Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Centre, Alabama

Rules another office applies inside Centre

Centre does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage systems inside Centre city limits, administered under Alabama Department of Public Health rules through the LHD.

  • A valid Permit to Install (Repair) is issued by the LHD before installation or repair begins.
  • A wastewater management entity needing a Certificate of Economic Viability from the Alabama Public Service Commission must have it before ADPH or the LHD issues permits.

  “The Soil and Onsite Sewage Branch's main objective is to coordinate the onsite sewage program in the county health departments.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or repair of an onsite sewage system inside Centre city limits.

  • No installation or repair may begin until the responsible person has a valid Permit to Install (Repair) issued by the LHD.
  • For an engineered OSS, no installation or construction may begin without installer consultation with the design engineer.
  • ADPH may revoke the permit for changed lot conditions, noncompliant installation, or other factors affecting approval, including misrepresented, materially false, or inaccurate information.
  • Large-Flow OSS systems and other systems determined by ADPH in consultation with the LHD to need more protection require a Performance Permit.

  “No person shall begin the installation or repair of an OSS/EDS, or component thereof, until the responsible person has been issued a valid Permit”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite sewage-system installation or repair inside Centre city limits.

  • Except as allowed by Rule 420-3-1-.08, no part of an installation may be covered or used until the LHD has an opportunity to inspect and necessary corrections are made.
  • The OSS/EDS may not be used until the LHD issues Approval for Use.
  • The LHD may allow covering when resource constraints, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances prevent inspection within 30 minutes after the agreed inspection time.

  “no part of any installation shall be covered or used until the LHD is afforded an opportunity to inspect and any necessary corrections are made”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Composting, incinerating, and portable toilets used inside Centre city limits.

  • A composting or incinerating toilet may only handle waste for which it is designed; other generated sewage requires an appropriate OSS.
  • Composting toilets must be certified by NSF or an ANSI-certified organization.
  • Liquid from composting or incinerating toilets must be disposed to a public or private sewer system.
  • Portable toilets must meet the specified ANSI/PSAI standards and have a contract with a certified pumper permitted under Chapter 420-3-6.

  “If there is other sewage generated at this site that the composting toilet is not designed to handle, then an appropriate OSS shall be used.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Centre or Cherokee County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Centre city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Centre city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Centre city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Centre city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential buildings inside Centre city limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.