Septic permits & records
Gwinnett Environmental Health Department (GNR Public Health)
- Address
- 455 Grayson Hwy, Suite 600, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
- Phone
- 770.963.5132
- Hours
- No applications Wednesdays or 1–2 p.m.; none after 4 p.m. Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri.
Snellville, GA · Gwinnett County
Sewer and septic service in Snellville, where Gwinnett County runs the sewer and the city runs its own stormwater credit.
Snellville, Gwinnett County · about 34 min / 19.4 mi by road from our Oxford shop. ZIP codes 30078, 30039.
- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Local shop in Oxford, GA
Get a free estimate
or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Is Snellville on sewer or septic, and who handles a broken line?
Snellville is mixed. Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources runs the sanitary sewer inside city limits, but the city also publishes a septic guide and a septic-maintenance stormwater credit, so some homes still drain to tanks. Owners maintain their own sewer lateral; GNR's Gwinnett office permits septic repairs. We handle both from our Oxford shop.↗↗↗
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
Who owns what
Who owns which pipe under a Snellville yard
City Hall on Oak Road doesn't run the sewer; per the city's stormwater plan, Gwinnett County does, so county ownership lines apply.
Gwinnett DWRmain
Gwinnett County — sewage in a Snellville street or manhole is reported to county dispatch at 678-376-7000↗
Gwinnett DWRsewer lateral
The homeowner, from the house plumbing all the way to the county connection in the right-of-way↗
Where the line sits: right-of-way cleanout / sewer stub
Gwinnett DWRwater service line
The homeowner on the house side of the meter; DWR owns the meter and the pipe back to the main↗
Where the line sits: meter
If the only blockage proves to be inside the right-of-way, county policy allows a reimbursement claim, but DWR must see the excavated lateral first. On a Snellville dig, the trench stays open until the county has looked.↗
The Snellville story
A crossroads store in 1879, a two-system suburb today
Snellville started as Thomas Snell and James Sawyer's mercantile on the southwest corner of what is now US-78 and GA-124, and the town incorporated in 1923. Growth came later and fast: the median Snellville home dates to 1991, five years older than Gwinnett's county-wide median.↗↗
That timing matters underground: half the houses are past 35, the age when original laterals shift, roots find joints and neglected tanks fill. With county sewer and private septic both inside the city, the first question on any Snellville call is which one a house has.
Downtown is changing too: The Grove at Towne Center puts nine new buildings and a 750-space deck on 18 acres between Oak Road, Wisteria Drive, North Road and Clower Street. The ranch and two-story streets around it still carry the lines laid when those houses went up.↗
On the record
- Snellville banned new wells and closed existing ones in June 2001, keeping irrigation use, after possible dry-cleaner contamination at the old Oakland Village Shopping Center site.↗
Sewer or septic?
Where Snellville's county sewer reaches, and where tanks remain
No parcel count is published, but city paperwork shows both systems are live: the 2026 stormwater credit form lists a Septic Tank Maintenance credit beside a Sewer System Connection credit.↗↗
The fastest check is the Gwinnett water bill: a $0.00 sewer charge means the house very likely has a tank. The city also bans septic discharge to storm drains.↗↗
How to tell which one you have
- Look for "Sewer Amount Charged: $0.00" on the Gwinnett DWR bill.
- Ask GNR's Gwinnett office for the septic permit record on the address.
