GUIDE · SEPTIC RECORDS & LOCATING
Finding your septic permit records and tank in Georgia
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or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Where can I get my septic permit records in Georgia, and how is the tank located?
Ask the county Environmental Health office that permitted the system: GNR Public Health for Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale; Northeast Health District for Walton and Morgan; North Central for Jasper; DeKalb Public Health for DeKalb. Gwinnett keeps files back to 1959 and shows sketches on its GIS Data Browser. With no file, a contractor probes for the lid.
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
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- Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Pumper Listed by the Georgia Department of Public Health
- Homeowners across metro Atlanta, from our shop in Oxford, GA
Key facts
Septic records in Georgia: the essentials
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the file | The County Board of Health's Environmental Health office that issued the permit | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Why a file should exist | Every permitted system gets a county inspection and written approval before it is covered | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 (Georgia Secretary of State rules index) |
| Gwinnett record span | Systems installed since 1959 | Gwinnett County DWR — Septic Tanks, 2026 |
| Gwinnett online view | GIS Data Browser can show the system sketch plus past repair applications and permits | Gwinnett County DWR — Septic Tanks, 2026 |
| Gwinnett records went online | June 2011 | Gwinnett County — Septic Tank Records Now Available Online (news release, June 14, 2011), 2011 |
| Newton existing-system visual inspection | $145 (GNR, 2026) | GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Newton County (effective Jan 1, 2026), 2026 |
| Walton evaluation letter | Needs proof the tank was pumped within the last five years | Walton County Environmental Health — Service Request Form (Northeast Health District), 2023 |
| Statewide office directory | DPH publishes phone numbers for every county Environmental Health office | Georgia DPH — Environmental Health County Phone Numbers |
Plain definitions
What the records are called
- Construction permit
- The county's approval to build a specific system on a lot, usually with a site sketch showing where the tank and field were meant to go.↗
- Final inspection record
- The Environmental Health sign-off made while the system was still uncovered; it is the best evidence of what was actually installed.↗
- As-built sketch
- A drawing of the system as installed, which may differ from the permit sketch if the layout shifted in the field.↗
- Existing system evaluation
- A county review of records plus a site visit, often requested for a sale or refinance, which produces a written letter.↗
County by county
Who keeps septic records in each county
| County | Records office | Phone | What to know | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinnett | Gwinnett Environmental Health (GNR), Lawrenceville | 770.963.5132 | Search the county GIS Data Browser first; many sketches and repair permits are posted there. | 12 |
| Newton | Newton Environmental Health (GNR), Covington | 770-784-2121 | Tuesday and Thursday hours are mornings only; GNR also offers a $145 visual existing-system inspection. | 12 |
| Rockdale | Rockdale Environmental Health (GNR), Conyers | 770-278-7340 | Same GNR forms and evaluation process as Gwinnett and Newton. | 1 |
| Walton | Walton County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District), Monroe | 770-267-1430 | Requests go on the service request form; an evaluation letter needs a pump-out within five years. | 12 |
| Morgan | Morgan County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District), Madison | 706-752-1266, option 3 | Ask for the permit and final inspection by address. | 1 |
| Jasper | Jasper County Environmental Health (North Central Health District), Monticello | (706) 468-6850 | A separate health district from its neighbors, so records never sit with GNR or Northeast. | 1 |
| DeKalb | DeKalb Public Health Environmental Health, Decatur | 404-508-7900 | Also handles septic letters for loans and refinances. | 12 |
Last checked 2026-09-23. Office hours and numbers change; confirm on the office's own page.
How the job runs
How a septic tank gets found, from easiest to hardest
- 1
Read the file
A permit sketch or GIS drawing usually shows the tank's position relative to the house. Even an approximate distance saves an hour of probing.
- 2
Check paperwork you already own
Closing packets, old inspection reports and pumping receipts often note tank size and lid location. Pumpers are required to record the tank's condition for the owner.
Georgia DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (2026)
- 3
Follow the pipe out of the house
Find where the main drain leaves the foundation, usually on the side facing the tank. The tank typically lies straight out from that point, a short distance from the wall.
- 4
Probe along that line
A thin steel rod pushed into the soil hits the concrete lid. In firm Piedmont clay this is slow work, and it goes faster with a professional's probe and experience.
- 5
Call a certified contractor
UGA Extension notes that the local health department keeps a list of certified professionals who can help locate a system. We find, uncover and pump tanks as part of septic pumping and septic inspection.
UGA Extension Bulletin B1421, septic system care (rev. Oct 18, 2024)
The whole story
What if the county has no record of my septic system?
It happens more than people expect, especially on older rural lots in Morgan, Jasper and eastern Walton where a system may predate a permit program or the paper file was lost. A missing file does not make the system illegal to own, but it does mean nobody can tell you its size, age or layout without looking.
The practical answer is to create the record. Have the tank found, opened and pumped, and ask for written notes on its size, compartments and condition. If you are buying or selling, an existing-system evaluation through the county puts a fresh letter in the file. Any repair from here on will be permitted and inspected, which rebuilds the paper trail one visit at a time.
