Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
Septic permitting in New York is mixed: 41 counties use county health departments, 14 go through a state agency, and 7 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 62
Albany County Department of Health, Environmental Health
Procedures for Individual Water Supply Systems and Individual Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Allegany County Department of Health - Environmental Health
Environmental Health - Allegany County, New York ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection — Wastewater ↗Broome County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health
Wastewater Treatment ↗Cattaraugus County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (under NY DOH)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Cayuga County Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Septic System Installation & Inspection | Cayuga County, NY ↗Chautauqua County Health Department (Environmental Health Division)
Sewage and Wastewater ↗Chemung County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Sewage Treatment ↗Chenango County Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Environmental Health ↗Clinton County Health Department, Environmental Health & Safety Division
Septic Installation ↗Columbia County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division
Sewage Disposal ↗Cortland County Health Department - Environmental Health
Sewage Systems | Cortland County, NY ↗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
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 ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Herkimer District Office covers environmental health
State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit Program ↗Genesee County Health Department - Environmental Health
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) ↗Unconfirmed: NYSDOH Watertown District Office or the town code enforcement office
State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit Program ↗NYC Department of Environmental Protection (public sewer)
NYC Department of Environmental Protection ↗Lewis County Building and Fire Code Department (in towns where the county enforces the NYS building code)
Lewis County - Septic System Permit application ↗Livingston County Department of Health - Environmental Health
Environmental Health ↗Madison County Department of Health (implementing NYSDOH Appendix 75-A)
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)
Septic System Replacement Funds | Oneida County ↗Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health
Septic Systems ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Geneva District Office covers environmental health
Complaints, Permits, and Licensing ↗Orange County Department of Health - Sanitary Engineering / Environmental Health
Environmental Health- a division of the Health Department ↗Orleans County Health Department, Environmental Health
Orleans County NY - Health Department ↗Oswego County Health Department, Environmental Health / Engineering
Oswego County Health Department - Septic Plan Review ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Oneonta District Office covers environmental health
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)
rensco.com ↗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 Sanitary Code, Article VII ↗Town or village building department (ordinary homes); Saratoga County Public Health for realty subdivisions
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Schenectady County Public Health Services - Environmental Health Division
Drinking Water & Wastewater ↗Schoharie County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health
Schoharie County Public Health - Environmental Health Division ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Hornell District Office covers environmental health
Watershed Protection Agency ↗Seneca County Health Department, Environmental Health Services
Application to Install or Modify a Septic System ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Canton District Office covers environmental health
St. Lawrence County Sanitary Code ↗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)
Wastewater Management ↗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)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) ↗Ulster County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division (Water & Wastewater Regulation)
Water & Wastewater Regulation — Ulster County ↗Town or village code enforcement office; NYSDOH Glens Falls District Office covers environmental health
Septic Replacement Initiative ↗Washington County Department of Code Enforcement (Washington County Sanitary Code)
Code Enforcement ↗Westchester County Department of Health
Westchester County Code § 873.2405 — Definitions ↗Wyoming County Health Department, Environmental Health Section
Individual Wastewater | Wyoming County, NY ↗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.
Off-grid gear
Before the New York septic office sees a parcel, you can test it yourself. What we'd bring:
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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.
