Onsite Sewage Systems

Under the Ontario Building Code, the person who is issued a permit is required to provide notification to the Building Standards department when various stages of construction are ready to be inspected.

Below is information on the various inspections that may be required for a project. Questions about the stages of construction required for a project can be directed to Building Standards Inspection Services and request to speak to a building inspector.

Inspection Categories

Preliminary meetings: These may be requested by the permit holder or, in some cases, may be required by the building inspector. Preliminary meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the project prior to the start of construction. These meetings can be scheduled with the Building Standards department.

 

Base cut – siting and soils: An inspection is required to confirm items from site evaluation, sizing base cut, clearances and soil conditions. The building inspector will request the name of the installer or supervisor and licence number at the base cut inspection. The installer must provide equipment to conduct measurement of elevations to be witnessed by the inspector during the inspections.

 

Tanks and leaching bed (tiled field): An inspection is required to confirm size and construction.

 

Backfill: An inspection is required to confirm the depth of cover and backfill materials (porous topsoil).

 

Pumps and equipment: An inspection is required to confirm pumps are installed and set up to proper pump rate and equipped with a functional high-water alarm.

 

Final inspection: The system is complete, surface of leaching bed is shaped to shed water, and grass is re-sodded.

 

Read more about how to schedule an inspection for a construction project.

 

Does the property have a septic system? Find out if the system requires a Provincially-mandated onsite sewage inspection.

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