A septic system construction permit is the official approval your local agency must issue before anyone digs, installs, repairs, or replaces an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system (OSTDS) on your property. In most of the country this is a county-level permit, and in Florida it runs on a single statewide form, the DEP Form 4015, which this guide walks through field by field because it is the clearest example of how these permits work nationwide.
You file this form because the law does not let you put raw sewage into the ground next to wells, homes, and surface water without proof that the soil can handle it and the system is sized right. Get a line wrong, and your application bounces back, your build stalls, and you pay to re-test soil or redraw a site plan. Roughly 1 in 5 American households rely on a septic system, per the U.S. EPA, so this is one of the most common permits a property owner will ever face.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🧱 What the construction permit is, who must file it, and which agency receives it
- 📋 The exact documents, test results, and ID numbers to gather before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the Florida DEP 4015, page by page
- 👷 Three full filled-out examples for a new home, a repair, and a bedroom addition
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get applications rejected and how to dodge each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The septic construction permit is the document that authorizes the building, modification, repair, or abandonment of an onsite sewage system. In Florida, that authorization comes through DEP Form 4015, titled the Application for Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Construction Permit. The current version is DEP 4015, revised 06-21-2022, and it is incorporated into rule by Chapter 62-6, F.A.C. Confirm you have this revision date printed at the bottom of each page, because counties will reject obsolete editions outright.
The person who must file is the property owner, or a legally authorized agent acting for the owner, such as a licensed septic contractor or engineer. Florida law requires that the system itself be built by a person licensed under Section 489.105(3)(m) or 489.552, Florida Statutes. You may prepare and sign the application yourself, but you cannot legally install the system as an unlicensed homeowner in most cases.
The agency that receives the form depends on your county. Because of a statewide transition, DEP now permits OSTDS in Northwest Florida counties and Marion County, while the remaining county health departments under the Florida Department of Health still handle the other 50-plus counties. The governing statute is Section 381.0065, Florida Statutes, which sets the standards every reviewer applies. Miss the licensed-installer rule, and the agency can refuse to issue your operating approval even after the tank is in the ground, leaving you with an illegal system you may have to dig back up.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form, because a single missing item can hold up the entire application. Reviewers process complete packets first and set incomplete ones aside, which adds days or weeks to a build that is already on a clock.
- Property ID number — the 27-character parcel number or property appraiser ID; without it the agency cannot match your application to the right parcel and will not start review.
- Legal description or deed — required if your lot is in an unrecorded subdivision, because the reviewer confirms lot dimensions against it.
- Site plan drawn to scale — page 2 of the form; if it is missing or not to scale, the application is incomplete on arrival.
- Soil and percolation test results — from a percolation test and soil profile; these drive the system size, and without them no system can be designed.
- Site evaluation (page 3) — completed by a qualified evaluator or engineer; the reviewer cannot approve a design without it.
- Building floor plan — shows bedroom count and heated area, which set your estimated sewage flow.
- Setback distances — measured distances to wells, property lines, and surface water; wrong numbers here force a re-survey.
- Application fee — varies by county and system type; the agency will not log your application until the fee clears.
- Coastal Construction Control Line check — needed if any part of the system sits seaward of the CCCL under Section 161.053, F.S.
- Contractor or engineer license number — proves the installer and any sealing engineer are authorized.
A real example helps. Aisha Bennett is buying a vacant half-acre lot to build a three-bedroom home, so before she touches the form she pulls her parcel ID from the county appraiser, hires a soil evaluator for the perc test, and asks a surveyor to mark her well and property-line setbacks. By the time she sits down with the form, every blank already has an answer waiting.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You download the official DEP 4015 from the DEP Onsite Sewage Forms page, where it is posted as a fillable PDF covering pages 1 through 4. Do not grab a copy from a random third-party site, because those are often outdated editions that say obsolete at the footer, and reviewers reject them on sight.
The form has four parts that travel together: page 1 is the application, page 2 is the site plan, page 3 is the site evaluation and system specifications, and page 4 is the existing-system and repair evaluation. You complete page 1 and page 2 yourself, while a qualified evaluator or engineer completes page 3, and page 4 only applies when you are repairing or evaluating an existing system. All pages must share the same revision date so the packet stays consistent.
How you submit depends on your county. In DEP-administered counties you use the online permit and service request portal, which logs your data instantly and cuts processing time, though paper submissions by mail are still accepted. In Department of Health counties you download the same form and submit it with the fee directly to your local county health department, and many of those counties have local ordinances that exceed the state minimums, so check your county’s rules before you file.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out DEP Form 4015 Line by Line
This is the heart of the form. Work top to bottom on each page, use the exact box labels printed on the form, and write sample entries in the format shown. Below, every field gets its own walkthrough.
