Septic License Requirements by State
32 states license or certify septic installers at the state level, 12 leave it to counties or towns, and 6 credential only some septic trades (for example designers or pumpers). 26 states publish a list of license holders that anyone can check.
Updated . Researched from each state agency's own site.
| State | Licensing | Agency | Public list | In our directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State license | Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board | Lookup only | 49 (2 licensed) |
| Alaska | State license | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Division | Yes | — |
| Arizona | State license | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Yes | 212 (196 licensed) |
| Arkansas | State license | Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater | Yes | 1,248 (1,240 licensed) |
| California | State license | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Yes | 1,006 (938 licensed) |
| Colorado | Local only | County health departments (rules set by CDPHE Regulation 43) | No | 30 |
| Connecticut | State license | Connecticut Department of Public Health (licensing through the state eLicense system) | Yes | 1,925 (1,903 licensed) |
| Delaware | State license | Delaware DNREC | Yes | 86 (84 licensed) |
| Florida | State license | Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Operator Certification Program | Lookup only | 179 (27 licensed) |
| Georgia | State license | Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health | Yes | 2,013 (1,983 licensed) |
| Hawaii | Partial | Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board | Lookup only | — |
| Idaho | State license | Idaho's seven public health districts, under Idaho DEQ rules | Yes | 1,148 (1,138 licensed) |
| Illinois | State license | Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program | Lookup only | 977 (943 licensed) |
| Indiana | Local only | County health departments (rules set by the Indiana Department of Health) | No | 29 |
| Iowa | Local only | County environmental health offices (567 IAC chapter 69) | No | 13 |
| Kansas | Local only | County sanitary codes (KDHE sets minimum standards) | No | 9 |
| Kentucky | State license | Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Installer Certification Program | No | 18 |
| Louisiana | State license | Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program | Yes | 348 (333 licensed) |
| Maine | Partial | Maine CDC, Subsurface Wastewater Program | Yes | — |
| Maryland | State license | Maryland Department of the Environment | Yes | 1,029 (1,012 licensed) |
| Massachusetts | Local only | Local boards of health (Title 5) | No | 32 |
| Michigan | Partial | Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers) | Yes | 361 (338 licensed) |
| Minnesota | State license | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (SSTS program) | Lookup only | 1,256 (1,253 licensed) |
| Mississippi | State license | Mississippi State Department of Health, On-Site Wastewater | Lookup only | 447 (439 licensed) |
| Missouri | State license | Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment program | No | 29 |
| Montana | Local only | County health departments (Montana DEQ licenses septic pumpers) | No | — |
| Nebraska | State license | Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (Title 124) | Yes | 456 (448 licensed) |
| Nevada | State license | Nevada State Contractors Board; local health districts permit systems | Lookup only | 15 |
| New Hampshire | State license | NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau | Yes | 1,541 (1,541 licensed) |
| New Jersey | Local only | Local health departments | No | 31 |
| New Mexico | State license | NMED Liquid Waste Program and the Construction Industries Division | Lookup only | 9 |
| New York | Local only | County health departments (NYSDOH sets standards) | No | 60 (1 licensed) |
| North Carolina | State license | NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board | Yes | 4,569 (4,519 licensed) |
| North Dakota | State license | North Dakota DEQ and local public health units | Yes | 393 (393 licensed) |
| Ohio | Local only | County health districts (OAC 3701-29) | No | 51 (2 licensed) |
| Oklahoma | State license | Oklahoma DEQ, Environmental Complaints and Local Services | Yes | 280 (257 licensed) |
| Oregon | State license | Oregon DEQ, Sewage Disposal Service licensing | Yes | 1,253 (1,230 licensed) |
| Pennsylvania | Local only | Local sewage enforcement officers (PA DEP Act 537 program) | No | 232 |
| Rhode Island | State license | Rhode Island DEM, OWTS program | Yes | 495 (485 licensed) |
| South Carolina | State license | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services | Yes | 1,487 (1,468 licensed) |
| South Dakota | State license | South Dakota State Plumbing Commission | Yes | 469 (469 licensed) |
| Tennessee | State license | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources | Yes | 1,648 (1,610 licensed) |
| Texas | State license | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) | Yes | 363 (158 licensed) |
| Utah | Partial | Utah DEQ Division of Water Quality | Yes | 15 |
| Vermont | Partial | Vermont DEC (voluntary installer certification); designers licensed by the Office of Professional Regulation | No | — |
| Virginia | State license | Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals | Yes | 1,701 (1,688 licensed) |
| Washington | Local only | County health departments (designers licensed by the state) | No | 34 |
| West Virginia | State license | West Virginia Office of Environmental Health Services | Yes | 961 (961 licensed) |
| Wisconsin | Partial | Wisconsin DSPS | Lookup only | 29 |
| Wyoming | Local only | County health departments (Wyoming DEQ permits large systems) | No | — |
How septic licensing works in the U.S.
There is no national septic license. Each state decides who may install, pump or inspect septic systems, and in 12 states that decision is left to counties or towns. Where a state does license septic work, the credential is usually issued by its health or environmental agency, and several states license the individual installer rather than the company.
The Septic Guide matches contractors to these state lists. As of October 2026, 27,059 of the 28,538 providers in our directory are matched to a state license or certification list. See how we verify licenses and the septic licensing statistics.
Common questions
Do septic installers need a license?
It depends on the state. 32 states license or certify septic installers at the state level, 12 leave it to counties or towns, and 6 credential only some septic trades (for example designers or pumpers). 26 states publish a list of license holders that anyone can check.
Which states do not license septic installers?
States without a statewide septic installer license, where counties or towns license installers: Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming.
How do I check a septic contractor's license?
Find your state in the table, open the agency's lookup and search the contractor's name or license number. In states that license individuals, search the name of the person who holds the license.