Austin Water regulates On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF), commonly known as septic tanks, within the City of Austin's full jurisdiction and areas annexed for implementing the Health and Safety Code. Properties with water frontage on Lake Austin or its tributaries are in the City of Austin's jurisdiction regardless of lot configuration, house location, or drainfield location.

If you are not sure your property is located within the City of Austin's jurisdiction for OSSFs, you can enter your address in the OSSF Interactive Map provided below. Alternatively, you may use the Full Page Interactive Map. The following information may be obtained from this interactive map:

  • Whether your property is located within the City's jurisdiction for OSSFs.
  • Whether your property is located within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone or the Barton Springs segment.

Regulatory Authority

The City of Austin is authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to administer the On-site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) Program. The program falls primarily under the authority of TCEQ rules contained within 30 TAC Ch.285 On-Site Sewage Facilities.

OSSFs installed and operated within the City of Austin's jurisdiction must follow the requirement established in City Code, Ch.15-5

Services We Provide

Permitting: Process permit applications and related fees for new and/or existing on-site sewage system.

Inspections: Perform inspections as part of the permitting or complaint investigation processes

Complaint Investigation: Investigate exposed sewage and public complaints related to OSSFs. This activity may involve issuing legal notices of violation and/or initiating potential court actions. Program Information: Address general customer inquiries, including system records' information requests, permitting and fee process inquiries, technical inquiries on types of systems and regulatory compliance questions.

Fee Schedule

Fees are associated with all services provided and are reviewed annually during the City budget process. All fees are collected when applications for service are made and submitted. Additional fees may be required depending on specific aspects of an application or when permits have expired and are being reactivated or renewed. See a complete listing of OSSF Fees.
 

OSSF Program Forms

Whether you are installing a new on-site sewage facility (OSSF), remodeling a property with an existing OSSF, subdividing a parcel to be served by an OSSF, or abandoning an OSSF within Austin Water’s jurisdiction, you will need a permit or inspection from our office.

We handle the following development applications and inspections:

Installation of a New OSSF (New Permit):

Redeveloping or Remodeling of Properties with Existing OSSFs (Minor Development):

Subdividing Parcels to be Served by OSSFs:

Amending a License to Operate an Existing OSSF:

Abandoning OSSFs:

Application Process

You can apply for one or more of these services by submitting a plan review or inspection request through the City of Austin portal, Austin Build + Connect (AB+C).

For instructions on how to create an AB+C Account and submit applications, please refer to the AW OSSF AB+C User Guide.

OSSF Construction Inspections

We conduct regular construction inspections during the installation of OSSFs. The number of inspections required varies with the type of system to be installed. To schedule an inspection for an active OSSF Permit, please request the inspection through the AB+C Portal or email OSSF@AustinTexas.gov.

Joining Two Adjacent Lot Forms

When the size of a lot prohibits the installation of an OSSF, two adjacent lots may be joined together. The lots must be joined through a recorded restrictive covenant (please use the following form to file a restrictive covenant). The form must be completed by the customer and submitted to this office via email for the Assistant City Attorney's approval. The approved form will be returned to the property owner listed in the form. The approved form must be filed with the corresponding County Clerk's Office, please submit a copy of the recorded covenant to this office.

OSSF Maintenance Forms

Maintenance Requirements

For the first two years of service following construction, secondary (typically aerobic) and higher level (nitrogen reduction) treatment facilities must be covered by a maintenance contract.

Nitrogen reducing OSSFs and OSSFs proving aerobic treatment and serving commercial properties must be covered by a maintenance contract in perpetuity. Systems providing primary (anaerobic) treatment do not need to be covered by a maintenance contract at anytime.

OSSF Maintenance Affidavit Forms

Requirements for TCEQ-Licensed Maintenance Providers

Beginning October 1, 2019, TCEQ-licensed maintenance providers who work or wish to work within the City’s jurisdiction for OSSFs must be registered with Austin Water. City registration is free and permanent unless revoked by this office. To register, TCEQ-licensed maintenance providers must complete the Maintenance Providers Registration Form and submit it to this office via e-mail.

