TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Transportation Services
On-Site Sewage Facilities
On-Site Sewage Facilities
On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) are wastewater systems designed to treat and dispose of effluent on the same property that produces the wastewater. A septic tank and drainfield combination is the oldest and most common type of OSSF, although newer aerobic treatment units exist which represent scaled down versions of municipal sewage treatment plants. OSSFs account for approximately 25 percent of all domestic wastewater treatment in the United States. Tarrant County regulates the OSSF Inspection and Permit process for 23 cities and the unincorporated parts of the county.
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An OSSF permit is required for all new construction and anytime renovations significantly change the structure’s square footage or assigned water flow. Permits are also required if the type or strength of the wastewater changes from a residential wastewater classification. A repair/remodel permit is required anytime changes are made to an existing system. The regulations require that an owner must obtain a permit to repair, extended, modify or alter any of the disposal system’s existing components.
The required OSSF permit application and resource documents depend on usage. The Residential Permit Application or the Non-Residential Permit Application can be completed digitally by clicking these links. In addition to the permit application, the OSSF Affidavit Form must be completed and filed with the County Clerks. This document can then be attached to the online permit application for submission. Once your application has been received, you will receive an email requesting payment within 2 business days. Please reply by email once the payment has been made.
In order to assure that wastewater is disposed safely, a permitting and inspection program requires that all OSSFs must be in substantial compliance with state regulations. Click here for a copy of the OSSF Rules and Regulations.
If you are needing to report a violation, please fill out the OSSF Investigation Request. For any other questions, comments, or concerns regarding OSSFs, please contact Ekpen Okoruwa at 817-212-7082.
It is very important to realize that nearly all of the unincorporated land in Tarrant County falls within the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of existing cities. An ETJ is an area outside of a city’s limits where the city is allowed to require subdivision of acreage to meet minimum city requirements.
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There are several state requirements that must be met to properly subdivide acreage in the unincorporated areas of Tarrant County. State law requires that conditions be evaluated as to the suitability of the site if OSSFs are to be used.
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The Environmental Divison staff has prepared a list of short answers for the most common OSSF inquires. The FAQ webpage may help you with questions about the installation and maintenance of your OSSF.
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