The MassDEP Title 5 Official Inspection Form is the 18-page state document a licensed inspector uses to record whether a home’s underground septic system passes, conditionally passes, needs further review, or fails under the Massachusetts State Environmental Code. It is filed almost every time a Massachusetts home with a septic system is sold, and the result can stall or save a real estate closing.
The form is not a homeowner’s worksheet. A DEP-approved System Inspector signs and submits it, but sellers, buyers, and agents all need to read it line by line because a single mischecked box in Section B can turn a passing system into a failed one. Across Massachusetts, tens of thousands of these inspections happen each year, and a clear failure means the owner may have to pay $15,000 to $50,000 or more to replace the system before the sale can move forward.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What every section of the Title 5 Official Inspection Form asks and how to answer it
- ✅ How the Pass, Conditional Pass, Further Evaluation, and Fail boxes work and what triggers each
- 🏠 Three real walkthroughs (a clean pass, a failed cesspool, and a conditional pass)
- ⏱️ Where and how to file the report, the 30-day rule, and the 2-year/3-year validity window
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that void a report or kill a closing, and how to dodge them
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Title 5 Official Inspection Form, code-stamped t5ins 3/13 in the page footer, is the only document MassDEP accepts to report a residential septic inspection. The header says it plainly: “Inspection results must be submitted on this form. Inspection forms may not be altered in any way.” It is built to record the physical condition of a subsurface sewage disposal system—the septic tank, distribution box, soil absorption system, or cesspool—and to grade it against the failure rules in 310 CMR 15.303 and 15.304.
The agency that receives the form is the local Board of Health (or MassDEP for large and shared systems). The statute that requires it is Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, and the person who must complete it is a System Inspector approved under Section 15.340 of Title 5. The owner cannot fill it out; doing so makes the report invalid.
A Title 5 inspection is required when a property is sold or transferred, when a home is divided or converted, when bedrooms are added, and at the request of a Board of Health. The most common trigger by far is a home sale. The seller usually pays for it, the inspection must happen within two years before the sale, and a passing report stays valid for two years—or three years if the owner shows yearly pumping records, as explained by several Massachusetts agents.
The deadline that governs the form is strict: the inspector must submit a copy to the Approving Authority within 30 days of completing the inspection. Missing that window can force a re-inspection and delay a closing. The penalty for a false or careless report falls on the inspector, who can face license suspension or revocation by MassDEP.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
The inspector pulls most of this together, but a seller who gathers it first speeds up the whole job and protects the result. Missing pieces force the inspector to write “N/A” or “unknown,” which weakens the report and can invite a Board of Health to ask for further evaluation. Have these ready before inspection day.
- The as-built or septic system plan. This shows tank size, design flow, and component locations; without it the inspector must locate everything by hand and may not confirm the high-groundwater elevation.
- The original Certificate of Compliance. This proves the install date and design bedroom count; missing it can muddy the bedroom-count line in Section D.
- Pumping records for the last two years. These support the three-year validity window and prove the system was not pumped within two weeks of the inspection, which would void the result.
- The Disposal System Construction Permit number. The permit number (for example, Permit #25-03) ties the system to Board of Health files and confirms its age.
- Prior Title 5 inspection reports. Past reports flag recurring problems and are required to be attached for shared systems.
- Soil evaluation or percolation logs. These help the inspector state how the high groundwater elevation was determined.
- The actual number of bedrooms in the house. A mismatch between actual and design bedrooms is one of the most common reasons a sale gets held up.
- The deed or property address details. The exact property address and current owner name must appear on every page of the form.
- Any I/A system operation and maintenance contract. For innovative/alternative systems, a current O&M contract and the latest operator inspection must be attached.
If a document is missing, the inspector notes the source as “unknown,” which a careful Board of Health may treat as a gap. Gather everything early so the report reads complete on the first pass.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, current form lives on the state’s website. Download the Title 5 Official Inspection Form (a 489 KB PDF) from the MassDEP Title 5 septic system forms page. That page is the single source of truth; using a copy from a random third-party site risks an outdated version, and altered forms are rejected outright.
The footer code t5ins 3/13 and the line “Title 5 Official Inspection Form: Subsurface Sewage Disposal System – Page 1 of 17” confirm you have the right document. Always check that footer before you start, because the header warns that the form “may not be altered in any way.” If the version on your screen does not match the one on the MassDEP page, throw it out and download fresh.
