Iowa's Time of Transfer Septic System Inspection Law was written in April of 2008, and took effect July 1, 2009. The law requires that every home/building served by a septic system have that septic system inspected prior to the sale or deed transfer for the home/building. The purpose of the law is to eliminate sub-standard or polluting septic systems. A substandard septic system is one that has no treatment (secondary treatment) following the septic tank or has a secondary treatment system that has failed. These sub-standard septic systems pose an environmental and public health hazard and require repair.

If you have a septic system with a septic tank AND a secondary treatment system such as a seepage (leach) field, sand filter, or other approved device, and it is not creating a public health or environmental hazard, it does not have to meet current code. All inspections must be conducted by an inspector that has been certified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

At the request of buyers/sellers, lending institutions, and real estate agents, the Scott County Health Department:

• provides written reports regarding the condition of existing sewage systems and/or water supplies serving properties involved in real estate transactions
• provides inspections and sampling of these systems

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