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To check a septic contractor's license, search the contractor on the license lookup of the agency that licenses septic work in your state, then confirm the license type covers your job and the status is active. The Septic Guide links each of its 27,059 license-matched listings to that agency's lookup.
1. Find the agency for your state
Septic licensing is run by each state, usually by its health or environmental agency, and in some states by counties. Your state's page below names the agency.
2. Search the agency's lookup
Search the business name first. If nothing comes up, search the name of the person who will supervise the job: several states, including Illinois, Nebraska and Texas, license the individual installer rather than the company.
3. Check the license type and status
Make sure the credential matches the work: installation, pumping (often a separate license), inspection or maintenance of aerobic systems. Check that it is active and not expired or suspended.
4. Ask about the permit
A license says who may do septic work; the permit authorizes your specific system or repair. Ask the contractor to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Septic license lookups by state
- Alabama: Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board
- Alaska: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Division
- Arizona: Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater
- California: Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- Colorado: licensed locally
- Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Public Health (licensing through the state eLicense system)
- Delaware: Delaware DNREC
- Florida: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Operator Certification Program
- Georgia: Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health
- Hawaii: Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board
- Idaho: Idaho's seven public health districts, under Idaho DEQ rules
- Illinois: Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program
- Indiana: licensed locally
- Iowa: licensed locally
- Kansas: licensed locally
- Kentucky: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Installer Certification Program
- Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program
- Maine: Maine CDC, Subsurface Wastewater Program
- Maryland: Maryland Department of the Environment
- Massachusetts: licensed locally
- Michigan: Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers)
- Minnesota: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (SSTS program)
- Mississippi: Mississippi State Department of Health, On-Site Wastewater
- Missouri: Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment program
- Montana: licensed locally
- Nebraska: Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (Title 124)
- Nevada: Nevada State Contractors Board; local health districts permit systems
- New Hampshire: NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau
- New Jersey: licensed locally
- New Mexico: NMED Liquid Waste Program and the Construction Industries Division
- New York: licensed locally
- North Carolina: NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board
- North Dakota: North Dakota DEQ and local public health units
- Ohio: licensed locally
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma DEQ, Environmental Complaints and Local Services
- Oregon: Oregon DEQ, Sewage Disposal Service licensing
- Pennsylvania: licensed locally
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island DEM, OWTS program
- South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Environmental Services
- South Dakota: South Dakota State Plumbing Commission
- Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources
- Texas: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Utah: Utah DEQ Division of Water Quality
- Vermont: Vermont DEC (voluntary installer certification); designers licensed by the Office of Professional Regulation
- Virginia: Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals
- Washington: licensed locally
- West Virginia: West Virginia Office of Environmental Health Services
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin DSPS
- Wyoming: licensed locally
Common questions
How do I know if my septic contractor is licensed?
Find the agency that licenses septic work in your state, open its license lookup and search the contractor's name or license number. Check that the license type covers your job and the status is active. In states that license individuals, search the name of the person who will do or supervise the work.
What if my state does not license septic contractors?
In some states counties or towns license septic installers. Ask the contractor which county or town issued their license or registration, and call that office to confirm it.
Is a business license the same as a septic license?
No. A general business registration does not show that anyone is qualified to install or pump septic systems. Ask for the septic-specific license or certification number.