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Kerr County adopts rule to require septic permits on lots larger than 10 acres
Summary
The Kerr County Commissioner’s Court unanimously adopted a change to the county’s on-site sewage facilities (OSSF) order to require permits for new septic installations on tracts greater than 10 acres; environmental-health staff and industry speakers debated inspection capacity and fees during a public hearing.
Kerr County’s Commissioner’s Court voted unanimously July 13 to adopt a change to the county OSSF order that will require permits for new on-site sewage systems on tracts larger than 10 acres.
The change — described in a presentation by Ashley Batters of the county Environmental Health Department — supersedes the state 10-acre exemption for new installations and means owners of lots over 10 acres will need county permits for new septic systems or upgrades once the order goes into effect. Batters told the court the order applies only to new installations and upgrades that did not previously qualify for the exemption and that the county received TCEQ approval to proceed on June 4.
Supporters at the public hearing included representatives of the Texas On-site Wastewater Association, local septic installers and site evaluators. Wiley Cloud of the Texas On-site Wastewater Association and several contractors said the permitting requirement brings Kerr County into alignment with neighboring counties and will help protect groundwater and public health. Opponents, including site evaluator Charles Weidenfeld, said the current exemption had worked for years and warned of inspection delays and added costs to homeowners and builders.
Batters and other staff answered questions about processing times and fees: county review is typically three to five business days for plan reviews; installers must give 48 hours’ notice for final inspections and staff typically respond within 24 hours depending on weather and schedule. Batters listed residential conventional permit fees at $2.50 and aerobic permits at $3.25; larger systems carry higher fees.
The court’s adoption followed discussion about the legislature’s changes to subdivision rules that created the 10-acre exemption and the county’s authority to supersede it through an OSSF order. Judge Kelly and commissioners said the permitting requirement is intended to protect wells, creeks and public health as unregulated development expands.
The order will be signed by the county judge and a certified copy submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
