Septic permits & records
Barrow County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District)
- Address
- 63 Lee St, Winder, GA 30680 (mail: PO Box 1099)
- Phone
- 770-307-3502
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8:00 am–4:30 pm, closed 12:00–1:00 pm
Barrow County · Septic & sewer rules
Septic and sewer service across Barrow County, Georgia, where the county sewer utility has about 2,755 customers and most other homes rely on septic systems.
Winder is the county seat. Septic permits and records: Barrow County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District), part of Northeast Health District (District 10) — Environmental Health.
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Get a free estimate
or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Who permits septic in Barrow County, and how much of the county has sewer?
Barrow County Environmental Health, a Northeast Health District office at 63 Lee St in Winder, permits and inspects septic work countywide. County sewer is small: the Wastewater Division lists about 2,755 customers, and Winder runs its own system. Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions repairs and installs tanks, laterals and water lines across Barrow.↗↗
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
The Barrow County story
A young county with a small sewer utility
Barrow is Georgia's 149th county, stitched together in 1914 from pieces of Gwinnett, Jackson and Walton. Most of its houses are far newer than that. Census estimates put the median build year at 2001, and more than 27,000 of its roughly 32,000 homes are single-family detached.↗↗
The sewer network never kept pace with that building boom. Barrow County's Wastewater Division counts about 2,755 accounts, spread over unincorporated land, Auburn, Statham and slices of Winder. Beside the housing count, that leaves tanks and drain fields doing most of the work.↗↗
That split shapes every call we take here. A backup in a 2005 subdivision off a county main is a lateral problem with a cleanout at the right-of-way. The same symptom two roads over is a field problem, and the paperwork runs through a health office rather than a utility.↗
Local facts
Barrow County wastewater, in numbers
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Septic permits | Barrow County Environmental Health, 63 Lee St, Winder; 770-307-3502; weekdays 8:00–4:30, closed noon to 1 | Northeast Health District — Barrow County locations (Environmental Health) |
| Published permit fees | None online: NEHD says Barrow's fees and forms are being updated; call the office | Northeast Health District — Sewage/Septic Systems (Barrow fees/forms notice) |
| County sewer plants | Tanners Bridge Road and Barber Creek Road, 500,000 gpd each; 13 pump stations; 54 miles of gravity sewer | Barrow County — Wastewater Division |
| Sewer customers | About 2,755 (unincorporated Barrow, Auburn, Statham, parts of Winder) | Barrow County — Wastewater Division |
| Median year built | 2001 (ACS 2020-2024) | Census Reporter — Barrow County, GA (ACS 2020-2024 5-year) |
| Septic-field soil rating | About 16% very limited, 83% somewhat limited, none rated not limited | USDA NRCS Soil Data Access — ENG Septic Tank Absorption Fields, GA606 clipped to Barrow County |
| Drainage | Entire county in the Upper Oconee sub-basin of the Altamaha | Wikipedia — Barrow County, Georgia |
Permits · Barrow County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District), 63 Lee St, Winder
Getting a Barrow septic permit when the fee sheet isn't online
Most Northeast Health District counties post a PDF of fees and forms. Barrow's slot on that page carries a note instead, so the first step here is a phone call.
- 01
Phone 770-307-3502 for the current application packet and fee; the district says Barrow's forms and fees are being updated and handles requests by phone meanwhile.↗
- 02
Check the lot against the Board of Health ordinance, first adopted March 26, 2004 and amended effective September 17, 2018: 25,500 square feet of usable soil on public water, 51,000 square feet on a well.↗
- 03
Map usable soil the Barrow way: ground coded F or D, a 20-foot strip beside unusable soil, and any patch too short for a 50-foot drainline are subtracted.↗
- 04
Install or repair under permit; an Environmental Health Specialist inspects before the work is covered.↗
- 05
Finish inside the permit's life. Georgia caps a construction permit at 12 months.↗
Georgia rule Barrow County Board of Health Lot Size Ordinance, §1(A)
“slope greater than 5%, percolation rates higher than 45 minutes per inch”
Soil & terrain
Pacolet slopes and Cecil clay
Clip the NRCS soil survey to Barrow's county line and one map unit leads the list: Pacolet soils on 10 to 15 percent slopes, eroded, about a seventh of the county. Cecil is the most common series overall, and Appling and Madison follow.↗
The ordinance reacts to slope. Past 5 percent the board can demand a bigger lot, and ground steeper than 25 percent drops out of the lot calculation entirely.↗
Cecil↗
Roughly 36% of mapped area; sandy loam and eroded sandy clay loam on 2–10% slopes.
Pacolet↗
About 17.5%; its 10–15% eroded unit is the county's largest single map unit.