The form is a fillable PDF. The top of page one gives a key instruction for digital use: “When filling out forms on the computer, use only the tab key to move your cursor – do not use the return key.” Pressing return can scramble the field layout. The header also repeats a rule that trips up many filers: “Owner information is required for every page,” meaning the property address, owner’s name, city/town, state, zip, and date of inspection must appear on all 17 pages.
Homeowners who want to understand the form can read it, but only a DEP-approved inspector may legally complete and sign it. To find one, use the state’s find a system inspector tool or ask your local Board of Health for a list.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Title 5 Inspection Form Line by Line
The form moves from inspector identity, to the all-important certification, to a checklist, and finally to detailed system data and a sketch. Each section below uses the exact field names printed on the form. Sample entries are italicized so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Page Header: Property Address, Owner’s Name, City/Town, State, Zip, Date of Inspection
This block sits at the top of every page and asks who owns the property being inspected, where it is, and when the inspection happened. You answer it once and repeat the same data on all 17 pages, because the form states “Owner information is required for every page.” Write the legal property address, the owner of record, and the inspection date in Month DD, YYYY form.
For example, inspector Paul Foisy enters 90 Fort Hill Street, owner Ray Estes, Hingham, MA 02043, and date November 30, 2023 at the top of page one and copies it to every page after. A common edge case is a property held in a trust or LLC; in that case write the trust or entity name exactly as it appears on the deed, not the trustee’s personal name.
The most common mistake here is leaving the owner block blank on inner pages, which makes the report incomplete and gives the Board of Health a reason to reject it. A widespread misconception is that the header only matters on page one; in reality, a missing header on page 12 is just as fatal to acceptance as a missing signature.
A. General Information – Inspector Name, Company, Address, Telephone, License Number
This field asks who performed the inspection and proves the person is licensed. You write the inspector’s full name, company name, full company address, phone number, and—most important—the DEP license number. The license number is the proof that the signer is approved under Section 15.340.
For example, the entry reads Paul J. Foisy, E.L. Margetts & Sons Inc., Off 97 Ward Street, Hingham, MA 02043, phone 781-749-0559, license SI4517. A nuance: if a trainee assisted, only the licensed inspector of record may sign and list a license number; the helper is not named here.
The biggest mistake is an expired or mistyped license number, which lets the Board of Health void the entire report on a technicality. The misconception is that any septic company can fill out this section; only an individual holding a current DEP System Inspector license (the “SI” number) may complete it.
B. Certification – The Pass / Conditional Pass / Further Evaluation / Fail Result
This is the heart of the form. It asks for the inspector’s signed verdict on the system, with four boxes: Passes, Conditionally Passes, Needs Further Evaluation by the Local Approving Authority, and Fails. You check exactly one box, then sign and date the certification statement, which reads that you “personally inspected the sewage disposal system” and that the information is “true, accurate and complete.”
For example, Paul Foisy checks the Passes box, signs, and dates it November 30, 2023 for the Estes property. A key nuance: the certification also states the 30-day filing duty and that “the original should be sent to the system owner and copies sent to the buyer, if applicable, and the approving authority.”
The most damaging mistake is checking Passes when a failure criterion in Section D is also marked Yes; that contradiction makes the report internally inconsistent and exposes the inspector to discipline. A frequent misconception is that “Conditionally Passes” is the same as “Passes”—it is not, because a conditional pass requires a named repair (like a new septic tank or leveled distribution box) approved by the Board of Health before the system truly passes.
B. Certification (cont.) – Inspection Summary Sections A through E
This multi-page block forces the inspector to justify the verdict. You must “Check A, B, C, D or E,” and the form orders you to “always complete all of Section D.” Section A is for a clean pass, Section B lists the specific conditional-pass repairs, Section C covers conditions needing Board of Health review, Section D is the universal failure checklist, and Section E covers large systems of 10,000–15,000 gpd.
For example, on the Estes pass, the inspector marks Section A and writes the comment RECOMMEND YEARLY PUMPING AND FILTER CLEANED. 2 BEDROOMS PERMIT #25-03. 1500 GAL TANK, D-BOX, AND LEACHING FIELD. A nuance: even on an obvious pass, Section D must still be filled out with Yes/No answers to every failure criterion—skipping it makes the report incomplete.
