Plumbing and Septic Systems
Northumberland County reviews plans, issues permits and performs inspections for septic systems in all of our member municipalities except the Municipality of Trent Hills. We also work with all municipalities to review plans and perform inspections for plumbing in all new buildings, building renovations and additions.
Plumbing and septic updates and news |
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New Ontario Building CodeReview the latest code changes in Part 7 and Part 8, which may impact installation procedures.
Visit the Ministry of Housing for more information. Timing and transition provisionsThe 2024 Building Code comes into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month grace period until March 31, 2025 for certain designs that are already underway. Please take careful note of the following transition period dates: Until December 31, 2024
January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025
April 1, 2025
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When do I need a plumbing or septic system permit? |
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A permit is your legal right to build. Make sure you have a permit before you start work. Work started without a permit can lead to the work having to be uncovered/exposed, higher permit cost or legal action. You may need to obtain a permit if you are:
You do not need a permit for:
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How do I apply for a plumbing permit? |
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Please contact or visit your local municipality for all plumbing permit applications. PaymentPayments for plumbing permits are made at your local municipality – usually as part of their building permit fee. |
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How do I apply for a septic system permit? |
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Apply onlineNote: Any applications that are not fully filled out, with site plan and cross section drawings submitted and building construction drawings submitted will not be approved and the application considered incomplete. Time frames required by the Ontario Building Code are considered met and your application will be reviewed as time comes available to the plan's examiner. You can apply for a septic system permit using our online Permit Portal System. Through this portal, owners are able set up a personal private account to:
This remote option allows contractors and homeowners to access their permit information from anywhere and will help us move towards a paper-free septic permit process. For instructions on how to use the portal, click the information icons (a circle icon with an 'i' in it) in the portal. Note: Please use the revised permit application located within the portal to prevent duplication of information. Apply in-person or by emailFor a seamless permit process, we encourage you to submit your permit application using our online portal however, we also accept permit applications in-person or by email.To submit in-person or by email, please complete the permit application below and attach it to your email or print a copy and bring it to our office, located at 600 William Street in Cobourg. You may leave it in our drop box at the north entrance to the building. Fees and paymentSeptic system permit: $875 Tank replacement: $450 We accept payment by cheque, debit and credit card. Visit us at 600 William Street in Cobourg to pay in person. You may also pay by credit card over the phone. Learn about septic systemsView the SepticSmart! booklet to learn more about your home's septic system. |
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How do I schedule a re-inspection for an existing septic system? |
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In accordance with By-law 18-2022, existing septic systems in Northumberland County (with the exception of Trent Hills) may be re-inspected upon owner or authorized agent request. During a re-inspection, we perform a non-invasive inspection of the:
The inspector will inspect the property for any potential outbreaks of sewage and may perform a die test. The owner must grant the inspector access to the building to determine the daily loading rate of the system. The owner is required to arrange pumping of the septic tank at their own cost. The inspector must be on site at time of pumping to witness the condition of the tank and if any reverse flow from the septic leaching system is present. Please arrange timing with our office. A comprehensive inspection report will be provided with the inspectors' findings. Any findings of an unsafe condition may have to be repaired with a permit. Fees and paymentSeptic system re-inspection: $175 This fee includes a file search to determine if we have a permit record, plus the initial inspection. If the system is found to require repair or is failing, further fees may apply. The owner is required to arrange for pumping of the septic tank at their own cost. We accept payment by cheque, debit and credit card. Visit us at 600 William Street, Cobourg to pay in person or pay with a credit card over the phone.
