Septic Tank Abandonment

Obtain a septic tank abandonment permit by submitting an application to DOH-Charlotte through email and paying the fee. We will contact you through email once the permit has been issued.

Once you have your permit, have the tank pumped out by a licensed septage hauler. Crush or collapse the tank in a manner that will prevent the tank from holding water, either by punching a hole in the bottom of the tank or collapsing its side walls. Fill the remaining hole with clean sand or other suitable material to prevent a safety hazard, then grade and stake the tank site.

If the tank(s) cannot be ruptured or collapsed the fill material must be flowable fill concrete. The tank(s) may be removed from the site for spoil material.

After the tank has been abandoned, contact our Environmental Public Health staff or a private provider for an inspection. The inspector will collect the pump, crush, and fill (PCF) receipt during the inspection if it was not provided when the inspection was requested.

To abandon a septic tank through a general permit, you must provide us a notice of intent through email, which must include:

• Property owner’s name, phone number, and email
• Contractor’s name and license type and number
• Business’ name, license type and number, phone number, email, and website
• Property’s street address, parcel number, city, state, and zip code
• Existing permit numbers, if applicable and known
• Description of system to be abandoned

After reviewing the notice of intent, we will issue you the general permit on form DEP 4011. This permit is valid for 18 months from the date of issuance.

Once you have your permit, have the tank pumped out by a licensed septage hauler. Crush or collapse the tank in a manner that will prevent the tank from holding water, either by punching a hole in the bottom of the tank or collapsing its side wall. Fill the remaining hole with clean sand or other suitable material to prevent a safety hazard, then grade and stake the tank site.

If the tank(s) cannot be ruptured or collapsed the fill material must be flowable fill concrete. The tank(s) may be removed from the site for spoil material.

After the tank has been abandoned, the contractor who performed the abandonment must complete the certification to confirm that the system was properly abandoned. Then, email us a written certification/receipt of the pump out, and include the following photos:

• Photo of empty tank(s) with bottom ruptured, collapsed, or removed from site.
• Photo of clean sand or other suitable material inside ruptured/collapsed tank(s).
• Photo of tank(s) location filled with sand or other suitable material.
• Photo that shows the structure or a clearly identifiable landmark to confirm property location.

Upon receipt of all required documents, we will not perform additional onsite inspection unless supporting documentation is incomplete or indicates potential noncompliance.