Local facts
Snellville facts a sewer or septic crew checks first
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitary sewer operator | Gwinnett County DWR runs the system inside city limits; spill line 678-376-7000 | City of Snellville Stormwater Management Plan (Aug 2024) |
| Stormwater utility | City of Snellville, with a Septic Tank Maintenance credit on its 2026 application | City of Snellville — Stormwater Utility Credit Manual and Application Form |
| Septic guidance | Public Works posts a Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems; septic discharge to storm drains is prohibited | City of Snellville — Stormwater and Drainage |
| Median year built | 1991 (Gwinnett County: 1996) | Census Reporter: Snellville, GA (ACS 2024 5-year) |
| Creek gauge | Big Haynes Creek at Lenora Road drains 17.3 square miles (USGS 02207385) | USGS — Big Haynes Creek at Lenora Road, near Snellville, GA |
| Town center | The Grove at Towne Center: $140 million, 18 acres, groundbreaking March 2021 | City of Snellville — The Grove at Towne Center |
| Origin | 1879 store at today's US-78 and GA-124; incorporated 1923 | City of Snellville — The Grove at Towne Center |
More about Snellville
Pumped your tank? In Snellville, ask City Hall about the credit
Gwinnett's well-known pumping credit is a discount on the county stormwater fee. Snellville bills its own stormwater utility, so inside city limits the credit worth asking about is the city's Septic Tank Maintenance credit, listed on its 2026 application form.↗↗
The percentage and term sit in the city's credit manual, so confirm them with Public Works. Either way, keep the dated pumping receipt we leave with you.↗
Gwinnett's well-known pumping credit is a discount on the county stormwater fee.
Services here
Snellville work we take on
Both systems run through the city, so every service below applies somewhere inside it.
- 01Sewer Line RepairThe lateral from house to county stub is the owner's; roots and settled joints in 1990s pipe are common culprits.Sewer Line Repair details
- 02Sewer Line Installation & ReplacementReplacement, or a new line when a tank lot ties into county sewer.Sewer Line Installation & Replacement details
- 03Septic RepairBaffles, lines and boxes on the tank lots county sewer never reached.Septic Repair details
- 04Septic PumpingReceipts for the city's septic credit form.Septic Pumping details
- 05Septic InspectionA buyer of an older Snellville house can learn whether a tank exists, and its condition, before closing.Septic Inspection details
- 06Drain Field Repair & ReplacementRepairs go through GNR Gwinnett with a Level 3 soil report first.Drain Field Repair & Replacement details
- 07Septic InstallationReplacement systems where no sewer lies within 200 feet.Septic Installation details
- 08Water Line Repair & InstallationWith wells banned since 2001, the meter-to-house line is the only supply.Water Line Repair & Installation details
- 09Emergency Septic & Sewer ServiceBackups inside the house from either system.Emergency Septic & Sewer Service details
- 10Commercial Septic RepairBusiness lots inside the city that discharge to a tank rather than county sewer.Commercial Septic Repair details
Also available:Sewer Camera InspectionExcavation, Grading & Drainage
What it costs
County fees that shape a Snellville sewer or septic bill
These are Gwinnett and GNR public fees, not contractor prices.
Septic-to-sewer conversion, 3/4-inch residential (system development charge plus permit)
$4,172
Typical market range — Residential Septic to Sewer Procedure for Unincorporated Gwinnett County, 2026
Plumbing Only permit for a conversion
0.6% of the construction estimate, $30 minimum
Typical market range — Residential Septic to Sewer Procedure for Unincorporated Gwinnett County
GNR residential septic permit, site evaluation and first inspection
$275 ($400 when it follows a complaint)
Typical market range — GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Gwinnett County (effective Jan 1, 2026), 2026
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- 01Lateral depth and length between the house and the right-of-way stub
- 02Driveways, walks or mature trees over the line
- 03Whether the old tank must be pumped and crushed or filled during a conversion
Who to call at the county
Offices behind a Snellville job
- Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources Sanitary sewer and drinking water inside SnellvilleSpills and street backups: 678-376-7000.↗
- City of Snellville Public Works Stormwater utility and its credit programWhere the Septic Tank Maintenance credit is handled.↗
- GNR soil-report requirement Level 3 soil report before any septic permit, including repairs, since February 7, 2022↗
On the map
Snellville from our Oxford shop
About 34 min / 19.4 mi by road from our Oxford shop
Pin at the city center near US-78 and GA-124.
Route sourceNearby areas
Towns that border Snellville
- Grayson septic & sewerGrayson septic service, northeast along GA-84 and GA-20
- Loganville septic & sewerLoganville sewer and septic, east on US-78
- Lawrenceville septic & sewerLawrenceville septic and sewer, 7 miles north on GA-124
- Lilburn septic & sewerLilburn sewer and septic, to the northwest
- Stone Mountain septic & sewerStone Mountain sewer service, west on US-78 into DeKalb
- Dacula septic & sewerDacula septic service, across east Gwinnett
FAQ
Snellville sewer and septic questions
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620Does the City of Snellville run its own sewer system?
