Septic Permits | Township of Severn

A septic system is a private waste disposal and treatment system. If your property doesn't connect to the municipal sewer system, you may need to install a septic system on your property.

You'll need to apply for a septic permit to:

add a septic system to your property (for either a new or replacement system)
repair or upgrade an existing system
undertake projects that may affect an existing system

Apply for a septic permit

Please review the septic permit application package below. Contact us with any questions or email us your completed application.

Septic permit application package

Septic permit checklist

Please include the following information with your permit application:

Schedule 1
Schedule 2
site plan (view a sample site plan
digital construction drawings (as PDF files)
engineered lot grading submission (as a PDF file)
letter of authorization (if applicable)
sewage system design flow specifications (if applicable)
sewage system plan view (if applicable)
any applicable approvals (Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent-Severn Waterway

Permit issuance

Once the permit has been reviewed by our Permit Coordinator and any external agencies, you will be contacted about the status of your permit and any action required for the permit to be issued. Permit fees are payable upon issuance.

Inspections

After the permit has been issued it is your responsibility or your authorized representative's to schedule inspections throughout the project. Any required inspections will be noted within the issued permit. You can book your inspection using our online form.

Building Inspection Request form

Septic change of use application

A septic change of use application is needed when proposed construction or alterations to your home may reduce the ability of your septic system to perform as originally designed.

If one or a combination of the following applies to your project, it could require changes to your septic system:

adding more bedrooms to your house
adding plumbing fixtures (e.g., a new bathroom)
any planned addition that is more than 15 percent of the original finished area of your home when the septic system was installed
changes in occupancy (e.g., from a residential use to a business use)
any changes that could result in overloading the existing septic system.

Complete the septic change of use application

If any of the above apply to your building project, you must submit a completed septic change of use application to the Permit Coordinator for review and approval before starting your project.

Septic change of use application

All completed permit applications should be submitted by email to the Permit Coordinator.

Septic change of use application checklist

You will also need to submit:

Schedule 1 (Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish (if applicable))
support documents including:
- septic use permit or previously approved change of use application
- drawings, including an existing floor plan and a floor plan detailing the proposed changes

Additional information may be required depending on your plans.

Fees

Depending on the project, you may require upgrades to an existing septic or the installation of a new septic system.

Septic system permit fees

Permit type	Cost
New septic system	$723
Sewage repair system	$481
Holding tank (Class 5)	$554
Leaching pit (Class 2)	$397
Septic change of use	$108 per hour of review

Fees are indexed on January 1 of each year.

Septic inspections

Septic Inspections

An inspection is required once your permit has been issued and before the septic system is covered. Additional inspections may be required depending on your project or approved plans. Please review your permit for specific inspection requirements.

Booking Your Inspection

When scheduling an inspection, please note:

a minimum of two business days’ notice is required
inspections are not conducted on weekends or statutory holidays
specific appointment times cannot be guaranteed (e.g., morning or afternoon)

Important Information for Your Request

Our inspectors cover a large service area of more than 500 square kilometres, including properties with island or water-only access.

To help us plan efficiently, please include any special instructions when submitting your request, such as:

water-access-only properties
entry instructions or access details

Inspections are scheduled to ensure the most efficient use of staff and to accommodate all inspection requests for the day.

Building Inspection Request form

Failure to acquire permits and complete the required inspections per the issued permit and the Ontario Building Code can result in fines or penalties. You may even be required to remove or demolish unauthorized construction projects or septic systems.

Compliance letters

Compliance letters are typically requested during the sale of a property or a mortgage renewal. They provide information regarding open or closed building permits, septic files, non-compliance or non-conformance, by-law infractions, etc. To request a compliance letter visit our Zoning page.