Septic rules in Lee County
Every new septic system in unincorporated Lee County has to be designed by a professional engineer holding a Florida license, and the application carries the engineer's seal and signature plus a site survey of surface water bodies and stormwater systems within 75 feet of the lot. The Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Environmental Public Health and Engineering, issues the permit; applications go by email to LeeEH@FLHealth.gov. A new system application is $390, with $155 more if a site evaluation is needed and $100 more for inspections on outer islands reachable only by boat.
A performance-based treatment system application is $465 and a repair permit application $350. Pay at MyFloridaEHPermit.com or by check to the department, and follow the application on the online status lookup. An aerobic treatment unit's operating permit is renewed every two years for $175. Its maintenance contract runs two years at first, with at least two service visits a year and a DOH-Lee inspection at least once a year. Lee's page also requires nitrogen-reducing systems inside Basin Management Action Plan areas, on lots of one acre or less, when a new construction permit is needed and sewer isn't available.
The 10 places over 10,000 people in Lee hold 621,050 residents, not the county's total. EPA has Cape Coral's city system at 172,693 people on ground water, and nothing on septic.
The county's rules, line by line
- Who permits septic systems
- Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Environmental Public Health and Engineering; applications by email to LeeEH@FLHealth.gov; payment at MyFloridaEHPermit.com or by check to the Florida Department of Health in Lee County.
- Inspection at sale
- The county says it has no such rule. Under section 381.0065(4)(v), F.S., a permit for installation, modification or repair transfers with the title, and no governmental entity may mandate an inspection at the point of sale.
- Permit steps
- All new OSTDS applications in unincorporated Lee County must be designed by a professional engineer holding a Florida license, with seal and signature, and include a site survey showing surface water bodies and stormwater systems within 75 feet of the lot. An online lookup shows application status. Permit types listed: new, repair, addition, abandonment, holding tank, variance, ATU, performance-based and I/M zone.
- Still to confirm with the county
- ATUs need a maintenance contract with an approved maintenance entity for the life of the system, at least two services a year reported to DOH-Lee, and a DOH-Lee inspection at least once a year. Nitrogen-reducing systems are required in BMAPs on lots of one acre or less when a new permit is needed and sewer is not available.
Septic fees in Lee County
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| New septic system application | $390 | Lee County page, year not stated |
| Site evaluation, if needed | $155 more | Lee County page, year not stated |
| Inspections on outer islands reachable only by boat | $100 more | Lee County page, year not stated |
| Performance-based treatment system application | $465 | Lee County page, year not stated |
| Repair permit application | $350 | Lee County repair page, year not stated |
| ATU operating permit, renewed every two years | $175 | Lee County ATU page, year not stated |
Rules and fees change every year, so confirm a line with the health department before you rely on it. "No rule found" means the pages and code we have say nothing on that line, which isn't the same as the county telling you there's no rule. To compare counties, use the county rules lookup.
What septic work costs
These are statewide Florida estimates from our model, so they aren't Lee County prices; where the county posts its own permit fees, they are on this page.
| Job | Estimated range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Septic pumping | $230 to $730 | per visit |
| Septic inspection | $115 to $470 | per inspection |
| Drain field | $675 to $4,550 | per repair |
These are estimates, not quotes. How we estimate costs.