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SEPTIC INSTALLATION · METRO ATLANTA
Get a free estimate
or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Septic installation in Georgia means a soil evaluation, a county Environmental Health construction permit (valid up to 12 months), a tank sized by bedroom count (1,000 gallons minimum), a drain field sized to the soil, and a final inspection before anything is covered. Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions, a DPH-certified installer in Oxford, GA, handles each step.
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
Who does the work
One crew, the whole line
Key facts
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit before any work | A county Environmental Health construction permit is required before a lot is developed or any system component goes in | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Permit life | Construction permits stay valid for no more than 12 months from issue | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Minimum tank (single-family) | 1,000 gallons for 1–4 bedrooms, plus 250 gallons per bedroom over four; plus 50% with a garbage grinder | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Tank compartments | Two compartments required; the first holds at least 2/3 of the liquid capacity | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Soil report (Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale) | Level 3 soil report required for all septic permits since February 7, 2022 | GNR Public Health — Septic Systems (Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale), 2026 |
| Covering the system | No backfill or use until the County Board of Health makes a final inspection and issues written approval | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| County permit fee examples | GNR residential site evaluation, permit and initial inspection $275; Walton residential new-system inspection $425; DeKalb $200 site approval + $250 installation permit | GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Newton County (effective Jan 1, 2026), 2026 |
| Typical Georgia market range | $6,397–$7,600 for a conventional 3-bedroom system; $10,000–$20,000 for mound or ATU (third-party range, not our price) | Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026 |
| Installer credential | Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions appears on the Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installer list dated 9/18/2026 | Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installers list (dated 9/18/2026), 2026 |
Plain definitions
Key facts
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 bedrooms | 1,000 gal minimum · 1,500 gal with a garbage grinder · first compartment ≥ 667 gal (≥ 1,000 gal with grinder) | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| 5 bedrooms | 1,250 gal minimum · 1,875 gal with a garbage grinder · first compartment ≥ 834 gal | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| 6 bedrooms | 1,500 gal minimum · 2,250 gal with a garbage grinder · first compartment ≥ 1,000 gal | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| 7 bedrooms | 1,750 gal minimum · 2,625 gal with a garbage grinder · first compartment ≥ 1,167 gal | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Tanks in series | Allowed with county approval; the first tank must be at least 1,000 gal and equal to 2/3 of the required capacity | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
How the job runs
Before paperwork, we look at where the house, driveway, well and any pool will sit, and where the ground falls away. Walton's site-evaluation form tells owners to stake the building site before the county visit. The form also makes the applicant answer for rock or water tables the soil reveals.
Walton County Environmental Health Site Evaluation Form (Northeast Health District)
In Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale, GNR Public Health requires a Level 3 soil report from a certified soil classifier for every septic permit. Other counties run their own site evaluation. Either way, the soil findings set the loading rate, and that sets the length of the drain field.
GNR requirement since Feb 7, 2022GNR Public Health — Septic Systems (Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale)
GNR wants three copies of a scaled lot sketch (1 inch = 40 feet or larger) showing the house, drives, utilities, the plumbing stub-out and any well or water within 100 feet, plus a floor plan with every room labeled. We handle the permit filing so the bedroom count, tank size and field layout match on every page.
GNR Residential Septic System New Construction Permit Application and Requirements (Rev. 2024-05-03)
The Board of Health must approve or deny a completed application within 20 days, and it issues a permit only after a site inspection finds acceptable absorption rates, soil, groundwater and rock. GNR budgets 10 working days for plan review and the site visit.
511-3-1-.03(2)(a), (3)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
The tank goes in level on a foundation that won't settle, with backfill free of voids, large stones and stumps. Georgia requires an approved effluent filter on the outlet end, and tanks buried under more than 12 inches of soil need risers that bring access within 12 inches of grade.
