When a tank needs replacing rather than repair
Tanks are replaced when they are structurally damaged, leaking, undersized for the house, or in the wrong place for a planned addition. A pump-out is the usual moment of discovery. Georgia's septage standards require a pumper to inspect the inlet and outlet tees and give the owner written documentation of the tank's condition, including damage or missing components, with a copy to the local environmental health office. That report is the starting point for a replacement conversation.
Ask to see the problem. A broken tee or lid is a repair; a cracked wall or a tank that will not hold water is a replacement. Our septic repair guide covers the smaller fixes, and septic inspection explains how an evaluation documents the system.
Replacement is permitted work
Georgia's rules state that repairs, replacement or additions to existing systems must be permitted and inspected. In Hall County, the application goes to Environmental Health. The county's fee schedule effective January 1, 2024 lists a residential repair permit at $150 and a residential septic tank addition or alteration at $250; which one applies depends on the scope the county assigns, so ask the office before you file.
Certified installers schedule the county installation inspection by calling Environmental Health. If the replacement is part of a remodel that adds bedrooms, expect the county to review the system against the new bedroom count, since Hall County says building permit applicants on septic must first contact Environmental Health.
Sizing the new tank
Georgia's minimum for single-family homes is one thousand gallons for one to four bedrooms, plus two hundred fifty gallons for each bedroom over four, and the capacity must be increased by fifty percent if a garbage grinder is used. Tanks must be two-compartment, with the first compartment at least two-thirds of the liquid capacity, and fiberglass and concrete tanks must meet the construction standards in the state manual. An approved outlet filter is required.
If you want to check the arithmetic for your own house, use our tank size and fee calculator. It applies only Georgia's rule and the county fee table.
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Free Quote RequestWhere the new tank can go
A replacement tank must meet the state setbacks. Georgia's rules say no septic tank may be installed less than fifty feet from existing or proposed wells, springs, sinkholes or suction water lines; less than twenty-five feet from lakes, ponds, streams and other impoundments; less than ten feet from pressure water supply lines or a property line; or less than fifteen feet from a drainage ditch or embankment. Tanks should also be at least ten feet from hardscape, drives, swimming pools and building foundations, and must be placed for ready maintenance access.
The county board of health may allow lesser distances, or require greater ones, after a site inspection because of topography, soil or groundwater. See Georgia septic setbacks for the full list.
What happens to the old tank
Georgia's rules cover abandonment directly. If a septic tank's use is discontinued, or it cannot be made to comply and its further use is prohibited, the owner must either have the tank pumped out by a certified pumper and filled with sand, soil or rock to prevent entrapment, or have the empty tank removed to make room for a new component. An open, empty tank is a safety hazard, so do not leave it for later.
Once the new tank is in, consider a riser to grade so future service is simpler; the state lists approved riser products, and our risers and lids page explains the benefit.
Planning the replacement day
Replacement is a bigger yard project than a pump-out. Expect excavation around the old tank, equipment access across the lawn, and a county inspection before the new tank is covered. Ask the provider how the equipment will reach the tank without crossing the drain field, since the EPA advises against driving on the field.
Decide in advance whether the old tank will be removed or filled in place. Georgia allows either: pumped by a certified pumper and filled with sand, soil or rock, or removed to make room for the new component. Removal may be needed if the new tank must go in the same spot; filling may be simpler if the new tank goes elsewhere.
Once the new tank is in, update your records. Keep the permit and inspection result with the county record, note the tank's size and the location of its lids, and set a reminder for the first pump-out. A new tank that is never pumped will fail the same way the old one did.