The Environmental Health Division regulates all household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) in accordance with Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code and any other resolutions adopted by Geauga Public Health. This includes all 1, 2 and 3 family residential dwellings served by an individual household sewage treatment system. Of the estimated 32,350 housing units in Geauga County, approximately 70% rely on household sewage systems to dispose of waste water.

In addition to the OAC Chapter 3701-29 Household Sewage Treatment Systems, the Geauga County Board of Health has adopted the following local codes:

• 3701-29 Supplements to Section 6
• 3701-29-24 Inclement Weather Occupancy Permit
• 3701-29-25 For Sale of Property Evaluation
• 3701-29-26 Rules for Land Application of Septage

Sanitary sewage systems that convey sewage to a central wastewater treatment plant are regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and maintained by the Geauga County Department of Water Resources or the municipality in which they are located.

For household sewage treatment systems Geauga Public Health provides the following: site evaluation for new systems, permits for new systems, permits to alter existing systems, investigation of complaints for malfunctioning systems, and enforcement measures for failure to comply with these regulations, which include hearings before the Geauga County Board of Health and referral to the Geauga County Prosecutors Office for placement on the docket of the Common Pleas Court.

A lot evaluation determines the feasibility of installing a sewage treatment system on a parcel of land, whether it is a vacant parcel or has an existing home on the lot. A Registered Sanitarian from Geauga Public Health will visit the site to determine this feasibility. The following items must be completed before the sanitarian will visit the site.

1. The lot evaluation form must be completed and fees paid to the department.
2. Soils information of the site must be submitted to the office. Soils information can be obtained from a certified soils scientist with the Association of Ohio Pedologist or American Society of Agronomy.
3. A site plan on a scalable 1″ = 50′ on a topographical map with 2′ contours must be submitted to the office showing the existing or proposed house, driveway, water well, sewage disposal system and replacement area. This can be printed from the Geauga REALLink property information system by selecting the parcel to be evaluated, selecting the map tab, and selecting Health Dept. Map from the print choices in the GIS toolbar. Site plans should be larger than 11″ X 17″ (ledger or tabloid paper) for filing with GCHD.
4. Stake out the proposed house, driveway, water well, sewage disposal system and replacement area. The property lines need to be staked every 50 feet. (Lot evaluation procedures in more detail are in this information sheet)

Upon completion of these items, you can contact a sanitarian from Geauga Public Health to schedule an appointment to visit the site.

Geauga Public Health issues permits for installing new sewage treatment systems and for alteration of existing systems. After a lot evaluation is completed and approved a permit may be obtained from Geauga Public Health. Please refer to our current fee tables.

When a new household sewage treatment system is installed, the registered sewage installer must contact a Registered Sanitarian from Geauga Public Health to inspect the system. The sanitarian conducts an inspection to assure compliance with Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code and any other resolutions adopted by the Geauga County Board of Health.

Individuals and companies that install or service household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) in Geauga County must be registered with Geauga Public Health per OAC 3701-29-03(C)(1), complete all examination requirements of OAC 3701-29-03(C)(2), maintain a surety bond found in OAC 3701-29-03(C)(6), and maintain compliance with all other sections of OAC 3701-29-03.

A list of those individuals and companies currently registered as household sewage treatment system installers or service providers can be obtained from Geauga Public Health, or on this Web site.

Records of private sewage system installations are kept on file at Geauga Public Health. Records are retrievable by address and road name.

The Environmental Health Division investigates all complaints on failing or malfunctioning household sewage treatment systems, including older style household sewage disposal systems that are no longer installed in the State of Ohio. The Board of Health enforces regulations for landowners who fail to comply with these regulations through administrative hearings and through the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office.

Services rendered by Geauga Public Health are subject to fees. Please refer to our current fee tables on the publications page.

Geauga County Household Sewage Disposal System Regulations 3701-29 (for reference only – these rules were superseded on 1/4/2015)

OAC 3701-29 Household Sewage Treatment Systems

Geauga Country Board of Health local ordinances effective 1/4/2015:

3701-29 Supplements to Section 6
3701-29-24 Inclement Weather Occupancy Permit
3701-29-25 For Sale of Property Evaluation
3701-29-26 Rules for Land Application of Septage

Geauga County Sewage, Water well & Plumbing Owner’s Manual

Lot Evaluation Procedures Information Sheet

Lot Evaluation Form

Septic Tank Abandonment Form

List of Registered Sewage System Installers in Geauga County

List of Service Providers (including Aeration System) in Geauga

List of Registered Septic Haulers (cleaners) in Geauga County

Soil evaluators must maintain compliance with OAC 3701-29-07, which specified that the soil scientist or soil classifier must be certified by the soil science society of America (SSSA), or registered by a state or national organization with equivalent minimum qualifications and/or demonstration of competency for soil evaluation as approved by the director of health.

Online references for finding qualified soil scientists include:

Soil Science Society of America under Certifications: Find a Professional Directory

The Association of Ohio Pedologist under “Consultant List”

American Society of Agronomy under Scientific Expertise Search