511-3-1-.05(1), (6); Manual D.19Georgia DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (2026)
Trenches, chambers, drip lines or a mound go exactly where the permit drawing puts them, at the setbacks and lengths it lists. Distribution devices and any dosing tank follow the DPH Manual. Moving the field without approval is how a job fails inspection.
511-3-1-.06, .07Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
Nobody may backfill or use the system until the county inspects it and issues written approval. The owner, builder or agent gets a copy of the final inspection report. Keep it, because every future pumper, inspector and buyer will ask for it.
511-3-1-.03(4)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
Once approved, we cover, grade and seed-ready the area and show you where the lids and field are. After the final inspection, grading, filling or trash pits that affect the system void the county's approval, so we mark what to keep off.
511-3-1-.03(4)(b)Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
Permits & the Georgia rules
Confirm sewer isn't available: Georgia requires connection if a public sewer is within 200 feet of the property line or in an abutting right-of-way.↗
Get the soil evaluation the county requires (Level 3 soil report in GNR counties; a Level 4 report may be required for alternative systems).↗
File the application with a lot sketch, floor plan and bedroom count, and pay the county fee.↗
Receive the construction permit after the county's site inspection; build within its 12-month life.↗
Install with a DPH-certified contractor and call for the final inspection before anything is covered.↗
Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(2)
“No person may begin the physical development of a lot or structure where an on-site sewage management system will be utilized… without having first obtained… a construction permit”
Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(3)(a)
“On-site sewage management construction permits shall remain valid for not more than twelve months from the date of issue.”
Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(4)
“No person may backfill or use an on-site sewage management system until a final inspection has been made by the County Board of Health”
Georgia rule 511-3-1-.16(1)
“No person shall perform services as a… septic tank contractor… unless that person is currently certified by the Department”
Newton, Rockdale and Gwinnett (GNR Public Health)
Level 3 soil report for every permit since Feb 7, 2022. The residential site evaluation, permit and initial inspection fee is $275 (commercial $600) on the 2026 schedules. Bedroom changes or moving the house without approval void the permit. On slab lots GNR may require the system to go in before final lot approval. Installing without a permit is billed at 2× the permit fee in Gwinnett.↗
Walton (Northeast Health District)
Apply on the Walton Site Evaluation Form with a lot sketch showing wells on your lot and the neighbors', easements and flood plain. The residential new-system inspection is $425 ($475 on the larger-home line), and a site plan review is $75.↗
Morgan (Northeast Health District)
Residential septic tank inspection $350 ($400 for 5 bedrooms), re-inspection $175, site plan review $75. The county's 2022 comprehensive plan cites a 0.6-acre minimum lot for septic and 1.2 acres with a well.↗
No physical development of a septic lot before a DeKalb construction permit. Residential site approval is $200 and the installation permit $250. The application records soil series, loading rate, restrictive-horizon depth, tank size and field design, and grading or filling after the permit may void it.↗
Gwinnett (county stormwater and sewer)
GNR's involvement starts before a lot is created and ends once the lot is connected to sewer, so check sewer availability first in the faster-growing parts of the county.↗
Your options
OPTION 01
When it fits: Deep, well-drained soil with room for the full trench length and a same-size repair area.
OPTION 02
When it fits: Most lots that qualify for conventional; also adapts to serial, pump-up, cut-and-fill and at-grade layouts per the DPH Manual.
The Manual prohibits metal chambers and requires an inspection port on every chamber.
OPTION 03
When it fits: Small lots or poor soils where the county wants cleaner effluent before it reaches the field.
See our aerobic septic maintenance guide before you choose one.
OPTION 04
When it fits: Sites unsuitable for trenches: shallow soil, slopes or odd-shaped lots.
OPTION 05
When it fits: Restricted sites where in-ground trenches won't work, such as a shallow limiting layer.
Soil & terrain
Georgia's rule is blunt: the absorption area must be based on how much wastewater the house makes and on the soil it goes into (511-3-1-.07(1)). The tank size comes from bedrooms. The field size comes from the ground.
