Service Areas

Every on-site sewage facility in Texas is governed by minimum standards the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets under 30 TAC Chapter 285. Those standards cover site evaluation, system design, installation, and ongoing maintenance, and they function as a floor rather than a ceiling.

Day-to-day permitting is handled locally. TCEQ delegates administration of its OSSF program to an authorized agent, which in our area is usually the county. That agent reviews system designs, issues permits, and performs inspections, which is why the office you deal with is a county office rather than a state one.

An authorized agent may adopt requirements stricter than the state minimum, but not arbitrarily. Each stricter requirement must be justified by greater public health and safety protection, submitted to TCEQ’s executive director for written review and approval, presented at a public meeting with published notice, and filed with the state once adopted. When a county requires more than the state does, that requirement has been through this process.

The practical effect is that the answer to “what does my system need?” depends on which side of a county line your property sits. Goliad County enforces continuous aerobic maintenance coverage locally. Lavaca County maintains its own OSSF database tracking maintenance contract status. The Victoria County Environmental Services division administers the program for Calhoun and DeWitt counties as well, so those three share one set of processing standards.

We work with each of these county offices regularly and manage the permitting process for our customers from site evaluation through final inspection. Select your county below for the requirements that apply where you are.