The authority having jurisdiction shall have the rights established under § 126-13 of this chapter to conduct an on-site inspection of an existing on-site wastewater treatment system as follows:
A. 
Prior to a change of use, the owner of the property shall arrange for an on-site wastewater treatment system inspection before any change of use is undertaken. The authority having jurisdiction shall determine whether the change represents an increased hydraulic loading to the system. In instances where a site plan approval, special use permit, or variance is required the authority having jurisdiction shall incorporate the on-site wastewater treatment system inspection report into the review process of the appropriate Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals;
B. 
Prior to a conveyance of real property, the owner of the property may arrange for an on-site wastewater treatment system inspection prior to the conveyance of real property. In addition, property owners may request an on-site wastewater treatment inspection, to be performed by and certified by a design professional, for real estate transactions or other certifications to lending institutions, purchase offer conditions of buyers of real property, or other requests, or investigations; and
C. 
Expansion greater than 50%, the owner of the property shall arrange for an on-site wastewater treatment system inspection as an integral part of the building permit application process. The authority having jurisdiction shall determine whether expansion of the building or dwelling, including its use, represents an increased hydraulic loading to the system. For the purpose of this chapter, an "existing on-site wastewater treatment system" shall be defined as an accessory structure and as such subject to regulation pursuant to Part 1230 of Subchapter E, Conversions, Alterations, Additions and Repairs to Existing Buildings of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
All existing on-site wastewater treatment systems requiring an inspection pursuant to this chapter shall be performed by the authority having jurisdiction in accordance with the specifications established as follows:
A. 
The septic tank, inspection ports, distribution boxes, or other distribution devices shall be uncovered and accessible to the inspector. In the event any component of the system cannot be reasonably located, the inspector shall so note on the inspection report;
B. 
Leach fields shall be staked out or otherwise identified by general area of location;
C. 
At the discretion of the authority having jurisdiction, the septic tank shall be pumped at the expense of the property owner, in order to ensure that the tank is not leaking, and that the inlet and outlet baffles are in place and properly functioning;
D. 
At the discretion of the authority having jurisdiction, drop and distribution boxes shall be checked for blockages and function;
E. 
The authority having jurisdiction shall visually inspect buildings on the property noting the number of bedrooms, plumbing, including but not limited to drains, overflows, laundry equipment, floor drains, sump pumps, water softeners, and related systems that may impose an improper or potential adverse hydraulic loading on the disposal field;
F. 
Verify connection of all drains to an appropriate disposal system;
G. 
All outside areas, to include nearby lawns, slopes, hillsides, ditches and watercourses, swales, and the shoreline of ponds, lakes and wetlands shall be observed for aboveground seepage and to note the quantity and general quality of surface water where it occurs; and
H. 
Conduct testing as may be necessary to determine system function.
A. 
Upon completion of the inspection, the authority having jurisdiction shall document all procedures and furnish the owner with a report of findings. Where the report of findings is conducted by someone other than the Code Enforcement Officer, a copy of said report shall be filed with said Officer.
B. 
The report of findings shall contain, at a minimum, the location, address, name of owner, representative present, dates of testing/inspection, procedures used, observations and sketches showing fixture, drain and system layout to adequately document the wastewater treatment system inspection.
[Added 1-23-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024]
Replacement of septic tanks and distribution boxes shall require a building permit from the Town Code Enforcement Officer, but do not need to be designed by a design professional, provided such repairs are made to replace existing conditions. All alterations to the absorption field shall require a building permit which shall be issued based upon a design completed by a design professional.