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When do I need a plumbing or septic system inspection? |
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All new construction of plumbing and sewage systems in Northumberland County (excluding sewage systems within the Municipality of Trent Hills) are subject to inspection by County Plumbing and Sewage System Officials. Plumbing inspectionsPlease provide two business days' notice for substantial completion of:
Septic system inspectionsPlease provide four business days' notice for the substantial completion of the:
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How to arrange an inspection |
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Call 905-372-1929 or email us. In your request, please include:
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Adding new loads to your septic system |
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You must apply for a Sewage Disposal System Review for any building additions, renovations or new buildings as you may be adding loading on to your septic system. New loading can be a result of adding square footage, bedrooms or new plumbing fixtures. You will also need a review if your local municipal building department asks you to get our comments for a new shed, pool or garage to ensure you are not constructing on the septic system. This may also include applications for short term accommodation rental units to determine occupant loading if requested by the municipality. Please noteIn your application for a review, you should include a copy of the septic system permit or installation record issued when your septic system was installed and a copy of the proposed plans and existing plans. If you do not have your permit or installation record, we will search our files. If none are found, you may be required to contact a septic installer or engineer to provide a report by excavating the existing sewage system. Fee$225 |
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Search for a septic system permit |
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Please fill out the Sewage System Search Request Form if you need us to search our files for your septic system permit. Please note
Fee$75 What if there is no septic system permit?You will need to contact an engineer or a licensed sewage system installer to diagram the location, size and type of sewage system on your property. The diagram should include the location of the leaching bed (if applicable) as well as the distances from the property boundary, wells, water features (creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes) and any buildings. |
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Do you have a plumbing or septic system complaint? |
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Please fill out the Complaint Form if you believe an individual or business has a plumbing or sewage system that is in violation of the Building Code Act. Please note
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Backflow
What is backflow? |
Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of fluids, chemicals, or any other foreign material into the public drinking water system. There are two forms of backflow:
Backflow can cause our drinking water to become polluted or contaminated. Pollution reduces the quality of drinking water. It does not create a public health hazard, but adversely affects the aesthetics of taste, odour, and appearance. However, when the drinking water is contaminated, there is concern for public health if the water is consumed. This creates a threat of illness or, in extreme cases, a fatality. |
Can backflow be prevented? |
Yes, the backflow of undesirable elements into the drinking water system can be prevented. Cross-connectionsA cross-connection is a physical connection between the water supply and any source of possible pollution or contamination. By eliminating or controlling all actual or potential cross-connections, the public drinking water system will be protected within the city water main system and within buildings. Simple plumbing changes can easily eliminate many cross-connections. However, where this is not possible, backflow prevention assemblies are installed to protect the water supply. Location of backflow preventionIndividual (source) ProtectionIndividual (source) protection is a means by where backflow devices are installed on each potential source of backflow within the piping of a building/facility in order to protect the rest of the piping within that building/facility from potential contamination. Zone/Area ProtectionZone or area protection is practiced within buildings/facilities where both drinking and non-drinking water piping systems exist. This type of protection may also be practiced within the distribution system of a drinking water system in order to protect individual zones or areas from possible contamination from another zone or area within the distribution system. Premise IsolationBackflow preventers are typically installed within the facility on the service line connection to the drinking water supply and the fire main. *Please note that all existing ICI (industrial, commercial, institutional) and multi-residential buildings that apply for a plumbing permit to perform additions, or renovations will be required to ensure a device is installed on their domestic and fire mains and provide up to date test reports. If the building does not have the proper devices, they will be required to be installed. |
What is the County's Backflow Prevention By-Law? |
Northumberland County Council has approved a Backflow Prevention By-Law 38-2023 to help protect drinking water from contamination in all industrial, commercial, institutional (ICIs), multi-residential buildings within the scope of Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code, farm buildings and all buildings where a cross-connection is determined to be. |
Do I require a permit to install a backflow preventer? |
Yes. There are two ways to obtain a permit for the installation of a backflow preventer:
Please contact or visit your local municipality for all plumbing permit applications. |
Do I have to test a backflow preventer upon installation? |
Maybe, a licensed tester is required to test a backflow preventer which has testing ports. The test is to be recorded on the county approved test report and submitted to the plumbing inspector, the owner and the tester are to retain a copy. Once tested, the backflow preventer is required to be tagged indicating the testers contact information and the date of the test. |
Do I have to retest a backflow preventer? |
Yes, the Northumberland County By-law 38-2023 requires all testable devices to be annually tested. The test report is required to be submitted. |
Do I have to survey my property and building to determine if any cross-connections exist? |
Maybe, you will receive a letter from the County indicating your property has been identified to have a potential cross-connection and must be surveyed. You will be provided with a time frame to complete this survey. The letter will also include specific information on who must perform the survey and where the survey must be submitted.
The County survey form must be utilized by the qualified surveyor you choose. You may, at time of submission, provide a plan to gain compliance with the by-law. Please note, all premise backflow prevention devices are required to be in place and tested within the time frames and requirements set out in the By-law. |