Application For (System Type Checkboxes)
This field asks what kind of work you want the permit to cover. The choices printed on the form are New System, Existing System, Holding Tank, Innovative, Repair, Abandonment, and Temporary.
To answer it, check the one box that matches your project; check only one unless your county instructs otherwise. Marcus Lowry, building a brand-new house, checks New System.
A common edge case is replacing a failed drainfield on a home that already has a tank. That is a Repair, not a New System, because you are fixing an existing OSTDS rather than serving a new structure.
The most common mistake here is checking New System for a repair job, which routes your file to the wrong review track and forces the agency to send it back for correction. A frequent misconception is that Innovative means any modern tank; it actually refers to specific performance-based systems approved under the rule, not just newer products.
Applicant, Agent, Email, Telephone, Mailing Address
These boxes ask who owns the property and who to contact. Applicant is the property owner’s full legal name, and Agent is the owner’s legally authorized representative, such as a contractor.
Enter the owner’s name exactly as it appears on the deed, then list a working email and phone in the Email and Telephone boxes, and a full mailing address with city, state, and ZIP in Mailing Address. Marcus Lowry writes his name as the applicant and lists his septic contractor as the agent.
A common edge case is a husband-and-wife title; list the names exactly as recorded on the deed so the agency can match ownership. If you use a P.O. box, that is fine for the mailing address since the form allows a P.O. box or street address.
The most common mistake is leaving the email blank, which means you miss the agency’s request-for-information notice and your file sits idle until it expires. A misconception is that the agent’s name can replace the owner’s; it cannot, because the permit attaches to the owner and property, not the contractor.
OSTDS Remediation Plan? (Y/N)
This field asks whether the property falls under an OSTDS Remediation Plan adopted under Section 403.067(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which targets areas with water-quality concerns.
Answer Y or N. Most rural lots are N, but properties inside a designated Basin Management Action Plan area may be Y. Aisha Bennett checks N because her lot is not in a remediation zone.
The edge case is a coastal or spring-shed property where enhanced nutrient-reducing systems are required even on new builds. The common mistake is guessing N without checking, which can lead to installing a system that does not meet remediation standards and must be upgraded later. A misconception is that this only affects old systems; new construction in a covered basin is bound by it too.
Lot, Block, Subdivision, Date Platted
These boxes ask for the legal location of the parcel. Lot, Block, and Subdivision identify the recorded or unrecorded plat, and Platted is the official recording date.
Fill in each value from your plat or deed and write the platted date as MM/DD/YY. If the lot is not in a recorded subdivision, attach the legal description or deed. Marcus enters Lot 14, Block C, Whispering Pines, platted 03/12/04.
An important edge case: dividing one approved lot into two parcels counts as a subdivision under the form’s instructions, so the new split date applies. The common mistake is leaving the date blank when claiming a grandfather provision, which voids your eligibility for the older, easier standards. A misconception is that subdivision means a big neighborhood; here it just means any legally divided parcel.
Property ID #, Zoning, I/M or Equivalent
This field asks for the parcel’s official identifiers. The Property ID # is the 27-character number, Zoning is the land-use class, and I/M asks if the property is in industrial/manufacturing zoning or equivalent.
Copy the property ID from your county appraiser, enter the zoning code, and mark Y or N for I/M. Aisha enters her parcel number, writes RSF-1 for zoning, and marks I/M as N.
The edge case is a mixed-use parcel; list the zoning that governs the structure being served. The common mistake is transposing digits in the long property ID, which mismatches your file to a different parcel and stalls review. A misconception is that zoning does not matter for septic; industrial zoning can change setback and treatment requirements.
Property Size, Water Supply, Sewer Availability
These boxes capture how big the lot is and how it gets water and waste service. Property Size is in acres, Water Supply is private or public, and Sewer Availability asks if public sewer is available under Section 381.0065, F.S.
Convert square footage to acres by dividing by 43,560, check Private or Public, and answer the sewer question with distance in feet. Marcus writes 0.50 acres, checks Private well, and marks sewer N with a distance of 1,200 FT.
The edge case is a public water supply, which raises your authorized flow to 2,500 gallons per day per acre instead of 1,500. The common mistake is overstating lot size by counting easements or road right-of-way, which inflates allowed flow and gets corrected downward at review. A misconception is that any nearby sewer line forces hookup; availability is defined by statute and distance, not mere presence.