The classic mistake is leaving Section D blank because the system “obviously passed,” which violates the form’s own instruction and triggers rejection. The misconception is that you only fill in the lettered section that matches your verdict; in truth Section D is mandatory for every inspection no matter the result.
Section D Failure Criteria – Yes/No Failure Checklist for All Systems
This list asks whether any condition that defines a failed system exists. You mark Yes or No to each item: backup of sewage into the building, ponding of effluent to the ground surface, static liquid above the distribution box outlet invert, a cesspool with too little freeboard, pumping more than four times a year due to clogs, any part of the system below high groundwater, and proximity violations to wells and surface water.
For example, on a healthy system the inspector marks No to every line and leaves the final “The system fails” box unchecked. A nuance: distance-based failures (like a cesspool within 50 feet of a private well) require actual field measurement, not a guess, when a failure is at issue under 310 CMR 15.302(5).
The worst mistake is marking “No” without truly checking—if a single Yes applies, the system fails under 310 CMR 15.303 and the verdict box must match. The misconception is that an old system automatically fails; age alone is not a criterion, but a metal septic tank over 20 years old is, unless a Certificate of Compliance proves it is younger.
C. Checklist – What the Inspector Actually Did
This section asks the inspector to confirm the steps performed, with Yes/No answers. Items include whether pumping information was provided, whether components were pumped within the previous two weeks, whether the system received normal flow for two weeks, whether as-built plans were examined, and whether the septic tank manholes were uncovered and the interior inspected for baffles, sludge, and scum.
For example, the inspector marks Yes that pumping info was provided, No that nothing was pumped in the last two weeks, and Yes that the tank was opened and measured. A nuance: if as-built plans are unavailable, the form says to “note as N/A” rather than leave it blank.
A serious mistake is marking that the system received normal flow when the home was vacant; a system tested with no water can hide a hidden failure, and a later discovery can void the report. The misconception is that the inspector may keep the manhole covered and judge from the surface—Title 5 requires the tank to be opened and the interior measured.
D. System Information – Bedrooms, Design Flow, and Use
This section asks for the system’s design basis. You enter the design number of bedrooms, the actual number of bedrooms, and the design flow based on 310 CMR 15.203, commonly figured at 110 gallons per day per bedroom. You also note residents, garbage grinder, laundry routing, seasonal use, and any water-meter readings.
For example, the Estes entry shows 2 design bedrooms and 2 actual bedrooms, matching the Permit #25-03 records. A nuance: if the house has more actual bedrooms than the system was designed for, the system may be overloaded, and the mismatch must be reported even if everything else passes.
The most expensive mistake is writing the actual bedroom count higher than the design count without flagging it; lenders and buyers read this line closely and an undersized system can derail financing. The misconception is that a finished basement room or office does not count as a bedroom—Title 5 uses a broad definition, so report what truly functions as sleeping space.
D. System Information (cont.) – Component Details: Tank, D-Box, SAS
These pages ask for measured details of each component. For the septic tank you record depth below grade, material, dimensions, sludge depth, scum thickness, and the distances between scum, sludge, and the outlet tee. For the distribution box you note the liquid level above the outlet invert and whether it is level. For the Soil Absorption System you record the type (leaching pits, chambers, galleries, trenches, or fields) and condition.
For example, the inspector logs a concrete 1500 GAL TANK, 10L x 5D x 5W dimensions, 3” sludge, and notes INLET T INTACT AND OUTLET T AND FILTER INTACT. NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE, with the SAS as a 12×25 leaching field showing NO SIGN OF HYDRAULIC FAILURE OR PONDING. A nuance: the distribution box “if present must be opened,” and a cesspool or tight tank “must be pumped as part of the inspection.”
The common mistake is reporting dimensions “from the plan” when the field condition differs; if a failure is at issue, approximation is unacceptable and the box must be physically opened. The misconception is that a quick visual of the SAS is enough—the inspector must note ponding, damp soil, and vegetation condition to prove it is not failing.
D. System Information (cont.) – Sketch of the Sewage Disposal System
This page asks for a drawing of the system. You must “provide a view of the sewage disposal system, including ties to at least two permanent reference landmarks or benchmarks,” locate all wells within 100 feet, and show where the public water supply enters the building. You either hand-sketch in the box or check “drawing attached separately.”
