Sourced from Pennsylvania DEP’s Act 537 Sewage Facilities Program and 25 Pa. Code Chapters 71, 72 and 73 — last checked July 2026.
The Structure
Act 537 created a two-layer system, and understanding which layer you are dealing with saves a lot of confusion.
The state layer. The Environmental Quality Board adopts the technical standards that apply across the Commonwealth. DEP reviews and approves municipal Official Plans, oversees local agencies, and provides grants and reimbursements. A Sewage Advisory Committee representing the regulated community advises the DEP Secretary on rules and procedures.
The local layer. Local agencies — municipalities, joint agencies, or in some areas county health departments — employ Sewage Enforcement Officers who evaluate sites, approve designs, issue permits, and inspect installations.
For a homeowner, almost everything that matters happens at the local layer.
The Regulations That Apply to You
| Regulation | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| 25 Pa. Code Ch. 71 | Administration and sewage facilities planning — Official Plans, planning modules, exemptions |
| 25 Pa. Code Ch. 72 | Administration of the permitting program |
| 25 Pa. Code Ch. 73 | Technical standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities — the design rules your SEO and installer must follow |
Get Free Quotes From Local Septic Pros
Three fields, about fifteen seconds. No cost and no obligation.
We pass your request to licensed local companies so they can quote you directly. Your details are never published or sold on.
Official Plans and Why They Matter to You
Every Pennsylvania municipality must develop and maintain an Official Sewage Facilities Plan addressing present and future sewage disposal needs. DEP reviews and approves these plans and any revisions.
This sounds like municipal administrivia, but it has a direct effect on homeowners. If your township’s plan is out of date, it can slow or block new construction permits and system upgrades — something buyers of rural land sometimes discover after they have already purchased.
The plan also determines whether public sewer is projected for your area, which matters for PENNVEST eligibility: septic repair financing is excluded where sewer is planned within five years.
Planning Modules
New land development generally requires a planning module — a formal revision to the municipality’s Official Plan — before a subdivision can be created.
This is separate from an individual septic permit and takes considerably longer. Industry sources put DEP review at 60 to 120 days under standard procedures, longer for environmentally sensitive sites.
Certain subdivisions are exempt under 25 Pa. Code § 71.51(b). If you are subdividing, ask your SEO early whether an exemption applies — it can save months.
Permits Are Required
A permit from your local agency is required before installing, altering, or repairing an on-lot system. The SEO issues it, and the SEO must inspect the work before it is covered.
Pennsylvania does allow homeowners to install their own systems, which distinguishes it from states like Georgia and Florida that require certified contractors. The SEO still approves the design and inspects the installation, so the standards do not change — only who may do the labor.
DEP maintains a list of individuals who have completed a DEP-approved installer course. Asking whether a contractor appears on it is a reasonable screening question.
Where to Go for Answers
For anything specific to your property — what you can build, what it will cost, what records exist — your municipal office is the first call, and they will direct you to your local agency’s SEO if they are not it themselves.
DEP’s Act 537 program pages carry the statewide framework, the regulations, and the planning guidance documents, but DEP will not answer property-specific permitting questions. That is the local agency’s job by design.
Pennsylvania Septic Guide — Free Tool
Who Is My Sewage Enforcement Officer?
Pennsylvania doesn’t run septic permitting through county health departments the way most states do. Under Act 537 it runs through local agencies, and the person who actually approves your permit is a Sewage Enforcement Officer, or SEO. Most homeowners have never heard the term until they need one.
An Act 537 local agency can be an individual municipality, a group of municipalities working together (a joint local agency), or a county health department acting as the local agency. Because the arrangement varies, your municipal office is always the right first call.
Need Help With New Installation?
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll connect you with a licensed Pennsylvania provider. Free, and no obligation.
Independent — not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or any county health department, and not a septic contractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Act 537?
The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, enacted January 24, 1966. It requires every municipality to maintain a DEP-approved Official Sewage Facilities Plan and creates the local agency structure that administers septic permitting.
Which regulations govern septic design in Pennsylvania?
25 Pa. Code Chapter 73 contains the technical standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities. Chapter 71 covers planning and Chapter 72 covers permitting administration.
Does DEP issue septic permits in Pennsylvania?
No. DEP reviews and approves municipal Official Plans, sets technical standards, and oversees local agencies. Individual permits come from your local agency’s Sewage Enforcement Officer.
Why does my township’s Official Plan matter to me?
If the plan is out of date it can slow or block new construction permits and system upgrades. It also determines whether public sewer is projected for your area, which affects PENNVEST eligibility.