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What is a septic site plan, and what needs to be on it?

SepticFactsPublished Updated

Site planning sketch with house, driveway, well, candidate drainfield and reserve area. Plan the house and septic together.

A site plan is a scaled drawing of the lot that shows where everything is and will be, submitted with the evaluation or permit application. Counties set their own checklist, but it usually includes property lines and dimensions, north arrow and scale, existing and proposed structures, the driveway, the well (yours and neighbors’ within range), water lines, surface water and drainage features, slopes and cuts, easements, the test pit locations, the proposed tank, drainfield and reserve area, and the setbacks between them. Oregon’s site evaluation report itself must include a site diagram covering most of these items (OAR 340-071-0150).1 A complete, accurate plan avoids a return visit and a second fee.

Citations

  1. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, OAR 340-071-0150, official text published by the Oregon Secretary of State; Oregon DEQ, Site Evaluation Guide. ↩

The agency that issues septic permits where the lot is makes the final call on what system your lot can use.

Sources

  • OAR 340-071-0150, Site Evaluation ProceduresOregon Department of Environmental Quality (state); official rule text published by the Oregon Secretary of StateCorroborated; confirm with the authority. Checked
  • Site Evaluation GuideOregon Department of Environmental Quality (state)Corroborated; confirm with the authority. Checked

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