Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08
Septic permitting in New York is mixed: 47 counties use county health departments, 14 go through a state agency, and 1 through regional districts.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 → New York water rights & wells → Full New York profile →
62 counties · mixed — varies by county · permit status scouted for 3
Albany County Department of Health, Environmental Health
Albany County Environmental Health Forms ↗Allegany County Department of Health - Environmental Health
Allegany County Environmental Health ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection — Wastewater ↗Broome County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health
Broome County Wastewater Treatment ↗Cattaraugus County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (under NY DOH)
Cattaraugus County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Cayuga County Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Cayuga County Septic System Installation & Inspection ↗Chautauqua County Health Department (Environmental Health Division)
Chautauqua County Environmental Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Chemung County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Chemung County Health Department - Sewage Treatment ↗Chenango County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Chenango County Environmental Health ↗Clinton County Health Department, Environmental Health & Safety Division
Clinton County Health Department - Septic Installation ↗Columbia County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division
Columbia County Department of Health - Sewage Disposal ↗Cortland County Health Department - Environmental Health
Cortland County - Sewage Systems ↗NYS Department of Health district office (NYC DEP overlay within the West-of-Hudson NYC watershed)
NYSDEC - Jurisdictions of Other Agencies (onsite wastewater) ↗Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH)
Dutchess County DBCH - Environmental Health Services ↗Erie County Department of Health - Environmental Health Division
Erie County Environmental Health - Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems ↗New York State Department of Health - District Office (Saranac Lake)
Essex County Health Department - Environmental Health ↗New York State Department of Health (Appendix 75-A) / local health department
NYSDOH - Septic Systems ↗Fulton County Public Health Department
New York State Department of Health - Septic Systems ↗Genesee County Health Department - Environmental Health
Genesee County, New York - Environmental Health ↗New York State Department of Health (10 NYCRR Part 118, Greene County) with NYC DEP watershed overlay in western towns
NY Codes Rules & Regulations, Part 118 - Greene County ↗New York State Department of Health - District Environmental Health Program (Essex/Franklin/Hamilton district)
NYSDOH District Environmental Health Programs ↗NYS Department of Health - Herkimer Environmental Unit / District Office
Herkimer County Public Health - Partnering Agencies (NYSDOH Environmental Unit) ↗Jefferson County Public Health Service - Environmental Health (under NYSDOH Appendix 75-A)
Jefferson County - Environmental Health ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection ↗Lewis County Building and Codes Department
Lewis County Septic System Permit Application ↗Livingston County Department of Health - Environmental Health
Livingston County Environmental Health ↗Madison County Department of Health (implementing NYSDOH Appendix 75-A)
Madison County Water & Septic - Individual Systems ↗Monroe County Department of Public Health, Bureau of Public Health Engineering
Monroe County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗New York State Department of Health (Appendix 75-A)
NYS DOH Appendix 75-A (Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems) ↗Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering
Nassau County - On-Site Sewage Disposal System and SPDES Permit ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer system)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection - Wastewater Treatment System ↗Niagara County Department of Health (Niagara County Health District)
Niagara County Environmental Health - Sewage Disposal ↗Oneida County Health Department, Environmental Health (Public Water Supply and Sewage Program)
Oneida County Health Department, Environmental Health ↗Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health
Onondaga County Environmental Health - Septic Systems ↗Ontario County Public Health (Environmental Health)
Ontario County NY - NYS Septic System Replacement / Environmental Health ↗Orange County Department of Health - Sanitary Engineering / Environmental Health
Orange County NY - Sanitary Engineering ↗Orleans County Health Department, Environmental Health
Orleans County NY - Health Department ↗Oswego County Health Department, Environmental Health / Engineering
Oswego County 2026 Adopted Budget - Civil/Environmental Engineering Division ↗Otsego County Code Enforcement Office (per NYS Department of Health standards)
Otsego County Code Enforcement - Permit Applications ↗Putnam County Department of Health, Environmental Health Services
Putnam County Department of Health - Environmental Health ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer); NYS DOH Appendix 75-A where onsite systems exist
NYC Department of Environmental Protection ↗Rensselaer County Public Health Engineering Division (under NYS DOH Appendix 75-A standards)
Rensselaer County - Public Health Engineering ↗NYS Department of Health / NYC Department of Buildings for onsite systems; NYC Dept of Environmental Protection provides public sewer
NYC DEP - Sewer System ↗Rockland County Department of Health, Environmental Health
Rockland County Department of Health - Wastewater ↗Saratoga County Department of Health, Environmental Health
Saratoga County Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Schenectady County Public Health Services - Environmental Health Division
Schenectady County - Environmental Health Permits ↗Schoharie County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health
Schoharie County Public Health - Environmental Health Division ↗Schuyler County Public Health Department / Watershed Protection Agency
Schuyler County, NY - Watershed Protection Agency ↗Seneca County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Seneca County Health Department - Septic System Application ↗St. Lawrence County Public Health Department, Environmental Health
St. Lawrence County Public Health – Environmental Health ↗New York State Department of Health - Hornell District Office
Steuben County Environmental Services ↗Suffolk County Department of Health Services (Suffolk County Sanitary Code Article 6)
Suffolk County Sanitary Code - Article 6 ↗New York State Department of Health (Appendix 75-A); NYC DEP in the Catskill/Delaware watershed
NYS Department of Health - Septic Systems ↗Tioga County Public Health, Environmental Health
Tioga County Public Health ↗Tompkins County Whole Health - Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems)
Tompkins County - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) ↗Ulster County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division (Water & Wastewater Regulation)
Ulster County Health - Sewage Disposal Systems ↗Warren County Health Services / Environmental Health (under NYS DOH Appendix 75-A)
Warren County - Septic Replacement Initiative ↗Washington County Department of Code Enforcement (Washington County Sanitary Code)
Washington County Code Enforcement ↗Wayne County Health Department, Environmental Health Unit
Wayne County Health Department - Sewage Treatment Systems ↗Westchester County Department of Health
Westchester County Health Dept - Septic System Management ↗Wyoming County Health Department, Environmental Health Section
Wyoming County Environmental Health - Sewage Disposal Instructions ↗New York State Department of Health, Geneva District Office
Yates 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 New York 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.
