Septic permits & records
Gwinnett Environmental Health Department (GNR Public Health) — Gwinnett side of Buford
- Address
- 455 Grayson Hwy, Suite 600, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
- Phone
- 770.963.5132
Buford, GA · Gwinnett County
Sewer, septic and water line service in Buford, a Gwinnett and Hall County city that runs its own water, sewer, gas and electric utilities.
Buford, Gwinnett County · about 59 min / 33.7 mi by road from our Oxford shop. ZIP codes 30515, 30518, 30519.
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- Residential & commercial
- Local shop in Oxford, GA
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or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Who handles sewer, water and septic in Buford, GA?
The City of Buford itself: it provides water, sewer, natural gas and electricity, and treats its own wastewater. The owner pays for and maintains the building sewer, and every private water or sewer line is inspected by the city. Septic permits come from the Gwinnett or Hall health department, depending on the side of town.↗↗↗↗
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
The Buford story
The Leather City kept its utilities
Buford was incorporated in 1872 on the Charlotte-to-Atlanta rail line and made its name on saddles and harness. The Bona Allen tannery kept working until a 1981 fire closed it, and its 1919 shoe factory on Tannery Row now houses artists.↗
What the town never gave up was its utilities. Buford still runs water, sewer, gas and electric service from City Hall, sells gas across five counties, and draws its drinking water from Lake Lanier just north of town.↗↗↗
That independence shows up in the rules. Buford writes its own sewer ordinance, inspects private lines itself, and splits septic oversight between two county health departments because the city crosses into Hall.↗↗
On the record
- Buford was incorporated August 24, 1872, and was known as "The Leather City" until the Bona Allen tannery closed after a 1981 fire.↗
Local facts
Buford utility facts with the paper trail
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City-run utilities | Water, sewer, natural gas and electric; after hours (770) 932-7986 | City of Buford — Utilities |
| Water source | Lake Sidney Lanier, plus some water bought from Gwinnett County | City of Buford — Water Department |
| Waterworks history | Built 1934 for 500,000 gal/day; 1 MGD in 1965; 2 MGD in 1994; since replaced by a new plant | City of Buford — Water Department |
| Septic health officer | Director of the Gwinnett or Hall County health department | Buford Code Sec. 40-42 — Definitions |
| Population | 17,997 (ACS 2020-2024) | Census Reporter API — Buford city, GA (ACS 2020-2024 5-year) |
Sewer or septic?
Buford pulls hard toward sewer
Buford's ordinance says flatly that no septic tank is allowed where public sewer is available, and it defines available generously: within 2,000 feet of the property line, a distance the city engineer can adjust. Owners get 90 days after official notice to connect.↗
Tanks haven't vanished, though. The city's own sewer department page tells septic owners how often to pump, and Gwinnett is now studying what those systems do to Lake Lanier.↗↗
How to tell which one you have
- A City of Buford bill with a sewer charge means you're connected.
- A riser or tank lid in the yard means a septic system.
- Ask the Gwinnett or Hall health office, depending on your county, for a permit on file.
More about Buford
Two Buford rules that change how a repair is done
First, inspection. Georgia lets licensed plumbers and utility contractors self-inspect water and sewer lines on private property, but Buford opts out: its building official inspects every line installed in the city, private yards included. Any repair schedule has to allow for that visit.↗
Second, depth. Buford Gas says its household service lines typically run just 12 to 18 inches down, well above most sewer laterals. A Georgia 811 locate before digging is required by law, and in a city-gas yard it matters more than usual.↗↗
First, inspection.
Who owns what
Your pipe, the city's pipe
City of Bufordsewer lateral
The owner, who pays all costs of installing and connecting the building sewer and needs a written city permit to tie in↗
City of Bufordmain
The city's Public Service Department, under its state collection-system permit↗
Each building needs its own building sewer; a rear building may share one only when no other route exists, and the city takes no responsibility for damage from that shared line.↗
Services here
What we do in Buford
- 01Sewer Line RepairOwner-paid building sewers on the city system, inspected by the city.Sewer Line Repair details
- 02Septic RepairTanks and fields on lots the mains haven't reached, including near the lake.Septic Repair details
Also available:Water Line Repair & InstallationSeptic PumpingEmergency Septic & Sewer Service
Who to call at the county
Offices behind a Buford job
- Hall County Environmental Health — Hall side of Buford Septic permits for the city's northern sliver2875 Browns Bridge Road, 3rd Floor, Gainesville; 770-531-3973.↗
- City of Buford Utilities Water, sewer, gas and electricWeekdays (678) 889-4600; utility billing at 2300 Buford Highway.↗
On the map
From our Oxford shop to Buford
About 59 min / 33.7 mi by road from our Oxford shop
Pin near downtown Buford, south of Buford Dam.
Route sourceFAQ
Buford sewer, septic and water questions
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620Who provides sewer service in Buford?
The City of Buford. It runs its own water, sewer, gas and electric systems and operates a wastewater treatment plant. Weekday questions go to (678) 889-4600 and after-hours emergencies to (770) 932-7986.
Source: City of Buford — Utilities
Do I have to connect to Buford sewer?
If the city gives official notice and public sewer is within 2,000 feet of your property line, you have 90 days to connect. A single property must also connect when sewer comes within 200 feet of an occupied home on it.
Source: Buford Code Sec. 40-43 — Use of public sewers required
Who issues septic permits in Buford?
Buford's code names the Gwinnett or Hall County health department director as the health officer. Most of the city is in Gwinnett, where GNR's office on Grayson Highway permits septic; the northern sliver in Hall goes to Hall County Environmental Health.
Does Buford inspect sewer line work on private property?
Yes. The city's building official inspects every water and sewer line installed in Buford, including those in private yards, and the state's self-inspection option for licensed contractors does not apply.
Source: Buford Code Sec. 10-1 — Inspection of installation of water and sewer lines
How deep are gas lines in a Buford yard?
Buford Gas says household service lines typically sit 12 to 18 inches below the surface, with mains around two feet. Call 811 before any digging; the locate is free and required.
Source: City of Buford — Gas Department
Where does Buford's water come from?
Mostly Lake Sidney Lanier, just north of town, with a portion purchased from Gwinnett County. The city's first waterworks, built in 1934, filtered 500,000 gallons a day; a new plant has since replaced it.
Who pays to replace the sewer line from my Buford house?
The owner. Buford's code puts all costs of installing and connecting the building sewer on the owner, and a written city permit is needed before anyone opens or connects to a public sewer.
Source: Buford Code Sec. 40-45 — Building sewers and connections
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
- 1City of Buford — Utilities
- 2Buford Code Sec. 40-45 — Building sewers and connections
- 3Buford Code Sec. 10-1 — Inspection of installation of water and sewer lines
- 4Buford Code Sec. 40-42 — Definitions
- 5Wikipedia — Buford, Georgia
- 6City of Buford — Gas Department
- 7City of Buford — Water Department
- 8Census Reporter API — Buford city, GA (ACS 2020-2024 5-year)
- 9Buford Code Sec. 40-43 — Use of public sewers required
- 10City of Buford — Sewer Department
- 11Gwinnett County — County to assess the effects of septic systems on Lake Lanier
- 12Georgia 811 — The Law
- 13GNR Public Health — Locations (Environmental Health Offices)
- 14Hall County — Environmental Health
Ready when you are
City sewer or lake-lot tank in Buford? We handle the dig, the permit and the inspection.
Call with your address and what's happening. We locate the lines, find the problem and give you a free estimate.
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