For example, the Margetts inspection attaches a measured site map showing the Septic Tank Inlet, Septic Tank Outlet, and Distribution Box tied to the house corners with dimensions like 15.6’ and 11’. A nuance: a professional scaled drawing is fine, but it still must show the two permanent reference ties, or the report is incomplete.
The mistake here is a vague sketch with no measured ties to fixed landmarks, which makes the system impossible to relocate later and fails the completeness checklist. The misconception is that the sketch is optional or decorative; the final Report Completeness Checklist specifically requires it, drawn on page 15 or attached.
High Groundwater and Site Exam
This part asks how the inspector judged the depth to high groundwater and what site features were checked. You estimate the depth in feet, then check every method used: design plans on record, observed site holes within 150 feet of the SAS, the local Board of Health, local excavators, or the USGS database. You must “describe how you established the high ground water elevation.”
For example, the inspector estimates 6+ feet, checks “obtained from system design plans on record” dated 10-30-2002, and writes SEE UPDATED SOIL ANALYSIS BY TERRY McSWEENEY 3-26-2020. A nuance: any portion of the SAS below high groundwater is an automatic failure under Section D, so this number directly drives the verdict.
The mistake is leaving the groundwater basis blank; the Report Completeness Checklist lists “Estimated depth to high groundwater” as a required item. The misconception is that a single guess satisfies the form—the inspector must name the actual method and source.
E. Report Completeness Checklist
The final page asks the inspector to confirm the report is whole before filing. You check that the Inspection Summary (A, B, C, D, or E) is marked, that Section D is completed, that the high-groundwater depth is filled in, and that the sketch is drawn on page 15 or attached separately.
For example, the inspector checks all four boxes, confirming the Estes report is complete. A nuance: this checklist is a self-audit, not a substitute for accuracy; checking the boxes on a report that contradicts itself still leaves the inspector exposed.
The mistake is skipping this page and mailing an incomplete report, which guarantees a Board of Health bounce-back and lost time. The misconception is that the checklist is just a formality—it is the last line of defense against the very gaps that cause most rejections.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns. Each follows one named system through the key fields of the form.
Scenario 1 — Clean Pass (Ray’s two-bedroom sale). Ray is selling a two-bedroom home with a 2002 septic system and good pumping records.
| Form Section | What Ray’s Inspector Enters |
|---|---|
| Property Address / Owner | 90 Fort Hill Street / Ray Estes |
| A. Inspector / License | Paul J. Foisy / SI4517 |
| B. Certification result | Passes |
| Inspection Summary section | Section A — no failure criteria found |
| D. Bedrooms (design/actual) | 2 / 2 |
| D. Design flow | 220 gpd (110 x 2) |
| Septic tank | Concrete, 1500 gal, sludge 3”, tees intact |
| Section D failure checklist | No to every criterion |
| Sketch | Drawing attached separately with two ties |
Scenario 2 — Fail (Maria’s old cesspool). Maria’s home has a single cesspool 40 feet from a private well, and effluent is surfacing.
| Form Section | What Maria’s Inspector Enters |
|---|---|
| Property Address / Owner | 14 Pond Road / Maria Lopez |
| B. Certification result | Fails |
| Inspection Summary section | Section D — failure criteria exist |
| Type of System | Single cesspool |
| Section D: ponding of effluent | Yes |
| Section D: cesspool within 50 ft of private well | Yes |
| Section D: “The system fails” box | Checked |
| Comment | Owner should contact Board of Health for upgrade |
| Sketch | Cesspool and well located, distance measured 40 ft |
Scenario 3 — Conditional Pass (James’s cracked distribution box). James’s system is sound except for a tipped distribution box causing uneven flow.
| Form Section | What James’s Inspector Enters |
|---|---|
| Property Address / Owner | 7 Maple Lane / James Carter |
| B. Certification result | Conditionally Passes |
| Inspection Summary section | Section B — component needs repair |
| Conditional item checked | Distribution box is uneven/settled |
| Repair listed | Distribution box to be leveled or replaced |
| Board of Health approval | Required before final pass |
| D. Bedrooms (design/actual) | 3 / 3 |
| Section D failure checklist | No to every criterion |
| Comment | System passes upon BOH-approved D-box repair |
A fourth filer worth noting is Aisha, who added a fourth bedroom to a three-bedroom-design system; her inspector flags the actual-versus-design mismatch in Section D even though no other failure exists, warning that the system may be undersized.
