Septic System Program

Septic and well permits for Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga Counties can be searched online through the Permit Search feature. New permits are uploaded into the online system as they are issued.

*Note for Ashe County Permits: All Ashe County tax pin numbers / parcel ID’s changed in October 2025. We appreciate your patience as we work with our software vendor to update these numbers in our system. Until we can make the updates, please use the old parcel ID which can be found on the Ashe County GIS website.

 

PERMIT SEARCH

 

 

Need Assistance? 

If you have issues locating a permit, contact the Environmental Health Office in the county where the permit was issued. To best serve you, please have the following information available when you contact us: Applicant name, subdivision, tax ID and the year the house/structure was built or septic system installed. If you have trouble locating any of this necessary information, please complete a deed search through your local Register of Deeds.

Important Links:

Application Process

The instruction pages provided with the application explain in detail the services provided by our department and the application process required for each.

The permitting process is specific to the type of construction being applied for; new, expansion, reuse, or repair. Read the application instructions thoroughly, and please feel free to call the health department if there are any questions.

New Construction

For any new construction of a septic system follow the application packet. This packet gives you all the steps involved in applying for a new septic system. It is very important that all the steps are thought out and completed before submitting an application. This will greatly help to expedite the process.

Expansion of an Existing System

When improving a facility such as adding a bedroom to a house or increasing the number of employees in a business the limiting factor in many cases is the septic system’s design capacity. For instance, if the original septic system was designed to accommodate a three-bedroom house and the owners wish to add on a fourth bedroom then an expansion of the existing septic system is required.

The application process for an expansion is much the same as the process for new construction. (Please refer to the application packet for the basic application steps.) However, an expansion also requires locating the existing septic tank, drain field, and repair areas. The original permits issued by this department will facilitate finding each of these as well as possibly describing the soil conditions on the property. To find a permit our department needs the year the system was installed and the name that it was installed under. This office recommends that when planning an expansion of any facility, a copy of the Operation Permit is obtained so that the septic system may be taken into account during the planning stage.

As with new construction, an application along with a site plan must first be submitted and lot preparation conducted (i.e. marking property corners, staking out any additions to buildings, etc.) before our staff can evaluate an existing septic system and property for the possibility of an expansion. After the application and site plan are submitted plus lot preparation conducted, we recommend that our staff visit the property before any holes are dug to help protect both the existing septic system and any future septic system areas.

Reuse of Existing Systems

The reuse of an existing system such as replacing a mobile home with a new mobile home.

 

Repairing a Failing System

A failing septic system is typically not something that most people wish to live with for very long. It may begin as slow drains from the toilet, shower, or sink located in the area of the residence closest to the septic tank. This symptom usually occurs during times of high water usage and could well be fixed by having the septic tank pumped out and the effluent filter cleaned. If this occurs, pumping the tank is the first thing our department will recommend. There is no permit required to have this done. In fact, all tanks should be pumped out every three to five years.

Another symptom of a failing or overused system is a damp area in the drain field area with an intermittent but very distinct odor that will get more frequent and larger over time. If this is the case it again could be fixed easily; possibly by fixing a leaky shower or toilet, or an adjustment of the distribution box. There are many possible solutions including but not limited to the replacement or extension of the drain field. There are many reasons for a system to fail and determining why can take some time and effort. Whatever the cause it is important to always remember that sewage contains viruses and bacteria that are dangerous and should not be ignored!

Any work done on an on-site septic system, even in the case of a failing system, requires a permit. First step is to determine if the original permit can be located. Property lines would also need to be found. Once those items have been addressed, a repair application must be submitted. An Environmental Health Specialist will then visit the property to determine the best solution for addressing a failing septic system.