Updated
Does Tennessee require a septic license?
Yes. Tennessee requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources. Tennessee permits septic installers yearly by system type; permits expire December 31.
Who licenses septic contractors in Tennessee?
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources.
Tennessee's septic credentials:
- Conventional installer permit
- Alternative system permits (low-pressure pipe, mound, lagoon, aerobic)
- Pumper permit
How to check a septic contractor's license in Tennessee
- Open the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources 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 Tennessee
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In Tennessee, 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 Tennessee
The Septic Guide lists 1,648 septic companies and licensed professionals in Tennessee, 1,610 matched to the state's published list. Source list: TDEC permitted active installers list. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Dickson County (52)
- Knox County (48)
- Hamilton County (46)
- Rutherford County (46)
- Wilson County (43)
- Cumberland County (41)
- Sumner County (41)
- Montgomery County (37)
All septic companies in Tennessee →
Tennessee septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources. Tennessee permits septic installers yearly by system type; permits expire December 31.
Who issues septic licenses in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources issues Tennessee's septic credentials: Conventional installer permit; Alternative system permits (low-pressure pipe, mound, lagoon, aerobic); Pumper permit.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in Tennessee?
Open the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources 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 Tennessee?
The Septic Guide lists 1,648 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in Tennessee, 1,610 of them matched to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 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 Tennessee?
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: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.