Broomfield County: septic rules when you sell
Transfer of Title Permit (OWTS)
Selling a Broomfield property on a septic system requires a Transfer of Title Permit. A NAWT-certified inspector inspects the system, and the seller submits the application at least 10 business days before the sale; the fee is $140. If it passes, an acceptance document is issued that stays valid until closing or up to 12 months. If the seller doesn't get the permit before the sale, the buyer must.
County fee $140.00 (Transfer of Title Fee).
Inspector requirement Transfer of Title inspectors are NOT licensed by Broomfield; they must be certified by NAWT (or an equivalent program approved by CDPHE and BPHE).
When to apply Applications must be submitted to BPHE ahead of the sale — the regulation states 14 days prior to the sale, and for a covered transaction at least 10 business days prior.
| Inspection at sale | A Transfer of Title Permit must be obtained when a property with an OWTS changes owners; the system must be inspected to show it functions according to design before the sale. source ↗ |
|---|---|
| County fee | $140.00 (Transfer of Title Fee). source ↗ |
| Inspector requirement | Transfer of Title inspectors are NOT licensed by Broomfield; they must be certified by NAWT (or an equivalent program approved by CDPHE and BPHE). |
| When to apply | Applications must be submitted to BPHE ahead of the sale — the regulation states 14 days prior to the sale, and for a covered transaction at least 10 business days prior. |
| Validity | The acceptance document remains valid until the date of real estate closing or a maximum of 12 months, whichever comes first; a document issued for 6 months or less may be renewed once for up to 6 more months. |
| Winter rule | No spring-inspection agreement, but snow cover is expressly contemplated: if buried wells, snow cover, or other conditions prevent the inspector from confirming setbacks, those circumstances must be stated in the report. |
| If the system fails | If the system doesn't meet requirements, a conditional acceptance document / conditional use permit may be issued if the buyer agrees to obtain a permit and complete repairs (or connect to a sanitation district) within the timeframe set by BPHE — the use-permit waiver clause specifies within 30 days of occupancy. |
| Exemptions | The following transfers are excluded: adding/excluding a spouse or child; transfer subject to life estate; foreclosure/forfeiture (a later resale by the foreclosing entity does require the permit); redemption from a tax sale (later resale requires it); creating/ending joint ownership if at least one party is an original owner or their spouse/children; and property that has been demolished or is uninhabitable. |
Details to confirm with the county
We couldn't confirm the following from Broomfield County's official pages. Check these with the county before you rely on them:
- Broomfield's regulation does not include a blanket 'new system under N years' exemption like some neighboring counties — no such age exemption was found in the 2026 OWTS regulation.
Verified July 2026 · Source: City and County of Broomfield Public Health & Environment — OWTS / Transfer of Title (Board of Health OWTS Regulation 2026-01)