Elbert County: septic rules when you sell
Use Permit (Transfer of Title)
Before selling a home on a septic system in Elbert County, the system must be inspected by a licensed/NAWT-certified inspector and you must obtain a Use Permit from Elbert County Public Health. The fee is $100. If repairs are needed you can close on a Provisional Use Permit and complete repairs within 30 days.
County fee $100 (non-refundable), collected by the Health Department when the permit is issued.
Inspector requirement Inspection by a company licensed in Elbert County; the Use Permit Inspector must be currently licensed or certified by a nationally recognized program such as NAWT, NSF, or approved equivalent. Elbert County publishes a list of licensed inspectors/pumpers.
When to apply Apply before closing; the inspection report must have been completed within the previous 12 months. The Department has up to two weeks to issue the Use Permit.
| Inspection at sale | A Use Permit must be obtained before the sale of a home served by an OWTS. Triggers also include a remodel adding usage, change from residential to commercial use, or connecting a modular/mobile home. Applications go to Elbert County Public Health (PO Box 201, Kiowa CO 80117, or publichealth@elbertcounty-co.gov). source ↗ |
|---|---|
| County fee | $100 (non-refundable), collected by the Health Department when the permit is issued. source ↗ |
| Inspector requirement | Inspection by a company licensed in Elbert County; the Use Permit Inspector must be currently licensed or certified by a nationally recognized program such as NAWT, NSF, or approved equivalent. Elbert County publishes a list of licensed inspectors/pumpers. source ↗ |
| When to apply | Apply before closing; the inspection report must have been completed within the previous 12 months. The Department has up to two weeks to issue the Use Permit. source ↗ |
| If the system fails | A Provisional Use Permit is issued when repairs are needed. You can close with a Provisional Use Permit, but the parties must agree who/when repairs are made; repairs must be completed within 30 days. Once documentation is received the Provisional Use Permit is revised to a Conventional/Final Use Permit. Some repairs require additional permits and must be done by a licensed installer. source ↗ |
| Exemptions | If the seller does not obtain the Use Permit before a covered transaction, the purchaser is then required to obtain it. (No new-system age exemption is stated in the 2026 regulation.) source ↗ |
Details to confirm with the county
We couldn't confirm the following from Elbert County's official pages. Check these with the county before you rely on them:
- Winter/snow-cover or spring-inspection-agreement rule — none appears in Elbert's 2026 OWTS regulation or the 'selling your home' guidance (Elbert is a plains county).
- A stated permit validity window (how long the issued Use Permit remains good) is not specified beyond the 12-month inspection-report age requirement.
Verified July 2026 · Source: Elbert County Public Health and Environment — OWTS Use Permit / Transfer of Title (2026 OWTS Regulations, Sec. 2026.9)