The Environmental Health Division regulates all private, individual household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) in accordance with Chapter 3701-29 of the Ohio Administrative Code and any other resolutions adopted by the Geauga County Board of 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.
Sanitary sewage systems that conveys sewage to a central waste water 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 the Geauga County Health District 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.
Site Evaluations
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 the Geauga County Health District 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 Access Geauga 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. Please print no larger than a ledger or tabloid 11" x 17" paper for filing with this office.
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 the Geauga County Health District to schedule an appointment to visit the site.
Permits
The Geauga County Health District 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 the Geauga County Health District. Please refer to our current fee tables.
Inspections
When a new household sewage treatment system is installed, the registered sewage installer must contact a Registered Sanitarian from the Geauga County Health District 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.
Household Sewage Treatment System Installers and Service Providers
Individuals and companies that install sewage treatment systems, or service HSTS in any way, in Geauga County, or anywhere in Ohio, must be registered with the Geauga County Health District, be certified by the Ohio Department of Health through an examination in compliance with OAC 3701-29-04(D)(2), maintain a surety bond in compliance with OAC 3701-29-04(D), and participate in continuing education provided by ODH, or an accredited training program acceptable to ODH.
A list of those individuals and companies currently registered as household sewage treatment system installers or service providers can be obtained from the Geauga County Health District, or on this Web site.
Records
Records of private sewage system installations are kept on file at the Geauga County Health District. Records are retrievable by address and road name.
Investigations
The Environmental Health Division investigates 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. A signed written complaint must be submitted to this office before the department can investigate a complaint. The Board of Health enforces regulations for land owners who fail to comply with these regulations through administrative hearings and through the Geauga County Prosecutor's Office.
Fees
Services rendered by the Geauga County Health District are subject to fees. Please refer to our current fee tables on the publications page.
Household Sewage Laws and Rules Enforced
Geauga County Household Sewage Disposal System Regulations 3701-29
Homeowner's Manual
Geauga County Sewage, Water well & Plumbing Owner's Manual
Forms & Publications
Lot Evaluation Procedures Information Sheet
Lot Evaluation Form
Septic Tank Abandonment Form
Registered Installers & Haulers (cleaners)
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
Registered Soils Professionals
List of Current Registered Soils Professionals in Geauga County
Geauga County Household Sewage Disposal Regulation
3701-29-06 Registration of Soil Professionals
(A) No person/firm shall perform or provide soil analysis or report for siting of a sewage
disposal system unless he holds a valid registration issued to him by the Board of Health.
(B) Application for registration shall be in writing and contain pertinent information as required
by the Board of Health.
Applicable registration fee shall accompany the registration application.
(1) Any individual/firm applying to become a registered soil professional (soil scientist,
soil classifier), must possess the ARCPACS certification from the American Society
of Agronomy (ASA) or the Association of Ohio Pedologists (AOP).
Certification of soil scientists is maintained by the following organizations:
The Association of Ohio Pedologist under "List of AOP Soil Consultants"
American Society of Agronomy under Scientific Expertise Search
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