Kitsap County septic rules
Septic inspections in Port Orchard
Kitsap requires regular septic inspections, and one before any home sale. Call (302) 212-0798 and we’ll connect you with a septic company. Inspections have to be done by a professional certified by Kitsap Public Health, so confirm that when you book.
Rules checked against Kitsap Public Health on September 29, 2026.
How often Kitsap requires an inspection
| Your system | Inspection required |
|---|---|
| GravityTank and drainfield, no pump or treatment unit | Every 3 years, by a septic professional certified by Kitsap Public Health |
| AlternativeHas pumps, treatment devices, or other parts beyond a typical gravity system | At least once a year, plus an annual maintenance contract with a certified monitoring and maintenance specialist |
Not sure which kind you have? If there’s an alarm panel on the house or on a post in the yard, the system has a pump or treatment unit, which makes it an alternative system. Your record drawing will also say.
Sources: Kitsap Public Health District and WAC 246-272A-0270.
What a routine inspection covers
- Opening the tank and measuring the scum and sludge layers.
- Checking the inlet and outlet baffles, and cleaning the effluent filter if there is one.
- Testing pumps, floats and the alarm on systems that have them.
- Walking the drainfield for soggy ground or surfacing sewage.
- Sending the report to Kitsap Public Health.
If the tank is due for pumping, the company can usually do it on the same visit. See what pumping removes and what it costs.
Selling a house on septic
Before a property with a septic system is sold, Kitsap Public Health does a property conveyance inspection, or PCI. The usual order:
Book a certified septic company
They inspect the system, pump it if needed, and send their report to the Health District.
Check for a record drawing
The Health District needs one for the PCI. If your property doesn’t have one, you’ll need to have one made. How to find yours
Apply for the PCI
Apply online, by mail or in person at least 30 days before closing, so there’s time to fix anything the inspection finds.
Allow about a week
The Health District asks for seven business days to process the application, longer if water sampling is requested.
Why starting early matters
27%
of the 1,743 home-sale septic inspections Kitsap Public Health completed in 2025 found significant problems.
The problems that come up most
- A building, deck or parking area on top of the drainfield, or on the reserve area set aside for a replacement drainfield.
- Parts of an alternative system that can’t be reached for maintenance.
- More bedrooms or plumbing hookups than the system was approved for.
- Septic areas that aren’t protected from traffic or other damage.
Booking the inspection early leaves time to deal with these before closing. Real estate agents are welcome to pass this page to clients.
Source: Kitsap Public Health, selling property served by septic.
Selling, or due for an inspection?
Call to reach a septic company. Confirm they’re certified by Kitsap Public Health when you book.