Contact
Hennepin County Environmental Health
Email:epi-envhlth@hennepin.us
Phone:612-543-5200
Fax:612-334-1760
M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Licenses and certificates
Septic systems
Hennepin County regulates most septic systems in the county. This includes inspections and enforcement. The program protects ground and surface water and prevents waterborne illness.
Cities with their own septic system program
If you live in one of these cities, contact your city directly for septic system questions:
Dayton: 763-427-4589
Hopkins: 952-935-8474
Independence: 763-479-0527
Loretto: 763-479-4305
Medina: 763-473-4643
New Hope: 763-531-5100
Orono: 952-249-4600
Richfield: 612-861-9700
St. Louis Park: 952-924-2500
Woodland: 952-474-4755
Residents of these cities should contact Hennepin County for septic system questions
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Center
- Brooklyn Park
- Champlin
- Corcoran
- Crystal
- Deephaven
- Eden Prairie
- Edina
- Excelsior
- Golden Valley
- Greenfield
- Greenwood
- Hanover
- Long Lake
- Maple Grove
- Maple Plain
- Medicine Lake
- Minneapolis
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
- Minnetonka
- Minnetonka Beach
- Minnetrista
- Mound
- Osseo
- Plymouth
- Robbinsdale
- Rockford
- Rogers
- Shorewood
- St. Anthony
- St. Bonifacius
- Spring Park
- Tonka Bay
- Wayzata
Printable map
Abandonment of a septic system
Properly disposing of a septic tank (abandonment)
Criteria for a Hennepin County abandonment
- The abandonment has no new construction (stand-alone abandonment)
- Septic systems in your city are regulated by the county
Inspections and required steps
Along with payment, submit a septic abandonment permit application (PDF, 1MB).
Once you receive a permit:
- Have the tank pumped using a licensed pumper/maintainer
- Take photos of the tank either crushed, filled with rock, or removed
- Complete the abandonment reporting form
Within 90 days of completing the previous steps, email these documents:
- Invoice from licensed pumper/maintainer showing they pumped the tank before abandonment
- Photos of the tank either crushed, filled with rock, or removed
- Completed abandonment reporting form (DOC, 1MB)
Email documents to epi-envhlth@hennepin.us.
If you follow the instructions above, we typically do not do an onsite inspection.
Questions
Contact epi-envhlth@hennepin.us or 612-543-5249.
Finding a licensed septic system professional
Septic professionals must be currently licensed by the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issues the licenses.
Selling a property with a septic system
In Hennepin County, selling your home doesn't require a septic system inspection.
By state law you must properly disclose to the buyer information about the septic system.
A well-informed buyer will want a thorough inspection.
Many lenders require a compliance inspection before they issue a mortgage.
Ordinance summary
County inspections
Systems the county inspects
- New septic systems
- New septic tanks or holding tanks
- Current septic systems under investigation because of a complaint
- The county doesn't inspect septic systems needing a compliance inspection report. For this you must contract with a private septic professional.
Certificates of compliance
- Existing systems: Compliance inspection report valid for three years
- New systems: Certificate of compliance valid for five years
Notice of noncompliance
- Three years to upgrade septic.
- An imminent health threat must be addressed within 10 days and fixed within 10 months. An imminent health threat means sewage surfaces to the ground or backs into the home.
Building permits
Subject to either septic permit approval or compliance inspection:
- All building permits for new commercial or new residential structures
- Any permits for bedroom(s) additions, any additions or remodeling of commercial facilities where water use will increase
- Any permits for a major addition or remodel of a home or building on the property, if the drainfield lies within the shoreland or wellhead protection area. Check your city for shoreland and wellhead protection areas.
Older septic systems
Septic systems built before January 23, 1996 are compliant if they meet two criteria:
- Two feet of soil separation is provided
- It is not classified as an imminent health threat. This means sewage surfaces above ground or backs into the home.
This provision excludes:
- Shoreland areas
- Food, beverage, and lodging facilities
- Wellhead protection areas
- New construction
Wetland requirement
Septic drainfields or mounds must be set back 50 feet from a wetland that's type three or higher.
Warrantied systems
Warrantied systems are not allowed. See warrantied systems under MN Statutes Chapter 115.55.
Potential loans for septic repairs
Agricultural best management practices loan program
Farmers, rural landowners and agricultural supply businesses can apply for low-interest loans through Hennepin County to make improvements or implement practices that will reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution. These practices can assist with failing septic system repairs, or agricultural management practices that reduce sediment or nutrient run-off. The county works with local banks to provide these loans.
Agricultural best management practices loan program
Home repairs
This is for a no interest loan but has income requirements.