Updated
Does Virginia require a septic license?
Yes. Virginia requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals. Virginia licenses septic installers, operators and soil evaluators at journeyman and master levels; DPOR updates its lists every five business days.
Who licenses septic contractors in Virginia?
Virginia's septic credentials:
- Conventional and alternative onsite sewage system installer (journeyman, master)
- Onsite sewage system operator
- Onsite soil evaluator
How to check a septic contractor's license in Virginia
- Open the Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals 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 Virginia
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In Virginia, 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 Virginia
The Septic Guide lists 1,701 septic companies and licensed professionals in Virginia, 1,688 matched to the state's published list. Source list: DPOR regulant lists. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
All septic companies in Virginia →
Virginia septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals. Virginia licenses septic installers, operators and soil evaluators at journeyman and master levels; DPOR updates its lists every five business days.
Who issues septic licenses in Virginia?
The Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals issues Virginia's septic credentials: Conventional and alternative onsite sewage system installer (journeyman, master); Onsite sewage system operator; Onsite soil evaluator.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in Virginia?
Open the Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals 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 Virginia?
The Septic Guide lists 1,701 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in Virginia, 1,688 of them matched to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation 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 Virginia?
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: Virginia DPOR, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.