Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Leighton, Alabama

Rules another office applies inside Town of Leighton

Town of Leighton 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 serving land inside Leighton town limits, which Atlas Alabama identifies as in Colbert County.

  • The local health department issues the Permit to Install (Repair).
  • The Colbert County Health Department lists onsite-sewage and septic-tank applications and permits among its environmental services.

  “Each county in the state has a county health department, which functions under the general supervision and control of the Alabama Department of Public Health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or repair of an onsite sewage system serving land inside Leighton town limits.

  • Applies to an OSS/EDS or component thereof.
  • A valid Permit to Install (Repair) must be issued by the LHD before work begins.
  • ADPH may revoke the permit for changed lot conditions, nonconforming installation, or other listed invalidating factors.
  • Performance permits are required for a Large-Flow OSS and other systems where ADPH and the LHD find Approval for Use inadequate.

  “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 to Install (Repair) an Onsite Sewage System (OSS) by the LHD.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite sewage system installation or repair serving land inside Leighton town limits.

  • Except as allowed in Rule 420-3-1-.08, installation may not be covered or used before the LHD has an opportunity to inspect and necessary corrections are made.
  • The system cannot be used until the LHD issues Approval for Use.
  • The LHD may allow a licensed installer to cover work when resource constraints, weather, or unforeseen circumstances prevent inspection within 30 minutes after the agreed inspection time.
  • The LHD may authorize a licensed installer to install or repair a conventional OSS outside normal LHD business hours.

  “Except as allowed in this rule, 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, An OSS/EDS shall not be used until an Approval for Use has been issued by the LHD.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Composting, incinerating, and portable toilets used on land inside Leighton town limits.

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

  “Composting toilets may be used to handle waste for which they are designed. 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 Town of Leighton or Colbert County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Leighton town limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside Leighton town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Leighton town limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Leighton town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Leighton town 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.