Hall County commissioners on Jan. 9 voted to set a formal decision date of Feb. 27 to remove septic tank permitting from the county’s building permit application process and directed staff to return with a plan for implementation.

At the meeting the motion on the record tasked staff to develop options and timelines and return to the board for a vote. County administrator Zach Probst told the commissioners he would prepare materials and said he would be prepared to present findings by mid‑February. “On December 12th, we agreed to a 2 month window. And so I will be prepared to present to the board by February 12th,” Probst said during the discussion. Commissioners then scheduled the public vote for Feb. 27 and the motion to set that schedule passed.

Why it matters: Removing septic permitting from the county building-permit application would change which approvals applicants must obtain locally. The board did not adopt new technical rules at the Jan. 9 meeting; instead it directed staff to prepare an implementation plan, with pros and cons, ahead of the Feb. 27 vote.

What the board asked staff to include: commissioners sought a practical timeline for removal, legal and process implications, and options for transition. One commissioner noted the board needs the information in advance of the Feb. 27 vote; Probst said staff would share materials beforehand.

Outcome recorded on the transcript: the motion to schedule the vote and task staff passed. The board’s final action on Jan. 9 was procedural (direct staff and set a vote date), not a final removal — the vote to remove the septic-permitting requirement remains scheduled for Feb. 27, 2025.