Appling↗
About 13.6%, sandy loam on 2–10% slopes.
Madison↗
About 13.1%, including moderately eroded sandy clay loam up to 15% slopes.
Chewacla, Cartecay and Toccoa↗
Creek-bottom floodplain soils, together near 6%.
- Soil series · USDA NRCS
Sewer or septic?
County main, city main, or your own tank?
Winder operates its own wastewater system, and the county also serves parts of Winder while buying 1 million gallons a day of treatment capacity at the city's Cedar Creek plant. Outside town, a county sewer account usually means you live in one of the corridors the Tanners Bridge or Barber Creek plants reach.↗
The quickest check is the bill. A Barrow County Water Resources statement with a sewer base charge means a county main; no sewer line on any bill means a tank, and its permit history sits with the Lee Street health office.↗↗
How to tell which one you have
- Look for a monthly sewer base charge on a county or City of Winder bill.
- Find a cleanout near the right-of-way line (sewer) or riser lids in the yard (septic).
- Ask Barrow County Environmental Health whether a septic permit is on file for the address.
Who owns what
Where the county's pipe ends and yours begins
Barrow County's utility standards are unusually direct about ownership. A lateral that serves one customer is not a private sewer in the utility's eyes, but its upkeep is still the customer's job.
Barrow County Water Resourcessewer lateral
Property owner maintains any lateral serving only one customer↗
Where the line sits: cleanout at the right-of-way line
Barrow County Water Resourcesmain
Barrow County (under the Board of Commissioners)↗
Barrow County Water Resourceswater service line
Customer from the meter to the house; only county staff may open the meter box↗
Where the line sits: meter box in the county right-of-way
The same standards cap a residential lateral at 250 feet, set 6 inches as the minimum size from main to right-of-way cleanout, and ban storm drains from ever tying into the county system.↗
What it costs
What Barrow charges before a shovel moves
These are the county's own FY2026 utility charges, effective July 1, 2025. Septic permit fees aren't published, and our construction price comes after a free site visit.
Sewer capacity charge per 250-gpd unit (Tanners Bridge, Barber Creek, Cedar Creek areas)
$5,500
Typical market range — Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025), 2025
Sewer capacity charge per unit, Mulberry River area
$9,000
Typical market range — Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025), 2025
Residential sewer connection, county-installed (3/4-inch account)
$4,965 ($5,165 Cedar Creek)
Typical market range — Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025), 2025
Residential water connection, county-installed / water capacity
$3,120 / $1,200
Typical market range — Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025), 2025
Monthly sewer base charge; pump-station homes add $5
$17.00
Typical market range — Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025), 2025
What moves the price
These are third-party typical market ranges, not our prices. Every job is quoted after we see it — estimates are free.
Free estimate: (678) 863-5620- 01Which plant's rate zone the address falls in
- 02Lateral length toward the 250-foot limit and depth at the right-of-way
- 03Slope and usable-soil area left for a replacement field
- 04Whether a pump station serves the street
Services here
Work we do across Barrow
Every service below starts with a free look; each links to how we approach it.
- 01Septic RepairMost Barrow homes drain to a tank, and repairs need an EH permit and inspection.Septic Repair details
- 02Septic InstallationNew lots have to clear the 2018 usable-soil rules first.Septic Installation details
- 03Sewer Line RepairCounty and Winder customers own the lateral to the right-of-way cleanout.Sewer Line Repair details
- 04Water Line Repair & InstallationEverything past the meter box in the right-of-way is the owner's.Water Line Repair & Installation details
- 05Drain Field Repair & ReplacementSloping Pacolet and Cecil ground makes fields the usual failure point.Drain Field Repair & Replacement details
Also available:Sewer Line InstallationSeptic PumpingEmergency Septic & Sewer
Towns we serve
Barrow towns we cover
Each town page explains its own sewer provider and the local permit path.
- WinderWinder sewer and septic: the county seat, with its own city system and county mains in parts of town.Winder septic & sewer
- AuburnAuburn sewer and septic: served by county wastewater, on the Gwinnett line.Auburn septic & sewer
- StathamStatham septic and sewer: southeast Barrow toward Athens.Statham septic & sewer
- BethlehemBethlehem septic service: a small town between Winder and Monroe.Bethlehem septic & sewer
Also in the county
- Braselton · mostly in Jackson County
- Carl
- Russell
- Barrow Heights
- Mulberry
- Whistleville
Who to call at the county
The Lee Street offices
- Barrow County Water Resources — Wastewater Division Sewer59 Lee Street, Winder; 770-307-3014; after hours 770-307-6610.↗
- Barrow County Water Resources — Water Division Water (retail and wholesale)Over 5,800 retail customers; wholesale to Auburn, Braselton, Statham, Winder and Oconee County.↗
More about Barrow County
Who actually runs Barrow's pipes
Barrow still has a Water and Sewerage Authority on paper, with members appointed by district. Operations moved years ago: the county took on full responsibility for the water and wastewater systems, which now answer to the Board of Commissioners.↗
On the map
Barrow from our Oxford shop
About 42 min / 25.2 mi by road from our Oxford shop to central Barrow
Routed drive to the county's geographic center, just outside Winder.
