Septic Permitting
Our goal at the Lincoln County Health Department is to protect human health and the environment through proper treatment and disposal practices in Lincoln County. The department achieves this through education, individual registration, inspections, and a system for reporting and resolving problems.
Click HERE for a List of Engineers, Surveyors and Hydrologists
Important Requirements
- A local wastewater treatment system permit is ALWAYS required before a system (non-public or public) is installed.
Wastewater Treatment and Disposal (Septic) Permit Application
Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System (Septic) Permit Application – For Connection to Multi-user or Public System
Application for Compliance Review and Affidavit Issuance for System Installed Without a Permit
- Site evaluations must be performed by a Qualified Site Evaluator.
- All wastewater treatment (septic) systems must be designed and installed per the requirements in DEQ Circular 4, available at: https://deq.mt.gov/files/Water/WQInfo/Documents/Subdivisions/DEQ-4-2023.pdf.
- A Lincoln County Wastewater Treatment and Disposal (Septic) System Installer’s License is required to construct or alter any septic system within Lincoln County. The only exception to this requirement is a homeowner constructing or altering a gravity system for his/her own residence upon his/her own property.
Types of Wastewater Treatment Systems
All of the types of wastewater treatment systems are subject to the current Lincoln County Wastewater Regulations:
View the full Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Regulation Here – Revision: March 2023
Current Wastewater Fee Schedule (PDF)
Non-public Wastewater Treatment Systems
Environmental Health Services is responsible for ensuring that non-public wastewater treatment systems (individual/shared, multi-user) are permitted and installed in accordance with state and local regulations. Proper placement, type, and sizing of systems are based on either a Certificate of Subdivision Approval (COSA) or a site evaluation which assesses the site to determine if suitable conditions exist for on-site wastewater treatment and dispersal.
Public Wastewater Treatment Systems
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has primary responsibility for public wastewater treatment systems, which are defined as serving more than 24 persons for more than 60 days a year or having more than 14 connections.
Septic Pumpers
Septic pumpers are required to obtain a license from MDEQ. Their equipment and disposal sites are regulated to ensure proper treatment of waste.
Septic Installers
An Installer License issued by Lincoln County is required to construct or alter a wastewater treatment and disposal (septic) system. Requirements of licensure are included in Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Regulation 3.2.103.