Property Address and Directions to Property
This field asks where the property physically sits. Property Address is the street address, and Directions helps the evaluator find an unaddressed lot.
Enter the assigned street address, or if none exists, name the road and locale and add detailed driving directions or an area map. Aisha writes 0 Sandhill Rd (vacant lot) and adds third lot north of County Road 235.
The edge case is raw land with no address; clear directions or a pinned map prevent a missed or wrong-lot evaluation. The common mistake is listing the owner’s home address instead of the lot address, which sends the inspector to the wrong site. A misconception is that GPS coordinates alone suffice; the agency wants written directions for the field crew.
Building Information (Residential/Commercial, Establishment Type, Bedrooms, Building Area)
This block sets the design flow. You mark Residential or Commercial, list the Type of Establishment from Table I of Chapter 62-6, count No. of Bedrooms, and give the Building Area in square feet.
Mark the use, name the establishment such as single family, count every room used for sleeping, and enter heated square footage excluding garages and screened porches. Marcus marks Residential, single family, 3 bedrooms, 2,100 sqft.
The edge case is a den or bonus room that could be a bedroom; per Section 381.0065(2)(b), F.S., any space that routinely serves as sleeping space counts. The common mistake is undercounting bedrooms to shrink the system, which is a violation that voids the permit if discovered. A misconception is that bathrooms set the flow; it is bedrooms and area, not bathroom count.
Fixtures and Applicant Signature/Date
This field captures special drains and your certification. Fixtures asks about floor or equipment drains, and the Signature/Date line certifies the application is true.
Mark Floor/Equipment Drains or Other and specify, or write NA, then sign and date the form as the applicant or agent. Aisha writes NA for fixtures and signs with the current date.
The edge case is a home with a workshop floor drain, which must be listed because it changes wastewater composition. The common mistake is signing an undated form, which makes it incomplete and unfilable. A misconception is that signing is a formality; your signature is a legal attestation, and false statements can void the permit.
Page 2 — Site Plan
Page 2 asks for a scaled drawing of the lot. The form notes that each block represents 10 feet and 1 inch equals 40 feet, and it must show boundaries with dimensions and all required features.
Draw your lot to scale showing structures, the proposed tank and drainfield, wells, water lines, easements, slope, surface water, and a reference point for system elevation per Rule 62-6.004, F.A.C. Marcus draws his house footprint, the drainfield in the rear, his well 80 feet away, and the property lines with dimensions.
The edge case is a lot of five acres or more, where you may draw just a one-acre parcel to scale as long as it shows all features and enough authorized flow. The common mistake is a not-to-scale sketch for a new system, which makes the page incomplete and bounces the packet. A misconception is that site plans are optional for simple lots; for new and modification applications they are mandatory and must be to scale.
Page 3 — Site Evaluation and System Specifications
Page 3 is the technical heart and must be completed by an engineer, health department employee, or other qualified evaluator. It records Net Usable Area, Total Estimated Sewage Flow, Authorized Sewage Flow, Unobstructed Area, Benchmark, Minimum Setbacks, Flood Information, Soil Profile, Water Table, Soil Loading Rate, Depth of Excavation, and Drainfield Configuration.
The evaluator records estimated flow from Chapter 62-6.008, computes authorized flow at 1,500 gpd per acre for private water or 2,500 for public, logs two soil profiles to six feet using Munsell colors and USDA textures, and notes the wet-season water table. Aisha’s evaluator records 300 gpd estimated flow, 750 gpd authorized, trench configuration, and a water table at 36 inches below grade.
The form is clear on a hard rule: if authorized sewage flow does not equal or exceed estimated flow, the application must be denied. The edge case is a high water table, which forces a mound or filled system and a deeper excavation note. The common mistake is a homeowner trying to fill page 3 themselves, which the agency rejects because it must be signed by a qualified evaluator and sealed by an engineer where required. A misconception is that any soil works for any system; loading rate from the most restrictive soil profile sets the drainfield size.
Page 4 — Existing System and Repair Evaluation
Page 4 applies only when you repair, abandon, or evaluate an existing system. It captures Existing Tank Information, Tank Certification, Existing Drainfield Information, and System Failure and Repair Information.
A licensed contractor records tank size, material, and baffling, certifies the pump-out date and that tanks are free of leaks, then documents drainfield size, system type, and the nature and symptom of failure. Janet Ruiz, repairing a failed field, has her contractor certify a 1,050-gallon concrete tank pumped on the repair date and mark the failure symptom as sewage on ground.