Route sourceState-listed installer and pumper
Georgia DPH's installer and pumper rosters, both dated 9/18/2026, include Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions, filed under Walton County, the next county south. DPH notes that listed companies may work anywhere in Georgia.
Guides
Background reading for Barrow owners
How do you get a septic permit in Georgia?The statewide steps Barrow's office follows.Read the guide 
Why do septic systems struggle in Georgia red clay?Context for the Pacolet and Cecil ratings above.Read the guide 
Septic or sewer: how can you tell?More ways to confirm which system a Barrow house uses.Read the guide
FAQ
Barrow County septic and sewer questions
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620Where do I get a septic permit in Barrow County?
From Barrow County Environmental Health, the Northeast Health District office at 63 Lee St in Winder (770-307-3502). It is open weekdays from 8:00 to 4:30 and closes from noon to 1:00 for lunch. We handle the application for our customers.
Source: Northeast Health District — Barrow County locations (Environmental Health)
How much is a septic permit in Barrow County?
Barrow does not post one. The Northeast Health District lists fee schedules for several of its counties, but Barrow's entry says fees and forms are being updated and asks callers to phone the office. Get the current figure from them before budgeting.
Source: Northeast Health District — Sewage/Septic Systems (Barrow fees/forms notice)
What size lot do I need for septic in Barrow County?
At least 25,500 square feet of usable soil if the house is on public water, or 51,000 square feet with 25,500 usable if it is on a well. That assumes a 3 or 4 bedroom home; pools, outbuildings, steep ground or slow perc can raise it.
Source: Barrow County Board of Health — Lot Size Ordinance (amended Aug 17, 2018)
What does it cost to hook up to Barrow County sewer?
Under FY2026 rates, a typical home pays a $5,500 capacity charge per 250-gallon-a-day unit plus a $4,965 county-installed connection fee in the Tanners Bridge and Barber Creek areas. The Mulberry River area's capacity charge is $9,000. The lateral itself is extra.
Source: Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025)
Who fixes the sewer pipe between my house and the street in Barrow?
You do. County standards make any lateral serving one customer the customer's to maintain, up to the cleanout at the right-of-way line. The county keeps the main. We repair or replace the lateral and coordinate any tie-in.
Source: Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
Why do Barrow drain fields fail?
Soil and slope. USDA's septic absorption ratings put about 16 percent of mapped Barrow soil in the very limited class and nearly all the rest somewhat limited. Eroded Pacolet and Cecil slopes shed water and give a field little room.
Source: USDA NRCS Soil Data Access — ENG Septic Tank Absorption Fields, GA606 clipped to Barrow County
Do I have to connect to sewer if a line reaches my road?
If public sewer is available within 200 feet of your property line, Georgia's on-site rule requires connection, and a failing septic system must connect when sewer is available. Otherwise a permitted repair keeps the tank in service.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Rules, costs and local facts on this page link to the agency, code or publisher that states them. Cost figures are third-party market ranges, not our prices — estimates are free.
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
- 1Northeast Health District — Barrow County locations (Environmental Health)
- 2Barrow County — Wastewater Division
- 3Wikipedia — Barrow County, Georgia
- 4Census Reporter — Barrow County, GA (ACS 2020-2024 5-year)
- 5Barrow County — Water and Wastewater Standards and Specifications (Oct 2021)
- 6Northeast Health District — Sewage/Septic Systems (Barrow fees/forms notice)
- 7USDA NRCS Soil Data Access — ENG Septic Tank Absorption Fields, GA606 clipped to Barrow County
- 8Barrow County Board of Health — Lot Size Ordinance (amended Aug 17, 2018)
- 9Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1-.03
- 10Barrow County Utilities — Water and Wastewater Rates FY2026 (effective July 1, 2025)
- 11Barrow County — Water & Sewer Authority
- 12Barrow County Water Resources — Application for Service
- 13Barrow County — Water Division
- 14Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installer Companies list (9/18/2026)
- 15Georgia DPH Approved Septic Tank Pumper Companies list (9/18/2026)
Ready when you are
Tank, lateral or water line in Barrow? One crew covers all three.
Send the address and what's happening. We'll work out whether it's a county, city or health-office job and come out to look for free.
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