How to choose a septic company in Houston

A septic system in the Houston area must be installed by a TCEQ-licensed On-Site Sewage Facility installer under a permit from the county authority, and an aerobic system needs a licensed maintenance provider, so verify the license at TCEQ and the permit with the county before work starts.

License and permits

Texas regulates septic systems as On-Site Sewage Facilities through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Installers, maintenance providers, site evaluators and designers hold TCEQ licenses, and you can look them up on the TCEQ website. The permit itself comes from the local authorized agent, which is the county in most of the Houston area.

Look up a septic systems license at TCEQ

Unincorporated Harris County permits septic systems through Harris County Public Health. Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and the other surrounding counties run their own programs. A new system, a replacement and most major repairs need a permit and a site evaluation. Confirm the requirements with the county for your address.

Walk away if

They cannot produce a TCEQ installer license, or the number belongs to someone who will not be on site.
They say the county does not need to know about a replacement system.
They size the system without a soil evaluation or a bedroom count.
They want full payment before the county's final inspection.
They sell an aerobic system without explaining the maintenance contract it requires.
The company has no physical address in the region.

Ask before you hire

What is your TCEQ installer license number, and who holds the maintenance provider license?
Will you pull the county permit and arrange the site evaluation and inspections?
What type of system are you proposing for my soil, and why?
What does the maintenance contract cover, how long does it run, and what does it cost after the first term?
What is the warranty on the tank, the aerator and the installation?

Houston specifics

Clay soil does not drain, and that single fact shapes every septic system around Houston. A conventional drainfield needs soil that absorbs water. Most of the clay in the region does not qualify, which is why aerobic treatment units with spray or drip disposal are so common here. The site evaluation decides which system you are allowed to build. It is not a formality, and a company that skips it is guessing.

The water table is high and the land is flat. Heavy rain saturates the ground, and a system that is marginal in a dry month fails in a wet one. Ask how the design handles a week of rain, and whether the tank is anchored against floating when the ground is saturated.

Flooding is a real risk for tanks and electrical components. After a storm, a system that took on water needs to be inspected before it goes back into service, and the county may want to know.

Aerobic systems need power and maintenance. The aerator runs continuously, the chlorine or other disinfection needs refilling, and the sprinkler heads need to be clear. Texas requires these systems to be maintained, and most counties enforce it through a maintenance contract with a licensed provider. Budget for that contract as part of the cost of the system.

When you sell, the buyer will want the permit, the as-built drawing and the maintenance records. Keep all three.

Reading a septic bid

A complete bid names the system type and why it fits the site evaluation, the tank size and material, the aerator and disinfection equipment with brands, the disposal method and area, the electrical connection and who does it, the county permit and inspections, the restoration of the yard, the maintenance contract terms and cost, and the warranties on the tank, the equipment and the installation separately. If the bid does not reference the site evaluation, ask for one before you compare prices.

Frequently asked

Do septic installers need a license in Texas?

Yes. TCEQ licenses on-site sewage facility installers, maintenance providers, site evaluators and designers. The permit for the system comes from the county or other local authorized agent, not from TCEQ directly.

Who permits a septic system near Houston?

In unincorporated Harris County it is Harris County Public Health. Surrounding counties have their own programs. The installer should pull the permit and schedule the inspections.

Do I need a maintenance contract for an aerobic septic system in Texas?

Texas requires aerobic systems to be maintained, and most counties require a maintenance contract with a licensed provider or proof that the owner is qualified to do it. Ask what the contract covers and what it costs after the initial term.