Requirements for Homeowners Maintaining their Own System

Homeowners of a single-family owner-occupied residence that have obtained the necessary training and are registered with Austin Water may maintain their own secondary treatment system after the initial two year maintenance contract has expired.

Homeowners looking to mantain their own system must attend TCEQ's training session for licensed maintenance technician, as required by 30 TAC Chapter 30, Section 30.245(b), or obtain equivalent training as determined by the City. To register with the City, a homeowner must complete and submit the Registration Form for Property Owners Maintaining On-Site Sewage Facilities to this office for review and approval.

Homeowners maintaining their own OSSF must record their maintenance activities using the Homeowner Reporting and Testing Record Form. This form may be completed electronically and submitted to Austin Water as an attachment to an e-mail, please see form for more information.

OSSF Nitrogen Reduction Systems

Why is Nitrogen reduction required?

Nitrogen is a plant nutrient that can contribute to dissolved oxygen loss in surface waters, especially in lakes. Nitrate (one form of Nitrogen found in wastewater effluent), is highly soluble and mobile in groundwater, and can easily migrate to surface waters. Excess Nitrogen in surface waters can increase the amount of aquatic plants, which can further reduce the oxygen available for other forms of aquatic life. Studies conducted by the City’s Watershed Protection Department indicate that OSSFs may be a likely source contributing nitrate in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.

What is Austin’s authority?

Austin City Code Chapter 15-5, regarding the regulation of onsite sewage facilities (OSSF), requires that systems proposed after the effective date of the revised ordinance (October 29, 2013) and located within: a) 75-feet of Lake Austin; b) the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (EARZ); or c) areas of Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone (EACZ) with certain soil conditions; provide Nitrogen removal.

How do I know if my property is located within the EARZ or the Barton Springs segment of the EACZ?

You may use Austin Water’s full page interactive map to determine if you are located within Austin Water’s jurisdiction for OSSFs as well as whether or not you are located within the EARZ or the Barton Springs segment of the EACZ.  However, not all systems located within the Barton Springs segment will be required to provide Nitrogen reduction; sites with soils suitable for a standard absorption system will not be required to provide Nitrogen reduction. Please call this office at 512-972-0050 for more information regarding treatment requirements for properties located within the Barton Spring segment.

What treatment options do I have?

A list of City approved treatment options for Nitrogen reduction can be found here. These systems are approved for residential use and for non-residential use when a designer can satisfactorily demonstrate either an effluent total nitrogen concentration of 20 mg/L after treatment, or a maximum of 11 pounds of total nitrogen leaving the treatment system per year. The following testing reports were used to approve these systems:

Can I maintain my own Nitrogen reduction system?

No, these systems must be maintained by manufacturer-trained and certified personnel.

I am a designer or vendor and would like to get a Nitrogen Reduction System approved by the City - how do I do that?

Guidelines on how to obtain approval from the City can be found here.

For high strength, high flow non-residential facilities, a non-standard design for a system that meets the 20 mg/L total nitrogen effluent limitation will be required to be submitted by a professional engineer or registered sanitarian. The design shall be based on actual performance data and/or established design criteria for removing nitrogen from the wastewater. These types of systems include recirculating sand filters combined with anaerobic/anoxic filters, aerobic/anaerobic trickling filter package plants, sequencing batch reactors, membranes, and source separation technologies. Testing of the wastewater effluent may be required after the system is permitted in order to ensure the total nitrogen effluent limitation is being met. Approval will be on a case-by-case basis only.

Will my remodeling impact my OSSF?

If you are remodeling and have an On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF a.k.a. Septic System) you will need to receive approval from Austin Water before you can be issued a building permit by Austin's Development Services Department.

Depending on the remodeling project, you may need additional OSSF permits or may need to amend your existing OSSF license.

How do I know what type of OSSF review is needed?

The following links will provide you with easy to follow decision flowcharts. These flowcharts will show you the type of review needed based on your type of remodeling. Please select the appropriate decision flowchart.

Division Contact Information

Physical Address:

Austin Water Utility, Utility Development Services Division, OSSF Program
6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, Texas 78752

Division Phone Numbers: 

  • Division/Program Management Inquiries: 512-972-0050
  • Exposed Sewage Complaints: 512-972-1000