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Selling a Home? Get Your Septic Tank Inspected, Pumped, and Certified

Selling a Home? Get Your Septic Tank InspectedThere is a lot to consider when selling your home, including making sure your septic tank is inspected, pumped, and certified with the Health Department before the sale can go through. If you are looking to sell your home in King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, or Thurston Counties, FloHawks can help. We are familiar with the process needed by realtors and homeowners in each county. The process varies by location, depending what county your home is located in. As experienced professionals with all things septic related, FloHawks offers the following advice:

King County

Seattle and King County require all sellers of properties with an on-site septic system to have their onsite septic system inspected by a King County licensed On-Site System Maintainer (OSM) like FloHawks. The inspection must be completed by a licensed company and a King County form filled out and submitted to the County prior to property sale.

As part of completing the inspection properly, King County requires an as-built drawing to be kept on file. Most of the on-site sewage system (OSS) record drawings, also known as as-builts, dating from 1998 are available online. Find your as-builts here. If you don’t have an as-built, FloHawks may also try and locate a copy for you as part of the pumping and inspection process. If not, FloHawks, or another OSM, is required to prepare a drawing as part of the inspection.

In addition, before closing, the seller must record a Notice of On-site Sewage System Operation and Maintenance Requirements (OSSM) at the King County Recorder’s Office acknowledging the property is served by a septic system and describing the owner’s responsibilities for maintaining the system. Learn more about sales and transfers of properties with OSS here. FloHawks can help with the entire process from performing the work to completing the entire reporting process as required by the Health District.

Kitsap County

If your home has one of the approximately 58,000 septic systems in Kitsap County, the Kitsap County Health Department requires all property with an on-site septic system to have an inspection done of the entire septic system prior to transfer of property. The inspection must document how it is functioning prior to change of ownership. The inspection must be performed by a licensed company like FloHawks that will send a report to the county within 30 days. The Kitsap County Board of Health Ordinance 2008-01 Section 13.D details the process that must be completed prior to the close of a home sale transaction. The seller must:

  1. Specify the type of system.
  2. Deliver an Evaluation Report from the Health Officer of Kitsap County Health District. If the seller has no evaluation report, they must complete an application, inspection, and evaluation with the Health Department. The process is spelled out on the Kitsap County Health Department site here.
  3. Provide the Buyer with maintenance records, if available.

To view Health District records for a specific property you will need the address or the property tax account number. Health District records may include septic system and drinking water supply information. FloHawks may also locate a copy for you as part of the pumping and inspection process.

Mason County

Mason County Health Department requires all real property with an on-site septic system to have an inspection done prior to transfer of property. The inspection must be performed by a licensed company like FloHawks. This inspection of the entire septic system must document how it is functioning prior to change of ownership. The licensed company performing the work must send in a report within 30 days to the county. All pump reports for sales are reported on a private system and are not available to the public. FloHawks may also try and locate a copy for you as part of the pumping and inspection process.

Pierce County

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) requires all real property with an on-site septic system to have a Report of System Status (RSS) inspection done prior to transfer of property. The RSS inspection of the entire septic system must be performed by a licensed company such as FloHawks and must document how the septic system is functioning prior to change of ownership. As part of the requirement, all septic vessels/tanks must be pumped as part of the inspection process. The licensed company performing the work must send a report within 30 days to the county and pay the county fee for pumping and inspection.

If you are served by a septic system in Pierce County, you need to get a RSS when you sell your home. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department prepares a RSS that indicates the current condition of your septic system. The report is for the buyer and lender.

  1. Get septic inspected and pumped.
  2. Submit RSS application with fee.
  3. Expect a visit from Health department staff to inspect OSS and to ensure your system complies with requirements.
  4. Get your Report of System Status (RSS) report.

TPCHD also requires a RSS report be completed and paid for by the property owner. You may find the RSS report here. FloHawks can help with the entire process from performing the work to completing the entire reporting process as required by the Health Department. FloHawks may also locate a copy for you as part of the pumping and inspection process.

Thurston County

Thurston County Health Department (TCHD) requires all property with an on-site septic system to have an inspection done prior to transfer of property. The inspection must be performed by a licensed company such as FloHawks. The licensed company performing the work must send in a report within 30 days to the county and pay the county fee for inspection and pumping. If deficiencies are found on the septic system, it is recommended that they be fixed before a report is filed. If they are not fixed TCHD may hold its approval until repairs are completed and another report is filed.

Although the process can seem complex, the experienced professionals at FloHawks are here to help you throughout the process. Our website has resources listed by county. Call us today at 1-800-356-4295.

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