Septic rules in Livingston County
Livingston County Health Department, in Howell, states on its realtor resources page that it does not have a point-of-sale program and does not inspect wells or septic systems when a property changes ownership. Its Sanitary Code, updated March 1, 2013, covers sewage in Chapter III, private wells in Chapter IV and installer licensing in Chapter VIII. A permit starts with an approved soil evaluation: two borings 50 feet apart and at least 8 feet deep, dug by the owner's contractor after a MISS DIG ticket, then the permit, which the county issues in three to five business days.
The fee page lists $390 for a single-family soil evaluation and $520 for a new or replacement permit, with $260 for a tank only. Installers hold a county license, $260 to start and bonded for $25,000, and an owner may install a conventional system at their own single or two-family home after passing an exam. The county also requires a site review before any addition, deck or pole barn on a property with a well or septic system.
A separate Septage Waste Disposal Ordinance sends all septage collected by licensed servicers to a public receiving facility, and food-service septic tanks and grease traps must be pumped annually. The county's FAQ puts a system's life at 20 to 25 years, a shorter figure than EGLE's 25 to 40. Howell is the one Livingston city here. See septic inspection in Livingston County.
The county's rules, line by line
- Who permits septic systems
- Livingston County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, 2300 E Grand River Ave, Howell
- Governing code
- Livingston County Department of Public Health Sanitary Code, updated March 1, 2013 (Chapter III sewage, IV water supply, VIII installer licensing)
- Inspection at sale
- The county says it has no such rule. The county says it has no point-of-sale program and does not inspect wells or septic systems when a property changes ownership (page last modified March 27, 2026).
- Permit steps
- Approved soil evaluation first (two borings 50 feet apart, 8 feet or more deep, MISS DIG ticket), then the permit within 3 to 5 business days; inspections requested through an online scheduler; permit valid 1 year.
- Installers and evaluators
- Installers must be licensed and bonded ($25,000 bond; $260 new license, $130 renewal). An owner may self-install a conventional system for their own single or two-family home after a license exam.
- Records
- Well and septic records are searchable online (2018 to present).
Septic fees in Livingston County
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Soil evaluation, single-family | $390 | Fee page, year not stated |
| Permit, new construction or replacement | $520 | Same page |
| Tank-only permit | $260 | Same page |
| Alternative technology permit | $780 | Same page |
| Installer license, new | $260 | Renewal $130 |
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.
Septic services in Livingston County
- Septic pumping in Livingston CountyLivingston County sends all septage hauled by licensed servicers to a public receiving facility, and charges haulers for an annual truck inspection.
- Septic inspection in Livingston CountyLivingston County does not inspect septic systems when a property changes ownership, but it requires a site review before additions.
- Drain field in Livingston CountyLivingston County's code sets 50 feet between a well and an absorption system, and it asks for two borings 50 feet apart.
What septic work costs
These are the Michigan-wide estimates from our model, not Livingston 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.