Updated
Does New Hampshire require a septic license?
Yes. New Hampshire requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau. New Hampshire requires a NHDES permit to design or install a septic system; the Subsurface Systems Bureau publishes the list of permitted designers and installers.
Who licenses septic contractors in New Hampshire?
NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau.
New Hampshire's septic credentials:
- Permitted installer (RSA 485-A:36)
- Permitted designer
How to check a septic contractor's license in New Hampshire
- Open the NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau 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 New Hampshire
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire
The Septic Guide lists 1,541 septic companies and licensed professionals in New Hampshire, 1,541 matched to the state's published list. Source list: NHDES permitted septic designer and installer list (October 2026). This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Rockingham County (268)
- Hillsborough County (253)
- Merrimack County (163)
- Grafton County (160)
- Belknap County (136)
- Carroll County (135)
- Strafford County (96)
- Cheshire County (94)
All septic companies in New Hampshire →
New Hampshire septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau. New Hampshire requires a NHDES permit to design or install a septic system; the Subsurface Systems Bureau publishes the list of permitted designers and installers.
Who issues septic licenses in New Hampshire?
The NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau issues New Hampshire's septic credentials: Permitted installer (RSA 485-A:36); Permitted designer.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in New Hampshire?
Open the NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau 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 New Hampshire?
The Septic Guide lists 1,541 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in New Hampshire, 1,541 of them matched to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau 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 New Hampshire?
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: NH Department of Environmental Services, Subsurface Systems Bureau; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.