Across the east-metro Piedmont, the dominant subsoil is clay. The USDA's official description of the Cecil series, the largest soil in Newton County, puts a red clay layer from about 8 to 42 inches down on Piedmont ridges and side slopes. Clay takes effluent slower than loamy soil, so the same four-bedroom house needs more trench length. Sometimes it needs a different system entirely.
Local rules reflect that. Walton County's lot-size ordinance requires bigger lots when slopes exceed 5% or percolation is slower than 45 minutes per inch. On tracts of three acres or more, state rule lets a conventional or chamber system go in where percolation doesn't exceed 120 minutes per inch; anything slower needs a soil classifier's special study and an engineer's site plan.
The practical point: don't price a house plan until the soil work is back. You can look up your mapped soils on the USDA Web Soil Survey for a first read. The Level 3 report or county site evaluation is what the permit actually uses. More in our red clay septic guide.
Key facts
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wells, springs, sinkholes, suction water lines | 50 ft (tank downgrade from wells or springs where possible) | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Lakes, ponds, streams, other impoundments, geothermal boreholes | 25 ft | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Drainage ditch or embankment | 15 ft | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Pressure water supply lines; property lines | 10 ft | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Foundations, drives, hardscape, pools | Should be at least 10 ft | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
| Drain field from wells, springs, sinkholes | 100 ft (Rule 511-3-1-.07(3)), which usually sets the field before the tank | Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016), 2016 |
Homes & businesses
Residential
For a new house, the septic permit sits inside the building timeline. Builders who file the septic application after framing starts lose weeks. We like to see the plan before the lot is cleared, because the drain field and repair area often decide where the house can sit.
For a replacement on an existing home, the same permit path applies. Georgia requires replacements to be permitted and inspected. The difference is working around a lawn, driveway and a family that still needs the bathroom. The old tank is pumped by a certified pumper, then filled or removed.
Commercial
Commercial systems are sized by daily flow in gallons per day, not bedrooms, and the fees scale with it. Walton charges $550 for a 1–1,000 gpd commercial inspection and $850 for 1,001–2,000 gpd. GNR's commercial site evaluation, permit and initial inspection is $600.
Kitchens, grease and high-strength waste change the design, and flows above residential scale bring more review. We'll walk the building's water use with you before anyone draws a field.
What it costs
Conventional gravity system, 3-bedroom (Georgia)
$6,397–$7,600
per system
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Chamber system (Georgia)
$7,000–$12,000
per system
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Drip dispersal system (Georgia)
$8,000–$18,000
per system
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Mound system (Georgia)
$10,000–$20,000
per system
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Aerobic treatment unit system (Georgia)
$10,000–$20,000
per system
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Drain field installation (Atlanta)
$5,000–$12,000
per field
Typical market range per Angi, 2026
Typical market range — Angi — Cost to Install a Septic System in Atlanta (2026 data), 2026
Soil / percolation testing (Atlanta)
$700–$2,000
per site
Typical market range per Angi, 2026
Typical market range — Angi — Cost to Install a Septic System in Atlanta (2026 data), 2026
Level III soil classification (Georgia)
$500–$1,500
per report
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Risers added at installation (Georgia)
$200–$400
per job
Typical market range per Septic & Well Pro, 2026
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
These are typical market ranges published by third parties (Septic & Well Pro and Angi, 2026), not our prices. Permit fees are the county offices' published fees. We give free on-site estimates once we've seen the lot.
Free estimate: (678) 863-5620The whole story
Most delays we see on new construction aren't about the tank. They're about the lot. Walton County's Board of Health ordinance sets a minimum of 25,500 square feet of usable soil when the house is on public water and 51,000 square feet with a private well, with room for an equal-size replacement area. Land within 50 feet of lakes, streams and wetlands doesn't count toward usable soil. The ordinance also caps daily sewage flow at 600 gallons per acre on private wells and 1,200 gallons per acre on public water.
