Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
Septic permitting in Oregon is mixed: 23 counties use county health departments, 5 go through a state agency, and 8 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 → Oregon water rights & wells → Full Oregon profile →
36 counties · mixed — varies by county · permit status scouted for 36
Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater Program (administered by Harney County as DEQ agent for Baker County since June 1, 2025)
Onsite Sanitation ↗Benton County Community Development / Environmental Health
Septic Systems - Community Development, Benton County, Oregon ↗Clackamas County Septic Program (implementing Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater rules)
Septic Program | Clackamas County ↗Clatsop County Environmental Health / Community Development - Onsite Septic Program
Onsite Septic Systems ↗Columbia County Land Development Services - On-site Wastewater Program (Oregon DEQ contract)
On-site Wastewater Program ↗Coos County Community Development, Onsite Septic Program (contract/agent program under Oregon DEQ rules)
Onsite Septic Program - Coos County ↗Crook County Community Development On-Site Septic Program (delegated authority from Oregon DEQ)
On-Site Septic ↗Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Medford Office
Oregon DEQ - Residential Septic Permitting ↗Deschutes County Community Development, Onsite Wastewater Division
Onsite Permit (New Construction and Installation) Application Guide ↗Douglas County On-Site Services (DEQ contract-county agent under OAR 340-071-0120)
On-Site Wastewater (Septic) ↗Umatilla County Public Health (onsite/subsurface program serving Gilliam County)
ucohealth.net ↗Grant County Planning Department (Oregon DEQ contract agent)
Building Permits | Grant County, OR ↗Harney County Onsite Sanitation (contract agent administering the Oregon DEQ onsite program)
Onsite Sanitation | Harney County, Oregon ↗Hood River County Environmental Health (On-Site Waste Water Program)
On-Site Waste Water Disposal Systems (Septic Systems) ↗Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater Program, Medford Office
Oregon DEQ Onsite Septic County Agent Contacts ↗Jefferson County Community Development, On-Site Septic Program (delegated authority under Oregon DEQ)
Jefferson County On-Site Septic Program ↗Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Medford Office
Oregon DEQ - Residential Septic Permitting ↗Klamath County Community Development - Septic/On-Site Division
Septic On-Site ↗Lake County Building Department (Onsite program, as Oregon DEQ contract agent)
Lake County Building Department ↗Lane County Land Management Division - On-Site Wastewater (Subsurface Sanitation) Program
On-Site Wastewater - Lane County ↗Lincoln County On-Site Waste Management Division (DEQ contract agent under intergovernmental agreement)
Planning & Development ↗Linn County Environmental Health Program
Septic Systems ↗Malheur County Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program, Oregon DEQ agent)
Procedures and Criteria for Installing a New Septic System ↗Marion County Building Inspection - Onsite Sewage Disposal Program (contract agent of Oregon DEQ)
Onsite Sewage Disposal Program (Septic) — Background ↗UCo Health (Umatilla County Public Health, contracted agent) with Morrow County Planning LUCS
Morrow County OR - UCo Health (Septic Approvals) ↗City of Portland Permitting & Development (administering Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater rules via IGA)
Portland Permitting & Development - Septic Permits ↗Polk County Environmental Health - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (agent of Oregon DEQ)
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program ↗North Central Public Health District (agent for Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater Program, serving Wasco and Sherman Counties)
North Central Public Health District - Septic Systems ↗Tillamook County Community Development (On-site Sanitation), acting as agent of Oregon DEQ
Tillamook County FAQs ↗Umatilla County (Public Health) as agent of Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater Program
Chapter 116: Septic System Program Enforcement ↗Harney County Onsite Program (Oregon DEQ regional agent for Baker/Union/Wallowa Counties)
Union County Ordinance 2025-02 Onsite Wastewater ↗Harney County Environmental Health (Oregon DEQ contract agent)
Onsite Septic Program ↗North Central Public Health District (Oregon DEQ agent for Wasco and Sherman Counties)
North Central Public Health District - Septic Systems ↗Washington County Environmental Health (Onsite Sewage Program)
Onsite Sewage ↗Oregon DEQ Onsite Wastewater Program - administered by Harney County (agent county) for Wheeler County
Harney County - Onsite Sanitation (DEQ agent) ↗Yamhill County Planning & Development (Sanitation), acting as agent of Oregon DEQ
Sanitation | Yamhill County, OR ↗Every county here has a full profile — its index score, water, land prices, and the rest of its building rules. See the Oregon state page for all counties ranked, or the national septic guide.
Off-grid gear
Before the Oregon 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.
