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County staff reports rising land-use activity and outlines enforcement steps for septic noncompliance
Summary
Richland County staff told the Natural Resources committee they have issued hundreds of land-use and sanitary permits so far this year, identified hundreds of past‑due maintenance cases, and will pursue citations and attorney action to address long‑standing septic noncompliance.
Richland County land-use staff reported July 6 that land-use permitting and septic work have been busy this year and outlined enforcement steps for properties out of compliance.
Staff said the county has issued 87 land-use permits year-to-date, including 17 new-home permits, and 40 sanitary permits (17 tied to new homes). Soil tests total about 32 so far; recent rain has slowed installation work. Staff estimated the county has roughly 3,000–4,000 septic systems overall and said about 280 systems were past-due on required three‑year maintenance checks; those long-standing delinquencies will be the subject of citations and legal follow-up.
Staff described one case where a mobile home removed in 2019 left a secondary septic system that appears to have been reconnected without proper permits; staff sent notices, contacted the owner, and will work through attorney review on potential enforcement and fee recovery. County staff also said they are compiling places where campers are being used as habitable structures in Ag Forestry zoned areas and will follow up to ensure sanitary requirements are met.
The committee heard updates on conservation activities (NR 151 compliance checks and pasture walks) and staff said they will continue to pursue compliance through notices, citations and legal avenues where voluntary fixes do not occur.
