New rules in effect for septic tanks

Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Beginning Jan. 2, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has taken over the permitting of septic systems from the Florida Department of Health for 16 north Florida counties, including Jefferson. The 16 counties are Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington. Effective July, the FDEP will take over the permitting of the other 51 counties. What the change means is that new rules now govern the installation of new septic systems, in keeping with the dictates of House Bill 1379, which Florida Legislature passed in 2023 and which took e