Harrisonburg's 5-year septic inspection and pump-out ordinance
This is a plain-English summary to help you get started, not legal advice. The City of Harrisonburg's Public Utilities Department has the final word. Contacts are at the bottom.
What the ordinance requires
In August 2018, Harrisonburg City Council approved revisions to Sections 7-3-1 through 7-3-80 of the city's Sewer Ordinance. The changes mainly affect residents with existing septic systems. The key requirement is that all septic systems in the City of Harrisonburg must be inspected and pumped out once every five years (City of Harrisonburg).
Who it applies to: owners of properties with septic systems inside city limits. It's the property owner's responsibility to submit the paperwork. Homes in Rockingham County, Bridgewater, Dayton and other towns outside the city aren't covered by this city ordinance.
Step by step
- Hire a septic company that can pump the tank and complete the inspection. Anyone who removes and hauls septic tank contents in Virginia must hold a VDH sewage handling permit (VDH). We can point you to companies.
- Have the city's Septic System Inspection Form filled out at the time of the pump-out. The city specifically says the form must be completed then. Bring it up when you book so the company comes prepared.
- Send the completed form to: Public Utilities Department, Engineering Division 2155 Beery Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 (by mail or in person)
- Keep copies of the form and the company's receipt.
Already pumped within the last five years?
The city says that if your system was pumped and inspected within the last five years, you can include that documentation with the form, and compliance may be deferred five years from the most recent pump-out and inspection date. Dig out that old receipt before booking a new pump-out you might not need yet.
Thinking about connecting to sewer instead?
The city runs a financial assistance program for homeowners who abandon their septic system and connect to public sewer: up to a $5,000 connection fee waiver, up to $2,000 toward plumbing and tank abandonment, and a 50% credit on the annual stormwater fee, depending on the property's eligibility level. See connecting to city sewer.
City contacts
- Public Utilities: 540-434-9959 · [email protected] · 2155 Beery Rd. Office hours Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Health Department (tank abandonment requirements): 540-574-5200
Contact details are from the city's septic assistance page. Check the city's website for current information.