Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08
Septic permitting in California is handled at the county level — county health departments approve systems in 57 of 58 counties.Every entry below names the approving authority for that county, cited to the authority’s own page.
Septic rules change and some cities run their own programs — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All states → California water rights & wells → Full California profile →
58 counties · county health departments
Alameda County Department of Environmental Health
Alameda County Department of Environmental Health - OWTS / Land Use ↗Alpine County Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Alpine County - Guidelines for Septic Systems ↗Amador County Environmental Health Department
Amador County Environmental Health - Sewage Disposal/Liquid Waste ↗Butte County Environmental Health Division (Land Use & Wastewater)
Butte County - Land Use & Wastewater ↗Calaveras County Environmental Management Agency (Environmental Health)
Calaveras County OWTS Procedures ↗Colusa County Environmental Health Division
Colusa County Environmental Health ↗Contra Costa Health - Environmental Health Division (Land Use Program)
Contra Costa Health - Land Use Program ↗Del Norte County Environmental Health Division
Del Norte County Environmental Health ↗El Dorado County Environmental Management Department, Environmental Health (Private Sewage Disposal System Ordinance)
El Dorado County - Private Sewage Disposal System Ordinance ↗Fresno County Environmental Health Department (Public Health)
County of Fresno - Environmental Health ↗Glenn County Environmental Health, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Program
Glenn County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Program ↗Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health (OWTS/LAMP under North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board)
Humboldt County OWTS Regulations and Technical Manual ↗Imperial County Public Health Department - Division of Environmental Health
Imperial County Public Health - Environmental Health (Land Use / OWTS) ↗Inyo County Environmental Health Department (ICEHD)
Inyo County - Residential Septic Systems ↗Kern County Environmental Health Division (Public Health Services Department)
Kern County Public Health - Septic Systems ↗Kings County environmental health / Community Development Agency (private sewage disposal)
Kings County - Community Development Agency ↗Lake County Health Services Department, Environmental Health Division
Lake County Environmental Health - Land Development ↗Lassen County Environmental Health - Liquid Waste Program (Lassen LAMP under Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board)
Lassen County Environmental Health - Liquid Waste Program ↗Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health
LA County Department of Public Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System ↗Madera County Environmental Health Division (OWTS Local Agency Management Program)
Madera County - Environmental Health Division ↗Marin County Environmental Health Services (Community Development Agency)
Marin County – Septic Systems / OWTS ↗Mariposa County Environmental Health Division (Health and Human Services)
Mariposa County Environmental Health - Septic Systems/Liquid Waste ↗Mendocino County Environmental Health Division (Land Use Program)
Mendocino County Environmental Health - Land Use ↗Merced County Division of Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems program)
Merced County Code - Regulation of On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Modoc County Environmental Health Department (OWTS Local Agency)
Modoc County Environmental Health - Septic System Program ↗Mono County Environmental Health (under Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board OWTS policy)
Mono County Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Monterey County Health Department – Environmental Health Bureau
Monterey County Environmental Health – OWTS (Septic) Permits ↗Napa County Environmental Health Division
Napa County PBES - Environmental Health (on-site sewage systems) ↗Nevada County Environmental Health Department (NCDEH)
Nevada County Environmental Health - Septic System ↗Orange County Health Care Agency, Environmental Health Division
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board - Septic Tanks / OWTS ↗Placer County Environmental Health (Sewage Disposal / Septic Systems program)
Placer County - Septic Systems ↗Plumas County Public Health Agency, Environmental Health Division
Plumas County Environmental Health - Liquid Waste (OWTS) ↗Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (Land Use / OWTS Program)
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health - Septic Systems ↗Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) - Liquid Waste Program
Sacramento County EMD - Septic System Permit Process ↗San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency, Environmental Health Services
San Benito County HHSA - Environmental Health ↗San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services
San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services - Land Use & Wastewater ↗San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality
San Diego County DEHQ - Septic Systems ↗San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department (Liquid Waste Program)
San Joaquin County - Septic System Permit ↗San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building Department (OWTS / LAMP)
SLO County – Septic System (OWTS) Documents ↗San Mateo County Environmental Health Services
San Mateo County Health - Land Use & Septic Systems ↗Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services - Liquid Waste / OWTS ↗Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health
Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health - Apply for OWTS ↗Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency – Environmental Health Division
Santa Cruz County Environmental Health – How an OWTS is Regulated ↗Shasta County Environmental Health
Shasta County Environmental Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Sierra County Environmental Health (Local Agency Management Program under State Water Board OWTS Policy)
Sierra County - Liquid Waste & Onsite Sewage Disposal ↗Siskiyou County Environmental Health Division
Siskiyou County Environmental Health - Individual Sewage Disposal ↗Solano County Environmental Health Division (Onsite Sewage Disposal Program)
Solano County - Onsite Sewage Disposal Program ↗Permit Sonoma - Well and Septic Division (Environmental Health)
Permit Sonoma - Well and Septic Systems ↗Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources (Environmental Health)
Stanislaus County Environmental Resources - Sewage Disposal Systems ↗Sutter County Development Services, Environmental Health Division
Sutter County CA - Septic System Information ↗Tehama County Environmental Health Department
Tehama County Environmental Health ↗Trinity County Environmental Health
Trinity County - Development Resources and FAQs ↗Tulare County Environmental Health Division (Health & Human Services Agency)
Tulare County Environmental Health – Septic Systems ↗Tuolumne County Environmental Health Division
Tuolumne County CA - Onsite Wastewater ↗Ventura County Environmental Health Division
Ventura County RMA - Environmental Health, Septic Systems / Wastewater Disposal ↗Yolo County Environmental Health Division - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Program
Yolo County Environmental Health - Land Use Programs ↗Yuba County Environmental Health (Community Development)
Yuba County Environmental Health ↗Every county here has a full profile — its index score, water, land prices, and the rest of its building rules. See the California state page for all counties ranked, or the national septic guide.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
