• IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROPERTY TRANSFER
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NEW RULE: SOIL VERIFICATION
• IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT REVISION OF SEPTIC ORDINANCE
• APPROVED DODGE COUNTY MATERIAL LIST

Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Program
Individual sewage treatment systems (SSTS) are commonly known as septic systems. The purpose of a septic system is to treat sewage from your household. Proper treatment of wastewater reduces health risks to humans and animals and prevents surface and groundwater contamination.

The Dodge County Environmental Services Department through the Dodge County Sewage and Wastewater Ordinance No. 4 and MN Rules Chapter 7080-7083 regulates the design, permitting, installations, and inspections of Individual Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS).

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT REVISION OF SEPTIC ORDINANCE

Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Ordinance No. 4 was adopted on February 9, 2010. The ordinance will be effective March 1, 2010. The new ordinance requires:

1. The county to administer state regulations regarding septic    systems. For septic professionals this requires additional submittal with permit applications and new sizing requirements. Contact Dodge County Environmental Services for more information or see the link to the University of Minnesota, new design suite for forms.
2. An escrow account if a septic system does not meet code before transfer of property title.   Detailed information is provided in the property transfer section of this page.
3. A septic system is to be properly sized when replacing and adding more than 120 sq ft of living area to an existing dwelling.

New Septic Construction
All new septic systems require a permit from Dodge County. Zoning permits will not be issued until the septic permit is received.

Checklist for obtaining a septic system permit:

1. Hire a Designer to complete a site evaluation and design for your new septic system.
2. Hire a Septic Installer to install your septic system. Click on the Septic Professional List to view a Dodge County list of state-licensed persons.
3. Submit a permit application to Dodge County with the proper fee. Most septic professionals will have the forms and submit them to the county.  
   • If the Individual Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) is in Canisteo Township, a minimum 2000 gallon septic capacity is required for an in-ground system.  The permit application no longer needs to be signed by a Canisteo Township Board member.

4. The permit will be reviewed and, approved or denied, by the county. Zoning permits will not be issued until the septic permit and proper fee is received by the SSTS department.
5. The installer may proceed with construction after permit approval.
6. The installer is responsible for notifying the Environmental Services Department 24 hours in advance of construction for an inspection.
7. Upon completion of the inspection a Certificate of Compliance will be documented and mailed to the homeowner, installer and kept on file in the Dodge County Environmental Services Office.

List of Approved Septic Material

WHEN SELLING PROPERTY OR REMODELING A HOME
The Dodge County "Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Ordinance No. 4" requires a septic system compliance inspection:

• Prior to adding livable space to an existing dwelling (existing system must be properly sized)
• When replacing a dwelling (existing system must be properly sized )
• When adding a bedroom to an existing dwelling (existing system must be properly sized)
• If a written complaint is received
• When a discharge is observed during construction within the road right-of-way
• Prior to the sale or transfer of property.

Please remember that when transferring property you must ALWAYS fill out the Dodge County Disclosure Form at the bottom of the page.

What is a Compliance Inspection?
"Compliance Inspection" is any evaluation, investigation, inspection, or other such method to determine if the SSTS:

1. Discharges sewage to a seepage pit, cesspool, drywell, or leaching pit;
2. Has less than 2 feet of soil or sand between the bottom of the drainfield and the saturated soil or bedrock; or
3. Poses an imminent health threat by:
   • discharging to the ground surface or surface water, or by
   • causing sewage to backup into a dwelling or other establishment.

Who can perform a Compliance Inspection?
Compliance inspections must be completed by individuals with a state license as a "Designer I" or "Inspector". Compliance inspections cannot be done by the owner of the system. Click here to view a list of licensed inspectors. Please call for an inspection ahead of closing; professionals are very busy and may not be able to do inspections without sufficient notice.

Results of Compliance Inspection

1. If the inspection indicates that the SSTS is not in compliance, a "Notice of Noncompliance" must be provided to the property owner and the County (or governing agency) within 30 days.
2. If the system presents an imminent threat to public health the "Notice of Noncompliance" must include a statement to this effect and the property owner must upgrade, replace, or discontinue use of the SSTS within 10 months of receipt of the notice. See specific requirements below if the inspection is for a property transfer.
3. If a system does not comply with applicable requirements or meet the required 2 ft soil separation for existing systems, the property owner has two years from the date of the notice to bring the system into compliance. See specific requirements below if the inspection is for a property transfer.

Follow Up of Compliance Inspection During Property Transfer

1. If the inspection is for the transfer of property, a “Sewage Disclosure Form” must be filled out and attached to the "Certificate of Real Estate Value" at the time of transfer of title and a copy delivered to the Environmental Services Dept. This does not require a fee.
2. If the septic system is not upgraded before the property is transferred, a “Sewage Responsibility Form” must be filled out and attached to the deed at the time of transfer of title and delivered to the Environmental Services Dept. This does not require a filing fee. An escrow account must also be set up according to the Wastewater No. 4 ordinance effective March 1, 2010.
3. In the times of year when the ground is frozen and a compliance inspection cannot be completed, the inspection must be completed by the following June 1 and submitted to the Department within 30 days. The seller or buyer must establish an escrow account to be used to inspect and bring the septic system into compliance if determined to be failing or non-compliant. The account shall be established in a financial institution mutually agreed upon and may be jointly controlled by seller and buyer. The amount deposited in the escrow account shall be determined by the Environmental Services Department. Dodge County must be named in the escrow document as the release agent.

SOIL VERIFICATION PROCEDURE
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency adopted new Septic System Rules on February 4, 2008.  The new rules require counties to verify the subsurface soil conditions prior to issuing a permit for each new or repaired septic system.

Dodge County plans to implement this plan as follows:

• Professionals that perform soil evaluations must call Dodge County at 507-635-6273, BEFORE completing the soil evaluation to set up an appointment to meet a county employee or county- contracted employee, at the site.  The soils will then be evaluated and two separate soil reports generated. 
• Permit applications must be submitted with two soil reports:
• One report from the professional hired to complete the evaluation.
• One report verified by Dodge County.
• Permit fees that require a soil evaluation are increased to reflect the new requirement.  (See fee schedule above).
• If the site is changed, or additional soil verification is needed there will be an additional fee charged to the applicant. See fee schedule for amount.

Low Interest Loans Available for Septic Upgrades

• The applicant must qualify financially through AgStar Farm Credit
• Loans are issued at 3 percent interest.
• Septic system repair and replacement.

The County must apply for the loans and issue them within a specified time frame, so the loans may not always be available. If interested, please call the Dodge County Environmental Services Department at the Courthouse, Toll Free, 1-888-600-5169, or direct at 507-635-6273.

Forms

• Septic Permit Form
• As-Built Form
• Sewage Disclosure Form (needed in transfer of property)
• Sewage Responsibility Form (needed in transfer of property)
• System abandon form
• Above Grade Management Plan
• Below Grade Management Plan
• Holding Tank Management Plan

Links to related septic information

• MN Pollution Control Agency web site
• University of MN Water Resources Center
• Dodge County Septic Coordinator, Sandy Schaefer
• MPCA Design Suite
• Product Registration and Distribution Lists – MPCA