How to File the Completed Form
The inspector—not the homeowner—files the report, and the form spells out the routing. The rule on the certification page is that “the system inspector shall submit a copy of this inspection report to the Approving Authority (Board of Health or DEP) within 30 days of completing this inspection.”
- Local Board of Health (standard channel). For nearly all homes, the inspector sends the report to the local Board of Health. Many towns accept mail, hand delivery, or an online portal; there is often no state fee, though some towns charge a small filing or review fee of roughly $25 to $75. Keep the date-stamped copy or portal confirmation as proof of filing.
- MassDEP regional office (large/shared systems). If the system is shared or has a design flow of 10,000 gpd or greater, “the inspector and the system owner shall submit the report to the appropriate regional office of the DEP.” Find your office through the MassDEP regional offices list; keep the certified-mail receipt as proof.
- System owner and buyer copies. The form requires that “the original should be sent to the system owner and copies sent to the buyer, if applicable, and the approving authority.” The buyer’s copy is what a lender and closing attorney rely on.
Accepted delivery depends on the town: mail to the Board of Health office address, in-person drop-off, or upload to the town’s permitting portal where one exists. Processing time is usually a few days to a few weeks for the Board to log the report. Always retain a complete copy and the proof of submission, because a lost report can force a re-inspection right before closing.
What Happens After You File
Once the report reaches the Board of Health, staff log it and check it against town records and the completeness checklist. A clean pass is recorded and the report is valid for two years from the inspection date, or three years if the owner provides yearly pumping records, as Massachusetts agents explain.
If the verdict is “Conditionally Passes,” the owner must complete the named repair and get Board of Health sign-off before the system is treated as passing. If it is “Needs Further Evaluation,” the Board reviews the flagged conditions under 310 CMR 15.303(1)(b) to decide whether the system protects public health, and that review can turn into a pass or a fail.
A “Fails” verdict starts the upgrade clock. The owner generally must repair or replace the system, often within two years, though a sale can proceed if the buyer and seller agree in writing on who fixes it and money is placed in escrow. Some buyers use the failed result to negotiate the price down by the cost of a new system.
For inspectors, a filed report becomes a permanent record. A report later found false or negligent can lead MassDEP to suspend or revoke the System Inspector license, so accuracy at filing protects the inspector for years.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Letting the homeowner fill it out. Only a DEP-approved inspector may complete it, and an owner-filled form is invalid on its face.
- Altering the form layout. The header forbids any alteration, and a modified form is rejected.
- Leaving the owner block off inner pages. Owner information is required on every page, and a blank header voids completeness.
- Skipping Section D on a passing system. Section D is mandatory for every inspection, and skipping it makes the report incomplete.
- Checking “Passes” with a Yes in Section D. The verdict must match the failure checklist, or the report contradicts itself.
- Confusing Conditional Pass with Pass. A conditional pass needs a named repair and Board of Health approval before it truly passes.
- Testing a system with no flow. A vacant home can hide a failure, and a later discovery can void the report.
- Reporting bedrooms wrong. An actual count above the design count signals an overloaded system and can stall financing.
- Guessing distances near wells. Distance failures need measurement, not estimates, or the verdict may be wrong.
- Not opening the tank or distribution box. Title 5 requires the tank opened and the distribution box opened if present.
- Omitting the system sketch. The completeness checklist requires a sketch with two permanent ties, or the report fails.
- Missing the 30-day filing window. Late filing can force a re-inspection and delay the closing.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do download the form fresh from MassDEP each time, because using an old version risks rejection.
- Do copy the owner header to all 17 pages, since it is required on every page.
- Do complete Section D for every inspection, because it is mandatory regardless of the result.
- Do attach pumping receipts and as-built plans, since they support the result and the validity window.
- Do measure distances and dimensions in the field when a failure is at issue, because approximation is not allowed.
- Do keep proof of filing, because a lost report can trigger a costly re-inspection.
Don’t:
- Don’t let the seller sign or complete the form, because only the licensed inspector may.