Worth knowing
Why doesn't the old drawing match my yard?
Permit sketches are drawn before the work, and field conditions change plans. A rock ledge, a wet spot or a tree the owner wanted to keep can shift a trench a few yards from where it appears on paper. Decks, pools, fences and regrading added later make the drawing even harder to read against today's yard.
Treat the sketch as a starting point, not a survey. Measure from fixed corners of the original house, not from additions, and expect to probe a little wider than the drawing suggests. Once the lid is found, mark it with a stake or photo so the next pump-out starts where this one ended. If the lids sit well below grade, septic repair crews can add risers.
Permit sketches are drawn before the work, and field conditions change plans.
FAQ
Septic record and locating questions
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620How do I find out if my house has a septic permit on file?
Call the Environmental Health office in the county where the house sits and ask for a records search by address. In Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale that is GNR Public Health; in Walton and Morgan, the Northeast Health District; in Jasper, North Central Health District; in DeKalb, DeKalb Public Health. Georgia DPH publishes a phone list for every county office.
Source: Georgia DPH — Environmental Health County Phone Numbers
Can I look up Gwinnett County septic records online?
Yes. Gwinnett says its Environmental Health office keeps records for systems installed since 1959, and the county GIS Data Browser can show a sketch of the system location along with past repair applications and permits when available. The county announced online access to these records in June 2011.
What does a septic permit record usually show?
Typically the approved design and a site sketch: where the tank and absorption field were meant to go relative to the house, the bedroom count the system was sized for and the inspector's approval. Georgia requires a county inspection and written approval before any system is covered, so a permitted system normally leaves that sign-off in the file.
Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 (Georgia Secretary of State rules index)
How can I tell if my house is on septic at all?
Gwinnett County suggests checking the water bill first, since sewer customers are billed for sewer service. The county records search and the yard itself confirm it. Our guide on septic or sewer walks through every check, including what to do when the bill is ambiguous.
Who can help me locate a septic tank with no records?
A certified septic contractor or pumper. UGA Extension points out that your local health department keeps a list of certified professionals who can help locate a system. Expect them to trace the drain line from the house, probe for the lid and dig it out, then note its position so you have it next time.
Source: UGA Extension Bulletin B1421, septic system care (rev. Oct 18, 2024)
Do I need septic records to sell a house in Georgia?
Buyers and lenders often ask for them. Walton County's existing-system evaluation letter requires proof the tank was pumped within the last five years, and Newton's GNR schedule lists a $145 visual existing-system inspection. Our septic inspection for a home sale guide covers what each county expects.
Source: Walton County Environmental Health — Service Request Form (Northeast Health District)
What if the records show a smaller system than my house needs?
That usually means bedrooms were added after the permit. Georgia sizes tanks by bedroom count, starting at 1,000 gallons for one to four. The system is not automatically out of compliance, but any repair or addition will be permitted to current rules, so plan for a larger tank if the home has grown past four bedrooms.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
Keep going
Related services, counties and guides
- Septic pumping, including locating and uncovering the tank
- Septic inspection
- Camera inspection of septic and sewer lines
- Septic repair and riser installation
- Septic setback rules in Georgia
- Minimum septic tank size in Georgia
- Septic or sewer: how to tell
- Homeowner septic checklist
- Gwinnett County septic and sewer
- Newton County septic and sewer
- Morgan County septic and sewer
- DeKalb County septic and sewer
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
- 1Gwinnett County DWR — Septic Tanks (2026)
- 2Gwinnett County — Septic Tank Records Now Available Online (news release, June 14, 2011) (2011)
- 3Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016) (2016)
- 4Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 (Georgia Secretary of State rules index)
- 5Georgia DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (2026) (2026)
- 6Georgia DPH — Environmental Health County Phone Numbers
- 7UGA Extension Bulletin B1421, septic system care (rev. Oct 18, 2024) (2024)
- 8GNR Public Health — Locations
- 9GNR Health — Newton Environmental Health Department (location page)
- 10GNR Newton Environmental Health — Existing Septic System Evaluation Application (Rev. 9/9/2016) (2016)
- 11GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Newton County (effective Jan 1, 2026) (2026)
- 12Northeast Health District — Walton County locations (Environmental Health)
- 13Walton County Environmental Health — Service Request Form (Northeast Health District) (2023)
- 14Northeast Health District — Morgan County locations (Environmental Health)
- 15North Central Health District — Jasper County Environmental Health
- 16DeKalb Public Health — Septic Systems (2026)
- 17DeKalb Public Health Environmental Health Division Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2024) (2024)
Ready when you are
Rather have a pro look at it? Call the crew that digs.
Most permitted Georgia systems left a paper trail at the county health office. Here is who holds it in each east metro county, what to ask for, and how the tank gets found when the file is empty.
(678) 863-5620- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Oxford, GA
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