licensed engineer, the local health department shall suspend or revoke the Construction Authorization or Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-23 The Department shall develop a common form for use as the Construction Authorization.

(a6) The local health department may assess a fee for the Construction Authorization or the Improvement Permit/Construction Authorization combination permit of up to forty percent (40%) of the fee established for similar systems permitted by the local health department.

(a7) The wastewater system contractor shall notify the local health department, or professional engineer or Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator, as applicable, prior to the start of construction of the proposed wastewater system by telephone or other electronic means. The local health department, professional engineer, or Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator conducting the evaluation pursuant to subsection (a5) of this section shall retain the ability to delay construction until determination of site conditions, including soil wetness, grading or landscaping that damages the soil evaluation, soil compaction, or landscape position. The owner or certified on-site wastewater contractor shall notify the authorizing agent and is responsible for contacting the authorizing agent, as applicable, and the certified on-site wastewater contractor prior to the start of system construction of any known changes to the site that alter the site evaluation or conditions.

The wastewater system contractor certified under rules established by the North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board shall notify the local health department of completion of the wastewater system for the inspection and issuance of the operation permit pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-337 after determination of compliance with the construction authorization.

(a8) The Department, the Department’s authorized agents, and the local health departments shall be discharged and released from any liabilities, duties, and responsibilities imposed by statute or in common law from any claim arising out of or attributed to evaluations, submittals, or actions from a licensed soil scientist or licensed geologist pursuant to subsection (a2) of this section. The Department, the Department’s authorized agents, and the local health departments shall be discharged and released from any liabilities, duties, and responsibilities imposed by statute or in common law from any claim arising out of or attributed to plans, evaluations, preconstruction conference findings, submittals, or actions from a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 89C of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as a licensed engineer or a person certified pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 90A of the N.C. Gen. Stat. as an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator in subsections (a2), (a5), and (a7) of this section. The Department, the Department’s authorized agents, and the local health departments shall be responsible and bear liability for their actions and evaluations and other obligations under State law or rule, including the issuance of the operations permit pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-337

(a9) Proposed wastewater systems submitted to the local health department pursuant to this section shall not be required to meet the requirements of 15A NCAC 18A .1938(e) or 15A NCAC 18A .1938(f). Any proposals sent to the Department for review shall not be required to meet the time constraints set forth in this section.

(b) All wastewater systems shall either (i) be regulated by the Department under rules adopted by the Commission, (ii) conform with the engineered option permit criteria set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-336.1 and under rules adopted by the Commission, or (iii) conform with the Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator permit criteria pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-336.2 and rules adopted by the North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board except for the following wastewater systems that shall be regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality under rules adopted by the Environmental Management Commission:

(1) Wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal systems designed to discharge effluent to the land surface or surface waters.

(2) Wastewater systems designed for groundwater remediation, groundwater injection, or landfill leachate collection and disposal.

(3) Wastewater systems designed for the complete recycle or reuse of industrial process wastewater.

(4) Gray water systems as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-350

(c) A wastewater system subject to approval under rules of the Commission shall be reviewed and approved under rules of a local board of health in the following circumstances:

(1) The local board of health, on its own motion, has requested the Department to review its proposed rules concerning wastewater systems; and

(2) The local board of health has adopted by reference the wastewater system rules adopted by the Commission, with any more stringent modifications or additions deemed necessary by the local board of health to protect the public health. Local boards of health shall use historical experience to establish modifications or additions to rules established by the Commission; and

(3) The Department has found that the rules, including modifications or additions to the Commission’s rules, of the local board of health concerning wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems are at least as stringent as rules adopted by the Commission and are sufficient and necessary to safeguard the public health.

(c1) The rules adopted by the Commission for wastewater systems approved under the engineered option permit criteria pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-336.1 shall be, at a minimum, as stringent as the rules for wastewater systems established by the Commission.

(c2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a unit of local government shall not prohibit or regulate by ordinance or enforce an existing ordinance regulating the use of off-site wastewater systems or other systems approved by the Department under rules adopted by the Commission when the proposed system meets the specific conditions of the approval.

(d) The Department may, upon its own motion, upon the request of a local board of health or upon the request of a citizen of an affected county, review its findings under subsection (c) of this section.

The Department shall review its findings under subsection (c) of this section upon modification by the Commission of the rules applicable to wastewater systems. The Department may deny, suspend, or revoke the approval of local board of health wastewater system rules upon a finding that the local wastewater rules are not as stringent as rules adopted by the Commission, are not sufficient and necessary to safeguard the public health, or are not being enforced. Suspension and revocation of approval shall be in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-23

(d1) The Department or owner of a wastewater system may file a written complaint with the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to Chapter 89C of the N.C. Gen. Stat. citing failure of a professional engineer to adhere to the rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Article. The Department or owner of a wastewater system may file a written complaint with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Soil Scientists in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to Chapter 89F of the N.C. Gen. Stat. citing failure of a licensed soil scientist to adhere to the rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Article. The Department or owner of a wastewater system may file a written complaint with the North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to Chapter 89E of the N.C. Gen. Stat. citing failure of a licensed geologist to adhere to the rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Article. The Department or owner of a wastewater system may file a written complaint with the North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 90A of the N.C. Gen. Stat. citing failure of a contractor to adhere to the rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Article or for failure of an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator to adhere to rules adopted by the Commission or the Board pursuant to this Article.

