Updated
Does North Carolina require a septic license?
Yes. North Carolina requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board. North Carolina certifies onsite wastewater installers by grade and certifies inspectors; the board publishes its certification list.
Who licenses septic contractors in North Carolina?
NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board.
North Carolina's septic credentials:
- Grade Level II installer
- Grade Level IV installer
- Point-of-sale inspector
How to check a septic contractor's license in North Carolina
- Open the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board 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 North Carolina
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In North Carolina, 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 North Carolina
The Septic Guide lists 4,569 septic companies and licensed professionals in North Carolina, 4,519 matched to the state's published list. Source list: NCOWCICB certification list. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Buncombe County (230)
- Henderson County (158)
- Wake County (129)
- Johnston County (106)
- Haywood County (105)
- Onslow County (94)
- Jackson County (92)
- Iredell County (91)
All septic companies in North Carolina →
North Carolina septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board. North Carolina certifies onsite wastewater installers by grade and certifies inspectors; the board publishes its certification list.
Who issues septic licenses in North Carolina?
The NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board issues North Carolina's septic credentials: Grade Level II installer; Grade Level IV installer; Point-of-sale inspector.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in North Carolina?
Open the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board 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 North Carolina?
The Septic Guide lists 4,569 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in North Carolina, 4,519 of them matched to the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board 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 North Carolina?
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: NC Onsite Wastewater Contractors & Inspectors Certification Board; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.