The edge case is a tank that cannot be certified; the contractor must note in Remarks why, rather than leaving it blank. The common mistake is skipping the pump-out certification, which stalls a repair permit because the agency cannot confirm the tank is reusable. A misconception is that a failing system always needs full replacement; many failures are drainfield repairs that reuse a sound tank.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three of the most common fact patterns, each following one named filer through the form’s key sections.
Scenario 1 — Marcus Lowry: New three-bedroom home on a half-acre lot
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Application For | New System |
| Applicant / Agent | Marcus Lowry / his licensed septic contractor |
| Lot, Block, Subdivision | Lot 14, Block C, Whispering Pines, platted 03/12/04 |
| Property Size / Water Supply | 0.50 acres / Private well |
| Sewer Availability | N, 1,200 FT to nearest sewer |
| Building Information | Residential, single family, 3 bedrooms, 2,100 sqft |
| Estimated / Authorized Flow (pg 3) | 300 gpd / 750 gpd |
| Drainfield Configuration (pg 3) | Trench, water table 36 in below grade |
Scenario 2 — Janet Ruiz: Repairing a failed drainfield on an existing home
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Application For | Repair |
| Applicant / Agent | Janet Ruiz / licensed septic contractor |
| Property Size / Water Supply | 0.75 acres / Private well |
| Building Information | Residential, single family, 3 bedrooms |
| Existing Tank (pg 4) | 1,050 gallons, concrete, baffled Y |
| Tank Certification (pg 4) | Pumped on repair date, free of defects |
| Failure Symptom (pg 4) | Sewage on ground |
| Nature of Failure (pg 4) | Drainfield |
Scenario 3 — David Okafor: Adding a fourth bedroom to an existing home
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Application For | Existing System (modification) |
| Applicant / Agent | David Okafor / engineer as agent |
| Lot, Block, Subdivision | Lot 7, Sunrise Acres (unrecorded), deed attached |
| Property Size / Water Supply | 1.00 acre / Public water |
| Building Information | Residential, single family, 4 bedrooms, 2,800 sqft |
| Estimated / Authorized Flow (pg 3) | 400 gpd / 2,500 gpd |
| Unobstructed Area (pg 3) | 1.5 times drainfield absorption area |
| Site Plan (pg 2) | To scale, shows existing tank, new field, well 90 ft |
How to File the Completed Form
Florida offers more than one filing channel, and which one you use depends on your county. Keep proof of every submission, because your dated receipt is your evidence that the clock started.
- Online portal (DEP counties). File through the DEP online permit and service request portal, upload pages 1 through 3 plus your floor plan, and pay the fee electronically; the portal logs your data immediately and shortens processing. Keep the confirmation number as proof of filing.
- Mail (DEP counties). Mail paper documents to the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resource Management, Onsite Sewage Program, 2600 Blair Stone Road MS #3599, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400. Send it certified so you have a delivery receipt.
- Local county health department (DOH counties). Submit the application, site plan, floor plan, and the required fee in person or by mail to your county health department; the department sets the total fee based on system type and services requested. Ask for a stamped copy as proof.
Fees vary by county and system type, and the agency will not begin review until the fee clears, so confirm the current amount with your specific county before filing. Payment methods differ by office, with online portals taking cards and many county offices taking checks or money orders. Processing time runs from a few days to several weeks depending on whether the agency performs your site evaluation; for context, Pennsylvania’s septic process runs 3 to 8 weeks for conventional systems, a useful benchmark for what to expect elsewhere.
What Happens After You File
Once your packet is in, a reviewer checks that page 1, the site plan, and the site evaluation all agree and that authorized flow meets or beats estimated flow. If everything lines up, the agency issues a construction permit that lets your licensed installer begin work, and the permit carries an expiration date by which construction must be done.
After installation, you cannot use the system until it passes a final construction inspection, where the agency verifies the tank, drainfield, and setbacks match the approved plan. Only then does the agency issue the approval that allows the system to operate, much like the operating permit step in other states. If the inspection fails, the installer must correct the work and call for re-inspection before any sewage flows.
If the agency finds your application incomplete or your design short on flow or setbacks, it issues a request for additional information or a denial. You then fix the deficiency, which may mean re-testing soil, redrawing the site plan, or relocating the drainfield, and resubmit. Keep your dated proof of filing throughout, because permit timelines and any appeal windows run from documented dates.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an obsolete form edition. The county rejects any version that is not DEP 4015, 06-21-2022, so your packet never gets reviewed.
- Undercounting bedrooms. It shrinks the system below code, which voids the permit and can force a costly redo.
