Updated
Does Michigan require a septic license?
Partly. Michigan credentials some septic work at the state level, but not every septic trade. Michigan licenses septage haulers statewide; septic installers are licensed by county health departments, and Michigan has no statewide sanitary code.
Who licenses septic contractors in Michigan?
Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers).
Michigan's septic credentials:
- Septage hauler license (Part 117)
How to check a septic contractor's license in Michigan
- Open the Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers) lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in Michigan
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In Michigan, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in Michigan
The Septic Guide lists 361 septic companies and licensed professionals in Michigan, 338 matched to the state's published list. Source list: EGLE septage hauler directory. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Oakland County (28)
- Kent County (19)
- Livingston County (13)
- Monroe County (13)
- Allegan County (11)
- Muskegon County (11)
- Wayne County (11)
- Genesee County (10)
All septic companies in Michigan →
Michigan septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in Michigan?
Partly. Michigan credentials some septic work at the state level, but not every septic trade. Michigan licenses septage haulers statewide; septic installers are licensed by county health departments, and Michigan has no statewide sanitary code.
Who issues septic licenses in Michigan?
The Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers) issues Michigan's septic credentials: Septage hauler license (Part 117).
How do I check a septic contractor's license in Michigan?
Open the Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers) lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in Michigan?
The Septic Guide lists 361 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in Michigan, 338 of them matched to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in Michigan?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: Michigan EGLE Septage Waste Program (pumpers); county health departments (installers); state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.