Septic Permitting Process Update

Vesting Certificates requests may now be made directly with assigned Well and Septic staff during the plan review process under an OWTS Construction Application. Customers will no longer be required to submit separate Vesting Certificate applications. Customer requests to convert unexpired Vesting Certificates to an OWTS Construction Permit should be submitted to PermitSonoma-Well-Septic@sonoma-county.org. Customers will no longer be required to submit separate OWTS Construction Applications to convert a Vesting Certificate to an OWTS Construction Permit. For more information regarding Vesting Certificates, please visit our Well & Septic Frequently Asked Questions web page.

Septic Variance requests have traditionally been separated into Administrative and Formal Variances. Administrative Variances were required to be requested through a separate application process to justify using the OWTS Manual v7.0 Table 17 mitigation measures.  OWTS Manual v8.0 incorporated the Table 17 mitigation measures / reduced setbacks into various sections of the OWTS Manual v8.0 as alternative means of compliance. Customers seeking to use the OWTS Manual v8.0 mitigation measures / reduced setbacks may do so directly within an OWTS Construction Application or other construction permit application.  The requested mitigation measures / reduced setbacks must directly apply to the proposed scope of work of the construction permit application.  Customers will no longer be required to submit separate Administrative Variance applications.

The Formal Variance process still requires a separate application to be submitted and are required to justify not meeting any septic standard that is not already covered by the OWTS Manual v8.0 mitigation measures / reduced setbacks.