No. Snellville's 2024 stormwater management plan states that Gwinnett County maintains and operates the sanitary sewer inside the city. Sewer billing, main blockages and taps go through Gwinnett DWR; the city handles stormwater. If you see sewage in a street or manhole, the county dispatch number is 678-376-7000.
Source: City of Snellville Stormwater Management Plan (Aug 2024)
Can I get a stormwater discount for pumping my septic tank in Snellville?
Snellville bills its own stormwater utility, and its 2026 credit application includes a Septic Tank Maintenance credit. That is a city credit, separate from the county's 10 percent pumping credit on the Gwinnett stormwater fee. Confirm the current terms with Snellville Public Works.
Source: City of Snellville — Stormwater Utility Credit Manual and Application Form
Am I allowed to drill a well at my Snellville house?
Not for drinking water. In June 2001 the city council banned new wells and ordered existing ones closed, keeping irrigation use, after possible dry-cleaner contamination at the old Oakland Village Shopping Center. Gwinnett water is the supply, and the pipe from the meter to your house is yours.
Source: Wikipedia — Snellville, Georgia
Who pays to fix the sewer pipe between my Snellville house and the street?
Gwinnett's policy makes the owner responsible for the whole lateral, including its connection to the county line at the right-of-way. DWR clears blockages in the main and in the right-of-way section. If the only blockage turns out to be inside the right-of-way, you can file a reimbursement claim, but DWR must inspect the open excavation before repair.
Source: Gwinnett County Sewer Service Lateral Repair/Cleaning Policy
Is it illegal to pump septic overflow into a storm drain in Snellville?
Yes. Snellville Public Works lists septic tank discharge among the illicit discharges barred from the city storm sewer, and the same page links a Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems. A surfacing tank needs pumping and repair, never a hose to the curb.
What permit do I need to fix a failing septic system in Snellville?
A repair permit from GNR Public Health's Gwinnett Environmental Health office on Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville. Since February 7, 2022, GNR has required a Level 3 soil report before issuing any septic permit, repairs included. The 2026 residential fee is $275, or $400 when the permit follows a complaint. We can pull it as your agent.
Source: GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Gwinnett County (effective Jan 1, 2026)
My Snellville neighbor has sewer. Do I have to connect?
Possibly. Georgia's rule 511-3-1-.03(1) requires connection when public sewer lies within 200 feet of your property line or in an abutting right-of-way, and a failing septic system must connect if sewer is available. A typical Gwinnett conversion runs $4,172 in county fees before line work.
Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 (On-Site Sewage Management Systems)
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 Snellville Stormwater Management Plan (Aug 2024)
- 2City of Snellville — Stormwater Utility Credit Manual and Application Form
- 3Gwinnett County DWR — Sewer Lateral
- 4Gwinnett County DWR — Resident Responsibility
- 5Gwinnett County Sewer Service Lateral Repair/Cleaning Policy
- 6City of Snellville — The Grove at Towne Center
- 7Census Reporter: Snellville, GA (ACS 2024 5-year)
- 8Wikipedia — Snellville, Georgia
- 9City of Snellville — Stormwater and Drainage
- 10Gwinnett County DWR — Septic Tanks
- 11Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 (On-Site Sewage Management Systems)
- 12USGS — Big Haynes Creek at Lenora Road, near Snellville, GA
- 13Residential Septic to Sewer Procedure for Unincorporated Gwinnett County
- 14GNR Environmental Health Fee Schedule — Gwinnett County (effective Jan 1, 2026)
- 15GNR Public Health — Locations (Environmental Health Offices)
- 16GNR Public Health — Septic Systems
Ready when you are
Sewer or septic, Snellville — we'll find out which, then fix it.
Call and tell us what you're seeing. We come out for a free on-site estimate, find the cleanout or the tank lid, and walk you through the Gwinnett or GNR step that applies to your line.
(678) 863-5620- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Oxford, GA
Free estimate
or call (678) 863-5620