Selling a Home on Septic in Elbert or Douglas County? Start with the Use Permit

If you’re selling a home with a septic system in Elbert County or Douglas County, Colorado, you need a septic Use Permit as part of the sale. Both counties require one. The steps, inspectors and timelines differ, so start early. Here’s what each county asks for, in plain English.

By McLean Giles, Giles Team, Coldwell Banker Realty

What is a septic Use Permit?

Homes without town sewer usually treat wastewater on site, with a septic system. Counties call these on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). A Use Permit is the county health department’s sign-off that the system was inspected when the property changed hands.

Which county your home is in decides which rules apply:

• Elbert County: Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla, Elbert, Agate and the rest of the county.
• Douglas County: Franktown, plus rural land around Castle Rock and Parker.

How does the Use Permit work in Elbert County?

Elbert County Public Health and Environment requires a Use Permit before a home on a septic system is sold. The steps:

1. Hire a licensed septic inspection company. The county publishes a list of licensed inspectors.
2. Get the inspection report. The inspector sends you the report and explains how to apply. Some companies handle the paperwork for you.
3. Apply for the Use Permit. The inspection report must be from within the past 12 months.
4. Pay the fee. The county fee is $100.
5. Allow time. The county can take up to two weeks to issue the permit.

What if the septic system needs repairs?

If the inspection finds problems, Elbert County can issue a Provisional Use Permit. The sale can close with it, but you and the buyer need to agree on who makes the repairs and when. Repairs must be done by a licensed installer within 30 days. Some repairs need their own permits. Once the county gets proof of the repairs, it converts the provisional permit to a final one.

What if the seller doesn’t get it?

Under the county’s regulation, if the seller doesn’t get the Use Permit, the buyer has to. In practice, buyers and their lenders usually expect it to be handled before closing, so plan on it as the seller.

How does the Use Permit work in Douglas County?

The Douglas County Health Department also requires a Use Permit when a property with a septic system is sold or changes ownership. The seller is responsible for getting it before the sale.

1. Hire a NAWT-certified Use Permit inspector. NAWT stands for the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. These inspectors are independent and don’t work for the county.
2. The inspector completes the county’s Use Permit Inspection Form, including time-stamped photos of the system’s components.
3. Repair any deficiencies found in the inspection, and document the repairs.
4. Submit the application, fee and full inspection report to the Douglas County Health Department.

Douglas County also requires a Use Permit in other situations, such as adding bedrooms or changing a property from residential to business use. Some ownership transfers are exempt, for example adding a spouse to the title or moving a property into your own trust. Check with the county if one of those applies.

Elbert County vs. Douglas County: what’s different?

• Inspector: Elbert County requires a licensed inspector from the county’s list. Douglas County requires a NAWT-certified Use Permit inspector.
• Repairs: Elbert County allows closing on a Provisional Use Permit, with repairs within 30 days. Douglas County’s process has deficient items repaired and documented as part of getting the permit.
• Fee: Elbert County lists $100. Check Douglas County’s current fee with the health department.
• Photos: Douglas County requires time-stamped photos of the system with the inspection.

When should a seller start?

Before you list. I tell sellers to book the septic inspection as soon as they decide to sell. Here’s why:

• Inspectors book up, and county processing takes time.
• If the system needs repairs, you want to know before a buyer’s inspection finds it, not after.
• A completed inspection and a clear plan make your listing easier for buyers and lenders to say yes to.

Pull your septic records together too: past pumping receipts, repair invoices and the original system permit if you have it.

What should buyers ask?

If you’re buying a rural home, ask early: Has the seller started the Use Permit process? Can we see the inspection report? Then read the report and ask questions during your inspection period. And don’t forget the well. See our post on reading the well permit.

How does the Giles Team help?

On rural listings, I walk the property with you, flag condition items, and help you line up the septic inspection early. Ginger, a licensed attorney and Realtor, keeps the septic permit, any agreed repairs and the contract deadlines on track. Rural property in Douglas and Elbert County is what we focus on.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a septic inspection to sell my home in Elbert County?

Yes, if the home has a septic system. Elbert County requires an inspection by a licensed inspector and a Use Permit before the sale. The county fee is $100.

How long does an Elbert County Use Permit take?

The inspection report must be from within the past 12 months, and the county can take up to two weeks to issue the permit after you apply.

Can I close if my septic system needs repairs in Elbert County?

Yes, with a Provisional Use Permit. A licensed installer must finish the repairs within 30 days, and the permit is then made final.

Is Franktown under Elbert County septic rules?

No. Franktown is in Douglas County, so the Douglas County Health Department’s Use Permit rules apply.

Selling a rural home in Douglas or Elbert County? Call or text the Giles Team at (720) 593-2378 or email team@gilesteam.com.

Giles Team | Coldwell Banker Realty South Metro · 6501 E Belleview Ave, Suite 500, Englewood, CO 80111 · (720) 593-2378 · team@gilesteam.com · McLean Giles, CO license FA.100052648 · Ginger Giles, CO license FA.100052642

Checked against Elbert County Public Health & Environment and Douglas County Health Department sources in October 2026. Fees and rules change. Confirm with the county before you list.