Permits and hiring tips
Who issues septic permits around Jacksonville, who provides sewer, and how to vet a septic contractor.
Septic permits in Onslow County
Onslow County Environmental Health handles septic permits throughout the county: site and soil evaluations, improvement permits to build a system on a lot, construction authorizations, operations permits for existing systems, and repairs. The county says a failing system can’t be repaired by the owner or an installer without a permit from the Health Department.
- Office: 234 NW Corridor Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28540
- Phone: (910) 938-5851
- Onslow County septic systems page
Help for failing systems: the county’s Septic System Community Assistance Fund offers low-interest loans to repair failing septic systems. Ask Environmental Health whether you qualify.
When a permit is usually needed
- Installing a new system on a lot
- Repairing or replacing a failing system, including the drain field
- Adding bedrooms or otherwise expanding a home beyond what its septic permit allows
Routine pumping and simple parts replacement usually don’t need a permit. When in doubt, call Environmental Health before work is scheduled.
North Carolina’s septic rules
Septic systems in North Carolina are governed by the state rules in 15A NCAC 18E, which took effect January 1, 2024, and are carried out by county health departments.
Sewer providers around Jacksonville
- City of Jacksonville: owns and runs its own sewer system and treatment plant for homes inside the city.
- ONWASA (Onslow Water and Sewer Authority): water and sewer for much of the county outside Jacksonville, including partnerships with towns like Holly Ridge. (910) 455-0722, onwasa.com
- Richlands and Swansboro: town sewer plants serve homes mainly inside the town limits.
If your home isn’t connected to one of these systems, it’s on septic, and the county permits apply. Across unincorporated Onslow County, many homes depend on their own septic system.
Call 811 before digging
North Carolina asks for a call to NC 811 at least three full business days before digging, so utilities can mark their lines. Drain field and tank replacement involve digging, so a professional crew should submit the request. Private lines, like wiring to a shed or an irrigation line, aren’t marked, so point them out.
Hiring a septic contractor
- Ask for proof of general liability insurance
- For repairs or installation, ask for the contractor’s North Carolina septic certification
- Get the price in writing, including locating and uncovering the tank lid
- Ask whether the job needs a county permit, and who will pull it
- Be cautious of anyone who says you need a new drain field without explaining why