The Durham Region Health Department is responsible for approving the design and building of private septic systems in Durham Region. The City of Oshawa is an exception.
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You need to fill out an application to get a permit for a septic system. The application can be used to get a permit for:
- A new septic system
- Septic tank replacement
- Repair of an old or malfunctioning septic system
Property Roll Numbers must be filled out on all applications.
Complete both the Permit to Construct or Repair form and schedule A
Additional resources
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Building additions
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Use the Building Addition application form when a building department asks for our comments. You might need this if you are building an addition and your property has a septic system.
Property Roll Numbers must be filled out on all applications.
Additional resources
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Septic system records
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Our Health Protection Division holds the septic system records. You can access these records for free if you own the property.
Note:
- We do not have records prior 1974.
- We only have records for properties that we have received an application for.
- Only the current property owner can see the septic record. The owner must provide ID and proof of ownership to see the records.
- Contact the Health Protection Division to ask about what type of proof of ownership they accept.
Give us as much information as you can for the property. This will help us find a record if we have one.
This could include:
- Legal description of the property.
- The owner at the time the septic system was installed.
- The year the system was installed.
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Types of sewage systems
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There are five different kinds of sewage systems.
| Septic tank and leaching bed (most common) |
- They are Class 4 systems under the Ontario Building Code (OBC).
- They require a permit from the Health Department.
- The size of the sewage system is based on the soil conditions of the property and the Total Daily Design Flow (Q) from the home. Q represents the size of the house, number of bedrooms and plumbing fixtures.
- It is not affected by the number of people living in the house.
- Septic tanks will remove solids and treat the sewage before it goes to a leaching bed. The bed spreads the liquid into the soil.
- There are many types of leaching beds. A qualified sewage system designer or installer can help you to decide which leaching bed will work best for you. The types include:
- A trench system
- Filter bed
- Type A dispersal bed
- Level four treatment units can be used to treat the sewage more than a septic tank can. This may reduce the size of the leaching bed portion of the septic system.
- See the SepticSmart for Advanced Treatment Systems booklet for more information on these types of units.
Other resources
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| Holding tank |
Only approved for use:
- If they are used as a temporary operation of less than one year (not seasonal recreational use).
- To fix or upgrade a sewage system when a Class 4 cannot fit.
- If they are temporarily used until municipal sewers are available.
- The municipality must make sure that approved sewage hauling continues during this time.
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Greywater Pit
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Privies (Outhouses, portable toilets)
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- They are a Class 1 sewage system in the Ontario Building Code (OBC).
- For human body waste only (blackwater).
- A permit is not required but you must follow the rules in the OBC.
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Cesspool
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| Helpful resources |
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