- Don’t press the return key in the fillable PDF, since it can scramble the fields.
- Don’t check “Passes” when any failure criterion is Yes, because the verdict and checklist must agree.
- Don’t treat a Conditional Pass as a done deal, since the repair still needs Board of Health approval.
- Don’t inspect a long-vacant home as if flow were normal, because hidden failures can surface later.
- Don’t skip the sketch or the completeness checklist, because both are required for acceptance.
Pros and Cons of Hiring an Inspector vs. Handling It Yourself
Because only a licensed inspector can sign the form, the real choice for a homeowner is how involved to be and how early to schedule. This table frames the trade-offs.
| Hiring and Preparing Early | Waiting Until the Last Minute |
|---|---|
| A licensed inspector signs a valid report, so it holds up at closing | A rushed booking can push the report past the 30-day or closing deadline |
| Gathering records first leads to a complete report with fewer N/As | Missing records invite a “further evaluation” delay |
| Early scheduling leaves time to fix a conditional-pass repair before closing | A late fail can collapse the deal with no time to negotiate escrow |
| A clean, well-documented report can earn the 3-year validity window | No pumping records means only a 2-year window, risking re-inspection |
| Professional measurement avoids distance and dimension errors | Guesswork raises the odds of a wrong verdict and a re-do |
The five upsides of preparing early all point to a valid, durable report and a smoother sale. The five downsides of waiting all point to delay, rejection, and lost negotiating room when a problem appears.
Key Entities That Interact With This Form
Several agencies and documents connect to the Title 5 inspection. The Board of Health is the local approving authority that receives and judges the report. MassDEP writes the rules, approves inspectors, and receives reports for large and shared systems. The System Inspector Manual guides how inspectors apply the failure criteria. Related forms include the Certificate of Compliance (proof of a legal install), Form 11 Soil Suitability Assessment, Form 12 Percolation Test, and the System Pumping Record, all found on the MassDEP forms page.
FAQs
Is the homeowner allowed to fill out the Title 5 inspection form?
No. Only a DEP-approved System Inspector licensed under Section 15.340 of Title 5 may complete and sign the form; an owner-completed report is invalid and will be rejected.
Is a Title 5 inspection required when I sell my home?
Yes. A Title 5 inspection is required within two years before the sale or transfer of most Massachusetts homes served by a septic system.
Is a passing report valid for more than two years?
Yes. A passing report is valid for two years, or three years if the owner provides records showing the system was pumped each year.
Do I check “Passes” if one box in Section D is marked Yes?
No. If any failure criterion in Section D is Yes, the system fails under 310 CMR 15.303, and the certification must be marked “Fails,” not “Passes.”
Does the owner information really need to be on every page?
Yes. The form states owner information is required for every page, and a missing header on any of the 17 pages makes the report incomplete.
Is “Conditionally Passes” the same as passing?
No. A conditional pass means a named repair must be completed and approved by the Board of Health before the system is treated as passing.
Do I have to fill out Section D even when the system clearly passes?
Yes. The form says to “always complete all of Section D,” so the failure checklist must be answered for every inspection regardless of the result.
Does a finished basement room count as a bedroom on the form?
Yes. Any space that functions as sleeping area generally counts under Title 5, so report the true actual bedroom count even if it tops the design number.
Is the system sketch optional?
No. The Report Completeness Checklist requires a sketch drawn on page 15 or attached, with ties to at least two permanent landmarks.
Does an old septic tank automatically fail the inspection?
No. Age alone is not a failure, but a metal tank over 20 years old fails unless a Certificate of Compliance proves it is younger and it is sound.
Is there a deadline to file the completed report?
Yes. The inspector must submit a copy to the Board of Health or DEP within 30 days of completing the inspection.
Do large or shared systems get filed somewhere different?
Yes. Shared systems and systems with a design flow of 10,000 gpd or greater must be submitted by both the inspector and owner to the appropriate MassDEP regional office.
Can I sell my home if the system fails the Title 5 inspection?
Yes. A sale can proceed if the buyer and seller agree in writing on who repairs the system, often using an escrow account to hold repair funds.
Does the distribution box have to be physically opened?
Yes. The form states the distribution box, if present, must be opened, and a cesspool or tight tank must be pumped as part of the inspection.
Related reading
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