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.
[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.