Septic rules in Bay County
Bay County Health Department's Environmental Health Division publishes a public online map of septic systems. Two codes govern the work, the Sanitary Code of Bay County and a Well and Septic Code, both hosted on the county's online code site, so ask the department for the current text. The page and its 2026 fee schedule, revised Jan 7, 2026, list $333 for a new septic permit and for a replacement permit (the application form shows $584 with the evaluation), $251 for a vacant-land evaluation, $251 for a tank-only replacement, and a loan evaluation of the sewage system at $251, or $397 with the well.
A loan evaluation requires a septage hauler on site to pump the tank at the inspection. Permits do not transfer to a new owner, and applications are processed within 21 calendar days. Contractors must register before installing: a written, proctored exam with a 70 percent pass mark, and a registration that lasts three years and expires December 31. Systems sit at least 50 feet from water supply wells. When soil is frozen, the applicant must dig a 5-foot trench for the evaluation, which is a cost, not a ban.
No time-of-sale rule appears in the published text we can cite. Bay City has 32,445 residents and 90.9 percent of homes built before 1980, and Midland also reaches into Bay. The winter care guide covers frozen ground.
The county's rules, line by line
- Who permits septic systems
- Bay County Health Department, Environmental Health Division
- Governing code
- Sanitary Code of Bay County and a Well and Septic Code (ask the department for the text)
- Inspection at sale
- No rule found in the county's published code. No sale rule found in the county's published pages. Lenders often ask for a loan evaluation, which requires a septage hauler on site to pump the tank.
- Permit steps
- Application processed within 21 calendar days; permits do not transfer to new owners; appeals to the Health Officer within 10 days of issuance; a public online septic map exists.
- Installers and evaluators
- Contractors must register before installing: written proctored exam, 70 percent to pass, three-year registration expiring Dec 31.
- Winter limits
- No installation ban; on frozen soil the applicant must dig a 5-foot trench for the evaluation.
- Records
- Public online septic system map.
- Still to confirm with the county
- No mandatory pumping interval or sewer connection rule found in the county's published pages.
Septic fees in Bay County
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| New septic permit | $333 | 2026 schedule, revised Jan 7, 2026 |
| Replacement permit | $333 | Same schedule |
| Vacant-land evaluation | $251 | Same schedule |
| Tank-only replacement | $251 | Same schedule |
| Loan evaluation, sewage only | $251 | Sewage and well $397 |
Rules and fees change every year. Confirm with the health department before you rely on a line. "No rule found" means the pages and code we have say nothing on that line; it is not the county saying there is no rule. Use the county rules lookup to compare counties.
What septic work costs
These are the Michigan-wide estimates from our model, not Bay County prices. The county's own permit and evaluation fees are in the table above.
| Job | Estimated range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Septic pumping | $255 to $810 | per visit |
| Septic inspection | $130 to $520 | per inspection |
| Drain field | $890 to $6,025 | per repair |
Estimates, not quotes. How we estimate costs.