(e) The rules of the Commission and the rules of the local board of health shall address at least the following: Wastewater characteristics; Design unit; Design capacity; Design volume; Criteria for the design, installation, operation, maintenance and performance of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems; Soil morphology and drainage; Topography and landscape position; Depth to seasonally high water table, rock and water impeding formations; Proximity to water supply wells, shellfish waters, estuaries, marshes, wetlands, areas subject to frequent flooding, streams, lakes, swamps and other bodies of surface or groundwaters; Density of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems in a geographical area; Requirements for issuance, suspension and revocation of permits; and Other factors which affect the effective operation and performance of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems. The rules regarding required design capacity and required design volume for wastewater systems shall provide that exceptions may be granted upon a showing that a system is adequate to meet actual daily water consumption.

(f) The rules of the Commission and the rules of the local board of health shall classify systems of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal according to size, type of treatment and any other appropriate factors. The rules shall provide construction requirements, including pretreatment and system control requirements, standards for operation, maintenance, monitoring, reporting, and ownership requirements for each classification of systems of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal in order to prevent, as far as reasonably possible, any contamination of the land, groundwater and surface waters. The Department and local health departments may impose conditions on the issuance of permits and may revoke the permits for failure of the system to satisfy the conditions, the rules, or this Article. Permits other than improvement permits shall be valid for a period prescribed by rule. Improvement permits shall be valid upon a showing satisfactory to the Department or the local health department that the site and soil conditions are unaltered, that the facility, design wastewater flow, and wastewater characteristics are not increased, and that a wastewater system can be installed that meets the permitting requirements in effect on the date the Improvement Permit was issued. Improvement permits for which a plat is provided shall be valid without expiration. Improvement permits for which a site plan is provided shall be valid for five years. The period of time for which the permit is valid and a statement that the permit is subject to revocation if the site plan or plat, whichever is applicable, or the intended use changes shall be displayed prominently on both the application form for the permit and the permit.

(f1) A preconstruction conference with the owner or developer, or an agent of the owner or developer, and a representative of the local health department shall be required for any Construction Authorization issued with an Improvement Permit under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-336 when the authorization is greater than five years old. Following the conference, the local health department shall advise the owner or developer of any rule changes for wastewater system construction incorporating current technology that can reasonably be expected to improve the performance of the system. The local health department shall issue a revised Construction Authorization incorporating the rule changes upon the written request of the owner or developer.

(f2) For each septic tank system that is designed to treat 3,000 gallons per day or less of sewage, rules adopted pursuant to subsection (f) of this section shall require the use of an effluent filter to reduce the total suspended solids entering the drainfield and the use of an access device for each compartment of the septic tank to provide access to the compartment in order to facilitate maintenance of the septic tank. The Commission shall not adopt specifications for the effluent filter and access device that exceed the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-335.1 Neither this section nor N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-335.1 shall be construed to prohibit the use of an effluent filter or access device that exceeds the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-335.1 The Department shall approve effluent filters that meet the requirements of this section, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-335.1, and rules adopted by the Commission.

(g) Prior to denial of an Improvement Permit, the local health department shall advise the applicant of possible site modifications or alternative systems, and shall provide a brief description of those systems. When an Improvement Permit is denied, the local health department shall issue the site evaluation in writing stating the reasons for the unsuitable classification. The evaluation shall also inform the applicant of the right to an informal review by the Department, the right to appeal under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-24, and to have the appeal held in the county in which the site for which the Improvement Permit was requested is located.

(h) Except as provided in this subsection, a chemical or portable toilet may be placed at any location where the chemical or portable toilet can be operated and maintained under sanitary conditions. A chemical or portable toilet shall not be used as a replacement or substitute for a water closet or urinal where a water closet or urinal connected to a permanent wastewater treatment system is required by the North Carolina State Building Code, except that a chemical or portable toilet may be used to supplement a water closet or urinal during periods of peak use. A chemical or portable toilet shall not be used as an alternative to the repair of a water closet, urinal, or wastewater treatment system. It shall be unlawful to discharge sewage or other waste from a chemical or portable toilet used for human waste except into a wastewater system that has been approved by the Department under rules adopted by the Commission or by the Environmental Management Commission or at a site that is permitted by the Department under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-291.1

(i) The Department shall notify the Department of Revenue of all wastewater dispersal product approvals and revocations within 60 days of approval or revocation. (1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1973, c. 471, s. 1; c. 476, s. 128; c. 860; 1977, c. 857, s. 1; 1979, c. 788, s. 2; 1981, c. 949, s. 3; c. 1127, s. 47; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1987, c. 267, ss. 1, 2; 1989, c. 727, s. 147; c. 764, ss. 6, 7; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1075, s. 2; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 944, s. 4; 1993, c. 173, s. 5; 1995, c. 285, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 585, s. 2; 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.31(c); 1998-126, s. 1; 1998-217, s. 46(a); 2008-143, s. 13; 2011-394, s. 12(c); 2014-115, s. 10.1; 2014-120, s. 40(b); 2015-286, s. 4.14(b); 2017-139, s. 3; 2017-209, s. 18(a); 2018-114, s. 11(c); 2019-126, s. 1; 2019-131, s. 1; 2019-177, s. 7.1; 2022-11, s. 5(a); 2023-90, s. 1.)