Those numbers matter before you buy. A lot that looks big on a plat can shrink fast once you subtract the stream buffer, the well radius and the 100-foot separation Georgia requires between a drain field and any well. Neighbors' wells count too. That's why Walton's form asks for wells on adjacent lots.
The other trap is changing the house after the permit. GNR's new-construction requirements say the bedroom count on the application must match the floor plan, and unapproved changes to bedrooms or the house location void the permit. A bonus room that reads as a bedroom on the plan can bump the tank size, so it's worth settling the floor plan first.
Because one crew clears the site, digs the tank hole, lays the field and does the final grading, the stakes the county inspector approved are the stakes we build to. There's no handoff between an excavator and a septic sub where a trench line drifts two feet toward a property line.
Georgia has a lot of these systems. UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences reported that 36.8% of Georgia homes use septic, against 25% nationally, and counted about 525,970 systems in metro Atlanta in 2006. Every one of them started with a permit on file at a county office, which is also where you can find your own septic permit records.
Where we do this
FAQ
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620For a single-family home, Georgia requires 1,000 gallons for one to four bedrooms and 250 more gallons for each bedroom over four. Add 50% if you'll run a garbage grinder. The tank must have two compartments, with the first holding at least two-thirds. A five-bedroom house with a disposal needs 1,875 gallons. See the minimum tank size guide.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
In Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties, yes. GNR Public Health has required a Level 3 soil report from a certified soil classifier for all septic permits since February 7, 2022. Walton, Morgan and DeKalb run their own site evaluations. Alternative systems may need a Level 4 report. We line up the soil work as part of the permit.
Source: GNR Public Health — Septic Systems (Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale)
No more than 12 months from the date of issue under Rule 511-3-1-.03(3)(a). If the house isn't ready and the system isn't installed and inspected in that window, expect to reapply. GNR also warns that changing bedrooms or the house location without approval voids the permit.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
No. Georgia law says no one may backfill or use an on-site system until the County Board of Health makes a final inspection and issues written approval. Covering early can mean digging it back up. We schedule the inspection and keep the trenches open until it's signed.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
The soil report and site decide it. Deep, well-drained soil usually allows a conventional or chamber field. Shallow or slow clay, slopes and small lots push toward drip, mound or an aerobic treatment unit. Those are alternative systems under Rule 511-3-1-.09, built to the DPH Manual. We'll show you what the county approved and why.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
At least 50 feet from wells, springs, sinkholes and suction water lines, and downgrade from a well if possible. The drain field needs 100 feet from wells. Tanks also need 10 feet from property lines and pressure water lines. Our setback rules guide has the full list.
Source: Georgia DPH Rules Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Jan 2016)
Yes. Rule 511-3-1-.16 bars anyone from working as a septic tank contractor unless certified by the Department of Public Health or working under the on-site supervision of someone who is. Our company is on the DPH certified installer list dated 9/18/2026. You can verify any contractor on that list.
Source: Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installers list (dated 9/18/2026)
Septic & Well Pro's 2026 Georgia figures put a conventional three-bedroom system at $6,397–$7,600 and mound or ATU systems at $10,000–$20,000. Angi lists Atlanta drain field installation at $5,000–$12,000. Those are third-party ranges, not our prices; the soil report moves the number most. See the installation cost guide.
Source: Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026)
Walton's Board of Health ordinance requires 25,500 square feet of usable soil with public water or 51,000 square feet with an individual well, plus room for an equal-size replacement area. Bigger lots are required on slopes over 5% or where percolation is slower than 45 minutes per inch.
Source: Walton County Board of Health — Minimum Lot Size Ordinance (effective Aug. 18, 2004)
Keep going
Sources
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
Ready when you are
A new septic system in Georgia starts with a soil report and a county construction permit, and it can't be covered until Environmental Health signs off. We're on the Georgia DPH certified installer list, we handle the permit, and we build the tank and drain field to the design the county approves.
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