- Overstating lot size. Counting easements or road right-of-way inflates authorized flow and gets corrected downward, sometimes failing the design.
- Submitting a not-to-scale site plan. For new systems the page is incomplete, so the whole application bounces on arrival.
- Leaving the email or phone blank. You miss the agency’s information request and your file sits idle until it expires.
- Filling out page 3 yourself. The site evaluation must be done by a qualified evaluator, so a homeowner-completed page 3 is rejected.
- Transposing the property ID digits. Your file matches to the wrong parcel and review stalls until you correct it.
- Forgetting the application fee. The agency does not log the application until the fee clears, delaying your start date.
- Skipping the soil and perc test. No test means no valid system design, and the application cannot move forward.
- Omitting the tank pump-out certification on a repair. The agency cannot confirm the tank is reusable, so the repair permit stalls.
- Checking New System for a repair. It routes the file to the wrong review track and forces a resubmission.
- Signing without a date. An undated signature makes the application incomplete and unfilable.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do confirm the 06-21-2022 revision date on every page, because old editions are rejected outright.
- Do hire a qualified evaluator for page 3, since the agency will not accept it otherwise.
- Do draw the site plan to scale, because that is what makes page 2 acceptable for new systems.
- Do count every sleeping space as a bedroom, since that keeps your system legally sized.
- Do keep dated proof of filing, because timelines and appeals run from documented dates.
- Do check local county ordinances, since many exceed the state minimums.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess on setbacks, because wrong numbers force an expensive re-survey.
- Don’t list your home address for a vacant lot, since the inspector will go to the wrong site.
- Don’t sign before the form is complete, because an incomplete attestation is a false statement.
- Don’t assume a nearby sewer line forces hookup, since availability is defined by statute.
- Don’t use a third-party copy of the form, because those are often obsolete editions.
- Don’t install the system unlicensed, since the law requires a licensed installer.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se (on your own):
- You save the agent or consultant fee, which can run several hundred dollars.
- You control the timeline and submit the moment your documents are ready.
- You learn your own system, which helps with future maintenance decisions.
- You avoid miscommunication that can happen when a third party files for you.
- You keep direct contact with the reviewer for fast answers.
Cons of filing pro se:
- You still cannot complete page 3, since it requires a qualified evaluator.
- You risk field-level errors that bounce the packet and cost you weeks.
- You cannot legally install the system yourself in most cases.
- You must interpret Chapter 62-6 and local ordinances on your own.
- You bear the full burden of fixing any denial or information request.
FAQs
Do I need a permit to repair my existing septic system?
Yes. Repairs require a permit too; you check Repair on page 1 and complete page 4, which documents the existing tank, drainfield, and the nature of the failure.
Can I install the septic system myself to save money?
No. Florida law requires a person licensed under Section 489.105(3)(m) or 489.552, F.S. to build the system, even if you prepare and sign the application yourself.
Do I count a den or office as a bedroom in the Building Information box?
Yes. Any space that routinely serves as sleeping accommodation counts as a bedroom under Section 381.0065(2)(b), F.S., regardless of what you call it.
Do I write my lot size in acres or square feet on page 1?
Yes, in acres; divide your square footage by 43,560, and count only the area within the legal description, not easements or road right-of-way.
Can the county health department do my site evaluation for me?
Yes. In DOH counties the department can perform the page 3 evaluation for a fee, or you may hire a private qualified evaluator at your own expense.
Do I need a site plan if my lot is over five acres?
Yes, but you may draw just a one-acre parcel to scale showing all required features, as long as it provides sufficient authorized flow.
Is the application fee the same in every county?
No. Each county sets its own total fee based on system type and the services requested, so confirm the current amount with your county before filing.
Do I mark Private or Public in the Water Supply box if I have a well?
Yes, mark Private for a well; this caps authorized flow at 1,500 gpd per acre, versus 2,500 gpd per acre for public water supply.
Can I file the form online?
Yes, in DEP-administered counties through the online permit and service request portal; DOH counties still require submission to the local county health department.
Do I have to disclose a floor drain in the Fixtures box?
Yes. A floor or equipment drain changes wastewater composition, so you must list it; write NA only if no such fixture exists.
Is my construction permit the same as permission to use the system?
No. The construction permit only authorizes building; the system cannot operate until it passes the final inspection and the agency issues operating approval.
Do I need to enter the platted date if I want grandfather consideration?
Yes. You must provide documentation of the date the lot was created or platted, or you lose eligibility for statutory grandfather provisions.
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