The order of operations on a new lot
A new septic system in Hall County starts with paperwork, not a backhoe. Hall County Environmental Health states that a valid, issued septic permit is required before you can obtain a building permit for new construction. Under Georgia's rules, a construction permit is issued only after a county site inspection shows favorable findings on absorption rates, soil characteristics, groundwater and rock, and if public water will serve the house, the permit cannot be issued until the water supply is approved.
That means your builder's schedule depends on the soil report and the county visit. Plan for it early, and read our step-by-step Hall County septic permit guide before you buy materials or book an installer.
What Hall County asks for
The county's application requirements list eight items for new construction: a recorded plat of the property; proof of ownership such as a warranty or quit claim deed; a soil report, specifically a level III soil analysis from a soil classifier if the property does not already have one on file; a to-scale site plan; the water source, public or well, with a well permit application at the same time if there is no public water and no existing well; a completed and signed septic permit application including a street number; the house location staked on the property; and the permit fee, assessed at application.
The site plan must show the house footprint with dimensions and setbacks, the driveway, decks and porches, the layout of the primary and reserve septic system with each trench length, and features such as pools, detached garages, creeks, ponds, springs and wells. The county says the drawing can be done by the homeowner, builder, septic contractor, soil classifier, surveyor or engineer, so long as it is to scale. Applications go in together, in person or by email; the county will not accept incomplete ones.
Permit fees on the county schedule
The Hall County Board of Health's fee schedule effective January 1, 2024 lists a residential septic permit at $350 for a system serving five bedrooms or fewer and $450 for six bedrooms or more. Pump systems and advanced treatment systems are listed at $600. A well permit is listed at $150. If the house is not staked when the county arrives, the application requirements warn that a re-inspection fee will be charged; the schedule lists that fee at $150.
Permits do not last forever. The county's application states that permits are valid for twelve months from issue under Georgia rule 511-3-1-.03(3); an owner may renew once before expiration for a re-evaluation fee, listed at $150, and an expired permit requires the initial fee again. Run your own numbers with the tank size and fee calculator.
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Free Quote RequestHow big the tank must be
Georgia sets the minimum. For a single-family home, the rules require a liquid capacity of one thousand gallons for one to four bedrooms and two hundred fifty additional gallons for each bedroom over four, and a fifty percent increase if a garbage grinder will be used. Tanks must have two compartments, with the first holding at least two-thirds of the capacity, and an approved filter is required on the outlet end. The state's design flow for a home is one hundred fifty gallons per day per bedroom, according to DPH's peak-flow guidance.
The field is sized from the soil report and the bedroom count, and it must meet the state setbacks covered in our Georgia septic setbacks guide.
Choosing who does the work
Installers must be certified by the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the county's application reminds owners of that requirement. The state publishes lists of certified installers and soil classifiers on its certification page, along with disciplinary actions. Certified contractors call Hall County Environmental Health to schedule installation inspections.
If your soil cannot support a conventional field, an engineered option may be needed; see advanced treatment and pump systems. Once the system is in, put it on a maintenance schedule; our pumping guide explains what a Georgia pump-out must include.
Timeline tips for builders and owner-builders
Start with the soil. A level III soil report from a state-approved soil classifier tells the county whether a conventional field can work and how large it must be. Hall County notes that many subdivisions already have soil information on file, so ask the office before ordering a new report. If the lot needs a well, file the well permit application at the same time as the septic application, as the county requires.
Stake the house before the site visit. Hall County says the house location must be staked before the evaluation and that an unstaked site means a return visit and a re-inspection fee. Make sure the stakes match the site plan, including decks and porches, because the setbacks are measured from the footprint you submit.
Keep the reserve area clear. The county's permit conditions require room for both a primary system and a replacement system. Do not let grading, driveways or outbuildings creep into the reserve area during construction; it is the space that saves you if the first field ever fails.