Pueblo County: septic rules when you sell
Transfer of Title Program (Acceptance Document)
Selling a home on a septic system in Pueblo County means the system must be pumped and inspected and approved by the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) before closing. If it passes you get an Acceptance Document, valid for 12 months or until title transfers.
County fee $385 if PDPHE performs the inspection; $140 to review a certified inspection report submitted by a NAWT inspector; $25 bacteriological water test (when required). (Fees per the 2026 Transfer of Title Application; PDPHE notes the fee schedule is the up-to-date source.)
Inspector requirement Inspection by PDPHE or a Transfer of Title Inspector certified by NAWT (or an equivalent program approved by PDPHE) who has registered with PDPHE and has knowledge of state/local OWTS regulations.
When to apply PDPHE inspection requests must be made at least 3 days before the tank is pumped. PDPHE aims to process applications and certified inspections within 3-5 business days. Inspection reports must be completed within the previous 12 months.
| Inspection at sale | Required before the sale of any residence or commercial building served by an OWTS. The system must be pumped and inspected by PDPHE or a registered NAWT-certified Transfer of Title Inspector; PDPHE then issues an Acceptance Document. Apply by emailing EHEPapplications@pueblocounty.us or via the online portal (myhealthdepartment.com/pueblo). |
|---|---|
| County fee | $385 if PDPHE performs the inspection; $140 to review a certified inspection report submitted by a NAWT inspector; $25 bacteriological water test (when required). (Fees per the 2026 Transfer of Title Application; PDPHE notes the fee schedule is the up-to-date source.) |
| Inspector requirement | Inspection by PDPHE or a Transfer of Title Inspector certified by NAWT (or an equivalent program approved by PDPHE) who has registered with PDPHE and has knowledge of state/local OWTS regulations. |
| When to apply | PDPHE inspection requests must be made at least 3 days before the tank is pumped. PDPHE aims to process applications and certified inspections within 3-5 business days. Inspection reports must be completed within the previous 12 months. |
| Validity | The Acceptance Document is valid for 12 months or until the title is transferred, whichever comes first. |
| If the system fails | PDPHE issues a Deficiency Document listing corrective actions; the system must be brought into compliance (an OWTS permit is required before major repairs). Alternatively PDPHE can issue a Waiver of Acceptance Document allowing the buyer to assume responsibility to bring the system into compliance, typically within 30-60 days after closing, with signatures from the parties. A Waiver does not exempt the property from inspection. |
Details to confirm with the county
We couldn't confirm the following from Pueblo County's official pages. Check these with the county before you rely on them:
- Specific exemption categories (e.g. new systems under a set age, non-arm's-length transfers) — Regulation VIII and the county pages describe the requirement but do not enumerate exemptions the way some counties do.
- Winter/snow-cover rule — no snow-cover or spring-inspection-agreement provision was found on Pueblo's official OWTS materials.
Verified July 2026 · Source: Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment — Selling Your House / OWTS Transfer of Title Program (Regulation VIII)