Septic Permits in Laurens County: The SCDES Checklist

Who permits septic systems

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, SCDES, permits septic systems statewide under Regulation 61-56. Its page says that if you plan to build a home or place a manufactured home on property without public or community sewer, you must first obtain SCDES approval and a permit to install a septic system, and that without this permit your county will not be able to issue a building permit. In Laurens County, that puts the septic permit at the front of any new-home project.

The steps SCDES lists

Step one: submit the Onsite Wastewater System Application, form D-1740, online through the SCDES ePermitting portal, with a copy of the property's plat or deed. Step two: SCDES reviews it for completeness and emails if anything is missing. Step three: under the traditional method an inspector visits to evaluate the site, and if it is approved for a traditional system, issues a Permit to Construct; if not, the inspector discusses alternatives. Step four: hire a septic installer holding a state license to install the system. Step five: before the system is covered, the installer schedules an SCDES inspection.

If the SCDES inspector does not arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled time, the installer may complete a self-inspection and document it on SCDES form D-4432, the Final Inspection form.

Backhoe pits in the Piedmont

SCDES explains that above the South Carolina Fall Line, inspectors are likely to hit rock and cannot finish a soil evaluation with a hand auger, so sites above the line require backhoe pits. Laurens County is in the Piedmont, above the line. You, the applicant, are responsible for having an operator dig the pits to SCDES's published guidelines before the evaluation. Ask the local SCDES office how many pits and where.

Weather and timing

SCDES warns that wet soil can delay evaluations until the ground dries, much as rain delays farmers. Red clay holds water. If you are on a schedule, apply early and plan for a wet-season delay. Permits to Construct are good for five years; renewing after that, or changing an approved permit, means a new application and a new fee.

Repairs to an existing system

A failing system shows itself as slow drains, gurgling, odors, soggy ground or bright green grass over the field, or sewage at the surface. Repairs and replacements are permitted through SCDES as well. Pumping relieves a full tank, but it does not fix a drain field that has stopped absorbing. Ask SCDES which application applies to a repair before the installer starts digging.

How the house plumbing ties in

The building sewer from the house to the tank is plumbing; the tank and field are the septic system. On a new house, the plumber's rough-in has to match the planned tank location and depth. On an older house, a backup can be a blocked building drain rather than a septic failure, which is a plumber's job. The sewer backup checklist helps tell them apart.

Permits on the county side

Once SCDES has issued the septic permit, Laurens County Building Codes can issue the building permit for new construction outside city limits. The County's fee schedule and re-inspection fees are in the county permit checklist.

Buying land for a new home

SCDES advises calling your local government to find out about water and sewer availability before buying land, and it publishes tips on choosing land suitable for septic systems and residential wells. In practice, that means asking whether public water or sewer reaches the lot, how far the nearest main is, and whether the soil and slope are likely to support a septic system. Much Laurens County soil is clay over rock, which can limit the type and size of system a lot can take.

If the lot's suitability is uncertain, consider making the purchase contingent on a septic permit or at least a site evaluation. It costs a little time up front and avoids buying a lot that cannot be built on as planned. Ask SCDES what a site evaluation involves and how long it currently takes in Laurens County.

Choosing an installer

SCDES directs applicants to a list of installers holding the state's onsite wastewater installer license. Ask installers how often they work in Laurens County soils, whether they will dig the backhoe pits for the evaluation, and how they schedule the SCDES inspection. Get a written price that names the system type approved on the Permit to Construct. If the permit approves an alternative system, confirm the installer is familiar with it and with any maintenance it needs.

Septic checklist

Confirm there is no public sewer at the lot. Gather the plat or deed. Apply online with form D-1740 and pay the application fee. Arrange backhoe pits for the soil evaluation. Wait for the Permit to Construct. Hire a state-licensed installer. Make sure the installer schedules the SCDES inspection before backfill. Keep the permit and final inspection with the property records.

SCDES's maintenance pages cover care of a working system; regular pumping and keeping wipes and grease out of the drains protect the field.

Figures on this page come from: SC Department of Environmental Services: Septic Tanks, Residential, Single Home Builder; Laurens County, SC Building Codes: Fee Schedule; Laurens Commission of Public Works: Wastewater. Checked 2026-10-29.